What Gandalf Meant by 'Forgotten' in The Lord of the Rings: Exploring the Depth of the West

Descended into the critical analysis of a pivotal line from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, we delve into the meaning behind Gandalf's statement, “what has been forgotten.” In the novel, Gandalf's line serves as a conduit for the loss and recollection of a distant yet cherished realm, Valinor, now veiled by the veil of time and memory.

The Line: A Crossroad in Time

The line in question from The Lord of the Rings is as follows:

“He was talking about valinor which was forgotten due to the breaking of the world when it was taken away with the downfall of Numenor”

This statement presents a complex tapestry of forgotten memories and the effect of great historical events on different peoples.

Uncovering the Layers of Forgotten

Gandalf's words carry multiple layers of meaning, as revealed by Tolkien in his posthumous essay, "Unfinished Tales". Specifically, in the section “The Istari,” Tolkien explains in detail the dual significance of ‘forgotten’:

Forgotten by Mortals

For the Elves, such as Elrond and Galadriel, the concept of the "West" is not foreign; they maintain a remembrance of Valinor due to their longstanding connections. The Elves can travel there by ship. However, for most mortals, including the people of Gondor, the notion of Valinor has become a remote and almost legendary figure.

"The men of Gondor who had a daily “grace” custom at dinner of first rising and facing the West in remembrance of Numenor which was no more and Elvenhome lay Beyond." (The Lord of the Rings)

This custom, Faramir's reference to the “West that was forgotten,” highlights the passing of time and the waning of memory among mortals.

Forgotten by the Istari

Furthermore, Gandalf acknowledges that even among the Istari (Wizards), a profound sense of forgetfulness has occurred. After being reborn in Middle-earth, the Istari had to learn much anew by slow experience. Their origin from the Blessed Realm is a distant memory:

"being embodied the Istari had need to learn much anew by slow experience and though they knew whence they came the memory of the Blessed Realm was to them a vision from afar." (Unfinished Tales)

The Layers of Forgotten in Middle-earth

Tolkien's narrative delicately captures the loss of collective memory across different races and ages. The Elves, the longest-lived of Middle-earth's inhabitants, retain a clear memory of Valinor, which they can physically visit. However, to the Men of Gondor and other mortals, Valinor has become a distant, almost mythical place:

Arrival and Disappearance

Elves who have resided in Valinor, like Galadriel, have a direct connection to this celestial realm. However, for most mortals, the passage of an entire Age (the change of the world) has led to a profound loss of knowledge about the Blessed Realm. Without this direct connection, memories and stories have faded, leaving a faint echo in the guise of vague and remote legends.

Conclusion: The Tapestry of Forgotten

In summation, Gandalf's line is a poignant reflection on the passing of time and the disparate ways in which different races and peoples remember or have forgotten the great and distant lands of Middle-earth. It encapsulates the depths of memory loss and the profound impact of historical events on the collective consciousness of Tolkien's world.