Elsa, the Queen of Arendelle portrayed by Idina Menzel, experiences a transformation in Disney’s Frozen 2 that draws many parallels to Gandalf the Grey, the wise wizard from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Apart from their basic affiliation with magic, the comparisons between Elsa’s storyline in Frozen 2 and Gandalf’s journey in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings’ series goes deeper than it first appears.
In Frozen 2, Elsa follows an unknown voice to Ahtohallan, the mythical river that holds the secrets to the past. When she reaches Ahtohallan, Elsa learns the truth about her grandfather’s past, that the dam that was built between Arendelle and the Northuldra people was not a peace offering but rather an attempt to reduce the land’s resources. In addition, Elsa discovers the origin of her powers, learning that she is the fifth spirit and they were bestowed upon her as a gift from nature after her mother Iduna saved the life of their father Agnarr, the son of the king who betrayed their tribe. In one of the most shocking scenes in Frozen 2, Elsa begins to freeze and dies within the caves of Ahtohallan, only coming back to life dressed all in white and riding a white horse after Anna has lifted the curse on the Enchanted Forest.
This pivotal scene in Frozen 2 is very clearly reminiscent of Gandalf the Grey’s (Ian McKellen) journey in The Lord of the Rings franchise. Both characters challenge and are ultimately killed by powerful forces from the past. While Elsa fought to redeem her grandfather’s treacherous actions, Gandalf physically fought the Balrog, an ancient demonic creature awakened in Moria. When the two characters die, they return as elevated versions of themselves, Elsa as the fifth spirit and Gandalf as Gandalf the White. Each of them returns more wise and powerful, having discovered a new purpose and donning white threads.
Other than her experiences at Ahtohallan, Elsa’s similarities to Gandalf persist throughout the entire film, including its earlier scenes. In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Gandalf leads Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and the company of Dwarves through Mirkwood, a forest which was cursed by a combination of Elvish magic and dark sorcery. Similarly in Frozen 2, Elsa begins her quest to find the source of the mysterious voice by leading Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), and Olaf (Josh Gad) through a cursed enchanted forest.
Not only is there a resemblance between the two character’s personal journeys, but there exists many similarities within their personalities. Both Gandalf and Elsa establish a communion with nature through their magical powers. In Frozen 2, Elsa bonds with the salamander fire spirit Bruni while Gandalf, on multiple occasions, communicates with insects, sending moths to bring back help during moments of desperation in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises. One of Gandalf’s most frustrating characteristics is also present within Elsa: the tendency to disappear on solo adventures leaving their friends behind to deal with other dangers. When Elsa travels alone to Ahtohallan, Anna is left behind to lift the curse provoked by their grandfather by breaking the dam. Similar to Gandalf, Elsa returns at the last second as a wave of water rushes towards Arendelle and saves the kingdom from ruin.
While the similarities between Elsa and Gandalf may not have been Disney’s intention, the comparison emphasizes Elsa’s strengths as a positive female role model in Frozen 2. Showcasing Elsa as matching, and arguably rivaling, the power of one of the most widely-recognized wizards from literature ultimately supports Disney’s feminist message in the Frozen franchise, that Elsa is not only equivalent to her male counterparts, but is more than capable of undertaking the perilous challenges and adventures formerly tackled by male protagonists alone.
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