Middle-earth Mysteries

[Rhod the Red]

I notice how Americans usually refer to the UK as 'England', as if Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland don't exist!

[Tuor of Gondolin]

Middle-earth mysteries:

What was the cause of the Enchanted River in Mirkwood
being "enchanted."?

About how strong in numbers and where were the Rangers of the
Third Age situated (I believe Michael Martinez postulates
they're being based in the angle of the Mitheithel and
Bruinen). And did they mostly emigrate to west Arnor or
Gondor in the Fourth Age, and what problems might their
interactions with Gondorites cause?

What exactly was Radagast doing for hundreds of years, and
where was he based after he abandoned Rhosgobel?

As for the entwives, in Letters Tolkien tentatively suggests
they perished when their lands were overrun (I don't have the
book with me. I'll try to get the information later).

[tom bombariffic]

RADAGAST

As far as I'm aware, Radagast played very little part. The most conclusive account of his actions that I have read is in the Unfinished Tales:

Radagast, the fourth, became enamoured of the many beasts that dwelt in Middle-Earth, and forsook elves and men, and spent his days among the wild creatures.

This is judged by Tolkien to be a faluire of his mission, as ne notes that Gandalf is the only one who "remained faithful". However, Tolkien's notes indicate that Radagast was not one of the original three chosen Istari (Olorin/Gandalf, Curumo/Saruman and Alatar). Radagast was brought by Curumo at Yavanna's begging.

My personal opinion is that Radagast deviated from his task because of Saruman's extreme contempt for him ("Radagast the simple! Radagast the fool!"), thus making Radagast feel like a burden. But that is 100% speculation on my part.

This is certainly all I know of him, but I have not read all the histories of Middle Earth. I often wonder if Radgase, Alatar and Pallando ever returned to Valinor after the destruction of the ring - If anyone has any thoughts I'd be intregued to hear them. My instinct is that the blue wizards were gone forever and that radagast would have stayed because of his love of the animals of middle-earth - but Yavanna's evident trust in him may have led her to call him back. hoom hoom.

bombariffic

[Rhod the Red]

Well, before Saruman tricked him into sending Gandalf to Orthnac we can only surmise he did his duty as a wizard East of the Misty Mountains. Where was he based afterwards? Who knows, flying from nest to nest, as like as not.

[Boromir88]

bombarrific, very interesting ideas of Radagast.

Now, I don't see any reason to doubt Tolkien when he says that Gandalf was the only wizard to stay faithful to his task. I think Radagast strayed from his purpose as the quote you provide shows. The reason the Istari were sent to Middle-earth were to unite the free peoples to fight and defeat Sauron. Of the Wizards, the only one for sure, and the only one we are told to do this is Gandalf.

Gandalf runs around Middle-earth dealing with every race, dwarves, a friend of elves, men, hobbits, Ents, and getting them all to try their own part in defeating Sauron.

While Radagast was a good-hearted wizard, and helped out Gandalf at times, as the quote shows he forsook his task and took to birds and nature.

You bring up Yavanna's trust in Radagast and wanting Radagast to also be one of the wizards. What's interesting is Yavanna is the Valier of nature, animals, and birds...etc This is just speculation also on my part, but perhaps Yavanna wanted Radagast sent as well, because he would take care of the birds and...etc on Middle-earth. And Radagast just fell in love with it so much that he strayed from his true purpose, which was to help the Free peoples of Middle-earth combat Sauron.

[tom bombariffic]

[EDIT: after writing this, I realised that it's already been discussed above, and wasn't one of the recent questions at all. Never mind, you can read it anyway.]

THE BLUE WIZARDS

we know absolutely nothing about them. Alatar was chosen by Orome to go as one of the three istari. Of course, as we know, Radagast was taken along by Saruman, and Pallando was taken along as a companion by Alatar.

Olorin, Curumo and Aiwendil were named Gandalf, Saruman and Radagast (amongst other names) by the people of middle earth, but Alatar and Pallando have no other names, being referred to simply as the "blue wizards", signifying that they didn't really play any part in the West of Middle-Earth, and just went straight to the west.

There are various theories, such as that they were corrputed by Sauron and ruled in the east much like saruman in the west, or that they were killed by Sauron. Either way, I don't believe there is any more information on them at all.

Christopher Tolkien does note in the Unfinished Tales the significance of the fact that his father linked both of the blue wizards to Orome, the Valar with the most knowledge of the East of Middle-Earth. Therefore, he suggests, they may have been destined to go straight to the east and stay there in the woods. Perhaps they fell in love with hunting in the east the way that Radagast fell in love with animals in the west.

all very speculative, isn't it?

bombariffic

[Rhod the Red]

"we know absolutely nothing about them" You sure about that? You just provided the little knowledge we have of them, most of which is from Unfinished Tales.