Gandalf and Sauron

[Arathiriel]

The other day I was trying to explain a friend the concept of the Maiar and how Gandalf and Sauron both of the same race.

You know what was throwing her off? She asked if Gandalf comes back (she's only seen FOTR and has yet finished reading TTT) and after making sure she wanted to know I said "Yes, he comes back! But he comes back as a much more powerful being. He comes back as Gandalf the White..." It was then I had to try to explain to her the Maiar.

I told her that Gandalf was of an immmortal race, and that he along with 4 others were sent to ME to become the 5 Wizards that we meet in the LOTR. I also mentioned that Saruman was a Maiar as well...

I told her that the Wizards were sent to help Elves and Men defeat Sauron and here's the thing that was throwing her off...

If Gandalf and Sauron were/are of the same race then, why after his defeated (ie. The loss of the Ring in the Second Age) was Sauron unable to retake on a physical form like Gandalf when he returned from the dead?

And she was like "So they're not of the same race?"

And I said "Yes, they are."

"Then why couldn't Sauron retake a physical form?"

Now I admit I haven't read everything there is to read on Sauron but I told her I think it has something to do with the loss of the Ring is the reason why he couldn't take on a physical form...I mean Sauron put much of his power into the Ring when he forged it...

Am I even close to being right or was is something else that prevented Sauron from taking on physical form again?

[ October 03, 2002: Message edited by: Arathiriel ]