Radagahst .....where did he go ?

Filli

Hobbit from Hobbiton - Rank 4

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Date: Jul 28, 2009

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Yee ha Radagahst the Brown......now where did he go ? If memory serves, Elrond's scouts could not find him. It looks like we have a failed Istari on the loose __________________ Love Light and Peace

The Secret Fire

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Date: Jul 28, 2009

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Honestly, no one knows. Even Tolkien didn't seem to have a conclusive answer to that.

Also, it isn't just Radagast...at least HE was around during the War of the Ring. The other two Istari (Alatar and Pallando) who came to Middle Earth went East and passed out of anyone's knowledge a millenium before that.

Taken from Encyclopedia of Arda's entry for Radagast:

"We know nothing of Radagast's fate after the Fall of Sauron. Though he failed in his purpose to kindle resistance to the Dark Lord, it is not said that he was banned from returning to Aman, and it seems likely that he did so at some point. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility, though, that he remained among his friends the wild creatures of Middle-earth."

And about the Blue Wizards (Alatar and Pallando):

"The mission of the Blue Wizards was to travel to eastern lands occupied by Sauron, and help to foment unrest among his subject peoples. Whether they succeeded or not, even Tolkien was unsure, though he imagined that they had probably failed ('...I suspect they were founders or beginners of secret cults and 'magic' traditions that outlasted the fall of Sauron.' - The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, No 211, dated 1958). It's also uncertain why they remained in the east while Curunír returned: perhaps this was part of the original plan of the Valar, or perhaps Saruman decided he would have greater success in the west. Whatever the reason, his two blue-cloaked companions were never heard from again."

-- Edited by The Secret Fire on Tuesday 28th of July 2009 04:30:13 PM

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Bear

Lord Elrond of Rivendell - Rank 9

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Filli and the Secret Fire,
There is a very simple explanation of where Radagast went.
He went home.
Where is home?
Radagast lived at Rhosgobel, near the western edge of Mirkwood.
"It seems that, after twice intervening directly in the affairs of Middle-earth (and failing) the Valar in the Third Age decided to act more subtly to save it from resurgent evil. The therefore called upon various of their helpers, the Maiar, to go to Middle-earth as agents and stewards acting on their behalf. The functions of these beings would be to guide and advise and train the natives of Middle-earth as the evil approached." (Stanton, M.N. author "Wizards" J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia. , Michael Drout editor, Scholarship & Critical Assessment ed. 2007.)
At least five of these agents were sent to Middle-earth. There may have been more but only five are mentioned in the texts.
"Called Istari, these agents came to Middle-earth in the guise of old men, revered figures endowed with the powers of mages, and called "wizards," according to our best understanding of their form and function. Tolkien said they could be thought of as "angelos," in the original Greek meaning of that term, "messengers." (Letters, 202) (ibid)
Of the five all failed in their task but one, Gandalf. And he had to pass through death and fire before he was successful.
"Unlike Saruman, who soon fixed his abode at Isengard, and Radagast, who lived at Rhosgobel, near the western edge of Mirkwood, Gandalf had no permanent dwelling-place, but traveled widely about Middle-earth, hence was known by several names. He was gently ridiculed by Saruman for his interest in the inconsequential race of Hobbits who lived in a small district called the Shire. Saruman soon immersed himself in the lore of the One Ring, just as Radagast became deeply and almost exclusively involved in the natural world.
As their preoccupations became obsessions, these two neglected their original roles as counselors and caretakers." (ibid)
The other two known as the Blue Wizards (Alatar and Pallando) traveled to the east of Middle-earth and were supposed to rally and encourage the peoples there against Sauron. Whatever their fates were we do not know, but I think we can speculate with some accuracy, based on tribes of "Easternlings" and "Oliphants" marching in Sauron's various armies, that they failed.
"By the end of the Third Age, each wizard's part had been played. Radagast apparently disappeared into the forest, the corrupt Saruman was annihilated, and Gandalf, having faithfully completed his stewardship, returned to the West." (ibid)

Now Gandalf deserves a thread or several threads about his evolution, mission, character. And a thread speculating who and what powers are connected to the "Blue Wizards"deserves to be done.
But that is not this thread; "Radagast .....where did he go?"

As a person who loves the outdoors and its creatures I have a tendency to look with favor on the champions of nature. Indeed they, in many cases, are my heroes.
I have always thought of Radagast as allied with Gandalf and such creatures as the Ents, Eagles, and Beornings. I had thought that Radagast was a wizard who worked to save animal species from being enslaved by Sauron and twisted by him to evil. (as he seems to have done with spiders and "oliphants".)
But in real life some of the people who I respected as advocates of nature have withdrawn so far from humanity that they are recluse and remain isolated as far from humans as they can get. Their insights and learnings are locked tight inside them, a loss to humanity where their advocacy is so desperately needed.
Perhaps that is what happened to Radagast?
Radagast .....where did he go?
Yeah, he went home.
He took his knowledge, his insights, his linguistic magic, his unique rapport...all his toys and went home.
"Radagast apparently disappeared into the forest..."
Yeah, he went home.

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The Secret Fire

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Interesting Bear, I have never read that. I am almost positive I read someplace that Radagast eventually abandoned his home in Rhosgobel, but it never clarified as to where he went after that. It makes sense that if he didn't return to Valinor that he would stay in the forests of Mirkwood in some manner.

Maybe he disappeared in the forest to be with the birds and beasts as a diminished old man. I wonder what would happen to an Istari who didn't return to the West? Would they diminish like an Elf would?

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Bear

Lord Elrond of Rivendell - Rank 9

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The Secret Fire, That does make sense. When Melian left Middle-earth what became of her? Are there other Maiar whose experience could give us a lead? A very curious, Bear __________________ Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit *Called or uncalled, God is present*

lomoduin

Rohirrim of Edoras - Rank 4

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Date: Jul 31, 2009

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Being a nature lover myself I always wished that Radagast character had been a bit more developed. I've wished the same about Beorn and Tom Bombadil also. I don't think that I could ever be given enough of the story or history of characters to be happy though. And so I'm left re-reading my books and finishing thier stories in the wee hours when I can't sleep.

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