Odd Departure in Appearance Scene

[Dininziliel]

This is first time I've posted a new topic, so bear with me.

I don't think I have to look back to know that the question of whether it was Gandalf or Saruman that Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli saw in Fangorn has been discussed here in our happy home for the dead. Gandalf said it was not he that they saw. However, it still strikes me as strange.

First, as many times as I've read it, I find myself wondering who they saw each time I read it. It seems that Tolkien took a departure from his usual inimitable story-telling style with this one instance.

There is deliberate vagueness about something that is not a matter of the invisible. You expect discussion and conjecture on matters of faith and hope, but not about identity. In fact, I am suggesting that Tolkien is purposely being ambiguous--the horses would normally react calmly to Gandalf, not Saruman; Saruman is not known for wearing a hat, yet the stranger wore a hat. Why would Tolkien do this? It is as if Tolkien wants to get some amusement from watching us readers puzzle this out.

Do you agree? If so, is there any other place that Tolkien deliberately obfuscates for no apparent reason? If you disagree, can your answer be supported by evidence from the text? Where does he provide clarity other than Gandalf's denial? Why isn't Gandalf's denial enough to satisfy us (or maybe just me [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] )?

Bear this in mind--Gandalf was still recovering from a post-death experience, if you will. He might have not been able to recall such a corporeal event. This fact throws yet another veil over the whole thing.

Again, this is not to open a debate on whether or not it was Gandalf; rather it is a discussion as to whether Tolkien perhaps had an off moment or was deliberately, albeit inexplicably (to me) mysterious.