Gandalf on a white Mumak?

[Kyledanger]

Hello all, or should I say, "a star shines in the hou of our meeting"?
Anyway, long time lurker, first time poster. I figured that this would be the place to get some insight on something I have been pondering:

When Frodo and Sam see the Oliphant in the Two Towers, Frodo wishes that Gandalf was riding a white Mumak leading a thousand Mumaks to defeat Sauron. Now, by this time, Gandalf was already back as The White, though Frodo would not have known this.

So why a white Mumak? Just a symbol of good? When gandalf encouraged Frodo to take off the Ring on Amon Hen telepathically, was there some communication of his resurrection and change of wardrobe?

Perhaps this is over thinking it and reading too much into an otherwise simple wish by a weary hobbit... But that's sort of the point of this place.

[Inziladun]

Glad you made the transition from lurking to posting, Kyledanger.

I would think Frodo's emphasis on a white oliphaunt is probably as you say, merely meant as a symbol for good.

Additionally, Frodo had before when crossing the Bruinen into Rivendell seen the white horses Gandalf had made appear in the flood, so that might have caused Frodo's association also.

[Morthoron]

White elephants were once considered sacred in Asia. There is a story amongst Buddhists that on the eve of Gautama Buddha's birth, his mother had a dream wherein she was presented with a lotus blossom by a white elephant (the lotus being a symbol of purity as is the white coloration of the pachyderm). Whether Tolkien considered this during writing is perhaps unlikely. Still, he was well read and Burma was an English possession well into the 20th century.

I have yet to find the root language for Tolkien's mûmakil. It sounds vaguely Turkic.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Glad you made the transition from lurking to posting, Kyledanger.

I would think Frodo's emphasis on a white oliphaunt is probably as you say, merely meant as a symbol for good.

Additionally, Frodo had before when crossing the Bruinen into Rivendell seen the white horses Gandalf had made appear in the flood, so that might have caused Frodo's association also.

There may also be an association with Glorfindel who Frodo sees first as a white rider. The albeit retrofitting of Glorfindel of Rivendell with Glorfindel of Gondolin since it meant that Glorfindel like Gandalf died to Middle Earth fighting a Balrog and was sent back. It was Glorifindel who made the prophecy about the Witch King that was soon to be fulfilled by Eowyn and Merry.

However I think the primary reason is the "cowboy film rule" of good guys having white hats and the baddies black hats.

But interesting topic. I don't ever remember reading this which suggests it is high time I read the book all through instead of "dipping".