Success of the Wizards - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Morwen Tindomerel · 04-05-2003, 10:51 AM

It is certainly true that Tolien is decidedly unsanguine about the fates of the Blue Wizards in 'On the Istari' in UT. However in another note 'The Five Wizards' in Peoples of Middle Earth Tolkien theorizes that they came in the Second Age, long before the other three Istari, and must have been fairly successful in their assigned task, (to raise up rebellion against Sauron in the East) or the West would have been hopelessly outnumbered and fallen long before the WR.

What this means of course is that the Professor's ideas on the Blue Wizards, and Istari in general, were still in a very fluid unformed state - which IMO means they are wide open to fannish speculation fictionalizing.

As Christopher Tolkien points out, Aewendil, (Radagast) is sent by Yavanna so it is very likely that in concerning himself with animals and plants he is fulfilling his mission. A very different one from Gandalf and Saruman's.

04-05-2003, 10:51 AM	#1
Morwen Tindomerel Wight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Minas Anor or Annuminas the Golden Posts: 187	It is certainly true that Tolien is decidedly unsanguine about the fates of the Blue Wizards in 'On the Istari' in UT. However in another note 'The Five Wizards' in Peoples of Middle Earth Tolkien theorizes that they came in the Second Age, long before the other three Istari, and must have been fairly successful in their assigned task, (to raise up rebellion against Sauron in the East) or the West would have been hopelessly outnumbered and fallen long before the WR. What this means of course is that the Professor's ideas on the Blue Wizards, and Istari in general, were still in a very fluid unformed state - which IMO means they are wide open to fannish speculation fictionalizing. As Christopher Tolkien points out, Aewendil, (Radagast) is sent by Yavanna so it is very likely that in concerning himself with animals and plants he is fulfilling his mission. A very different one from Gandalf and Saruman's.