Gandalf Uncloaked?

[Attalus]

In light of our discussion of the Istari, I remembered and reread the chapter "The Shadow of the Past." In it, Bilbo calls Gandalf a thief and the wizard lets his temper slip a bit, and says, "If you call me that again, I shall, and then you will see Gandalf the Grey uncloaked," then follows the bit about him growing to seem to fill the little room, scaring the bejabbers out of Bilbo. What, do you suppose, did he mean by that? Did he have the power to show his Maiar form to mortals, at that point, or was he just blustering. He sounded awfully serious.

[Rían]

Perhaps it had something to do with how Gandalf's mission was to encourage others to action, as opposed to doing the action himself. I'm rusty on my references, but that bit was in a section about a discussion of the Elven rings, IIRC.

[me9996]

He's likely talking about using (or at least showing) his full power...

But then there's the more evident idea of Gandalf, ahem, scaring Bilbo with his old man looks. ("MY EYES! MY EYES!")

[barrelrider110]

He might have said:
"Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks."
That's one of the few alterations in the movie of which I actually approved.

It also brings to mind Gildor's warning: "Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."

[Gordis]

When maybe a thousand years had passed, and the first shadow had fallen on Greenwood the Great, the Istari or Wizards appeared in Middle-earth. It was afterwards said that they came out of the Far West and were messengers sent to contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbidden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate Elves or Men by force and fear.-Tale of Years

With Bilbo Gandalf ALMOST slipped. ;) Perhaps the Ring was at work?

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

He could have gotten off on the technicality at his trial when Bilbo refused to be called either an Elf or a Man. ;)

[Gordis]

A good one.:D:D:D

[Attalus]

Oh yeah, I can just hear Manwe intoning: "Ye may not uncloak your true nature to Man nor Elf, but only elderly, pain-in-the-a$$ Hobbits who refuse to pass on Magic Rings despite the fact that they are too old to outrun Black Riders." :eek: