Radagast

Radagast, or Aiwendill, belonged to the group of Wizards (Istari) sent to Middle-earth to fight Sauron's will. He took care of the health of animals and plants in the world, being first, Yavanna's Maia. Therefore, he wasn't a considerable participant in the War of the Ring. His other names include, “the Fool”, “the Simple”, “the Bird-Tamer”, “Tender of Beasts”, and “Bird Friend.

Etymology

Radagast was known initially as Aiwendill, which means bird-friend. The Quenya language splits it into aiwe, meaning small bird, and -ndil, meaning friend. In the language of the Numenor, Adunaic, Radagast means "tender of beasts" as it was written in one of the essays entitled, "The Istari," in the Unfinished Tales. However, Tolkien himself said that the meaning of Radagast's name is not subject to interpretation and was based on the dialect of the Men of the Vales of Anduin. Radagast has Anglo-Saxon origins and can be interpreted in various ways. The Languages of Middle Earth says that Radagast came from the name of a Slavic god of the pagans because it was how they called one of their lesser gods in the West. He was the god of harvest, fertility, war, and the Sun. His other names were Redigast, Radhost, Radegast, and Radigost. [1] Fans also note that Radagast is close to rudugast, an Old English term which means "red-brown spirit."

Biography

Years of the Lamps

Before Radagast, he was Aiwendill first, and he was present even before the beginning of Time, came to Arda to be of service to Valar, and Valie Yavanna, Queen of earth.

Third Age

Arrival in Middle-earth

In the year 1000, Wizards or Maiar, taking the form of old Men, came to Grey Havens at the west side of Eriador, along the shores of Middle-earth. Curumo alone was the one who came first, while Olorin and Aiwendil arrived together. The Wizards roamed Middle earth, at this time, taking on their mission. Aiwendil was renamed to Radagast as decided upon by the Noldor. He protected the vast Forests and was very zealous for all the animals and plants, to which he possessed great knowledge. He had very little concern for what goes on in the lives of Elves and Men. During this time, he also moved away from Saruman, although he was ignorant of the fact that he loathed him and thought of him as foolish. Radagast wasn't much of a wanderer.

It will be challenging to find stories of his early voyages. However, towards the end of the Third Age, we can see him dwelling and settle, temporarily, at Rhosgobel, in between the Old Forest Road and Carrock. The area was located around Mirkwood's boundaries, and Radagast was there to keep watch, for the Shadow of Dol Guldur was gradually engulfing the forest. During this time, he came to know those who were living in that area. He took care of all the birds and all the animals and was very close to the Great Eagles. Beorn, his neighbor, wasn't very friendly, but Radagast was able to see him at certain times, and Beorn saw him as "good enough" for a Wizard.

War of the Ring

The White Council met again in 2851, and then Saruman started his quest to find the One Ring beginning at Gladden Fields. Radagast, at this time, helped Saruman, using all the birds and beasts in his employ as spies. He was doing this in exchange for Saruman protecting them from Sauron. He had no awareness of Saruman’s selfish plan to take possession of the Ring and was giving aid with good intentions. During the War of the Ring, Radagast has already left Rhosgobel, and in the summer of 3018, Saruman had him seek out Gandalf, telling him that Gandalf needs his help, and he is willing to give it.

The Brown Wizard knows little about Eriador but left for the Shire, nonetheless, knowing that he will find Gandalf there. Indeed, when Midsummer's Day came, it was Gandalf, who came to see him while he was sitting along the road in Greenway near Bree, with his horse, beside him. It was then when Radagast warned him about the Nazguls, who is bound for the Shire, disguised as black riders. Moreso, he told him about Saruman’s offer to help him by sending news to Orthanc through Radagast’s fleet of birds and beasts. After having said this, he went on his journey back to Mirkwood.

Gandalf then headed towards Orthanc, where he was captured. He figured out that Saruman set up a trap to get him imprisoned but knew in his heart that Radagast had nothing to do with it. In fact, Radagast helped him out of the peak of Orthanc, riding on the Gwaihir’s wings. There was no record of Radagast's actions in the middle of the War or even after it ended. After the Council of Elrond met, many lookouts were sent to Rivendell and other locations, to the Misty Mountains and even to Rhosgobel, but no one has seen Radagast. What happened to him after the War of the Ring remains to be unknown.

Character

There was not much written in the books of Tolkien about Radagast, other than the characteristics previously mentioned. While Saruman was chief of the Wizards, and Gandalf came second to him, Radagast held little wisdom and power. He was a friend to the birds and the beasts and took a massive interest in the olvar and kelvar of Middle-earth being one of Yavanna's Maiars. However, Gandalf rules over him in terms of knowledge about birds, to which he gained much more respect. Radagast was very naïve and innocent, making him a worthy accomplice to Saruman as he carried out his plans to investigate the Gladden Fields for the White. He saw Radagast as foolish and dim-witted, not worthy of being called an Istari.

In the movie adaptation, Radagast was portrayed as a peculiar character, but courageous and noble. He healed Sebastian the hedgehog and held off a pack of Orcs, so Thorin and Company can pass to Rivendell. He was a wizard who was extremely knowledgeable about nature and can perform magic and healing spells. Despite being likened to a child, he was a skillful warrior, fighting against the Witch-king of Angmar, who resurrected.

He was brave enough to help Gandalf in various ways to include his rescue of him at Dol Guldur, and he even gave him his staff. The actor Sylvester McCoy played Radagast quite excellently, with his trademark energetic and twitchy speaking ability, that was part of his career as he played various comedic and eccentric roles.

Abilities

“Master of shapes and changes of hue,” this is how Gandalf described Radagast, at the time of the Council of Elrond, though the meaning is known today. Radagast has unparalleled knowledge about everything on herbs and animals and can even speak various bird languages. In the trilogy, Radagast was shown as an eccentric and bizarre person because he talks to animals. He used his vast wisdom on herbs and medicines to resurrect a hedgehog to life. Apart from this, Radagast is also adept at combat, being successful in warding off the Witch-king of Angmar's attack (and his beckoned shade) when he was at Dol Guldur investigating. He travels by way of a sled which he fashioned out of sticks and hauled by Rhosgobel Rabbits. The sled can outrun Gundabad Wargs, used by Orcs through and commanded by Yazneg in the movie, The Hobbit.

Behind the Scenes

There is no information on Radagast leaving Middle-earth. According to Tolkien, Radagast was so fixated with plants and animals that he abandoned his duties as a Wizard, and having failed, presumably, was banned to return honorably to Valinor. However, Tolkien claimed that Saruman failed even more than Saruman did and would have been allowed back if he had so chosen.

Legendarium (other versions)

The first draft of The Hobbit features Radagast with a "cousin," and Bladorthin regarded him as a fellow wizard. John D. Rateliff noted that wizards could have cousins. Also, it is possible that Tolkien’s explanation as to Gandalf's absence when Thorin and Company fled from the house of Beorn, is that he went to Radagast's house, being nearby, to plan for an attack on Necromancer. In the Lord of the Rings, it was evident that Tolkien meant for Radagast to play a role and later on used his character for Gandalf to be brought to Isengard. In "The Hobbit," Gandalf considered Radagast as his cousin and, subsequently, his kinsman. Finally, he called him "one of his order." Tolkien used to refer to him as Radagast the Grey but later changed it to Radagast the Brown, as Saruman calls him. As Tolkien finished writing the manuscript up to Moria, he took down notes on how the story would unfold and considered giving Radagast the Isengard.

Adaptation Portrayals

Movie

The Lord of the Ring (BBC Radio, 1981)

Donald Gee played Radagast on the radio. He was shown earlier in the story versus the book since the plotline was in chronological order.

The Hobbit Film Trilogy

Radagast’s character was missing in the film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson as well as the animated movie in 1978. This includes all mentions of him, apart from the scene where Eagles were spotted being commanded by an invisible force. He appears, however, in The Hobbit trilogy by the same director. However, all of the scenes in the movie where he was shown were not depicted in the book. He was only cited once in print, and very briefly, as the cousin of Gandalf. Sylvester McCoy portrayed him in The Hobbit, the actor who also starred in Doctor Who. [2]

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Bilbo Baggins asked Gandalf if there were other wizards in Middle-earth, to which Gandalf mentioned Radagast, his first mention in the film. He was one of the five wizards that Gandalf shared with Bilbo. He regarded Radagast as a great wizard in his way, relishing his time with the animals and plants of the Greenwood forest, not mingling so much with Men. Further scenes show him exploring Greenwood taking note of the decay of the majority of the plants and the illnesses affecting most of the animals. He was seen bringing home one of the hedgehogs, Sebastian, to Rhosgobel, where he was able to nurse it back to life. Radagast believes that a powerful enchantment brought this upon Greenwood, and it later became known as Mirkwood.

When Giant Spiders attacked Rhosgobel, Radagast was seen probing the area and finding out that the source of this evil came from Dol Guldur, the forsaken fortress. Radagast then travels to Dol Guldur on board his sled hauled by Rhosgobel rabbits. However, while he was examining Dol Guldur, the Witch-king of Angmar in spirit came and attacked him. Amazingly, Radagast was able to ward him off, even to put down his Morgul-blade and withdraw. He took possession of the weapon and, upon doing so, saw a shadow moving across the fortress, which he thought to be the Necromancer. He hurried to look for Gandalf to tell him about the imminent threat to Mirkwood, and he found him in Trollshaws with Thorin and Company.

He talked to him about the Necromancer, posing a danger to Middle-earth at Dol Guldur, and showed him the Morgul-blade as proof. Right after, a multitude of Warg Riders attacked the company with Yazneg in the lead. Radagast undertakes to divert the Warg Riders from the company by riding his Rhosgobel rabbit-pulled sled and getting their attention. This way, Thorin and Company were able to flee to Rivendell’s Hidden Valley safely. The rabbit sled was so fast and easy to navigate, so Radagast was able to outrun the Warg Riders, and they were chased off by Elrond and his elven horsemen. When the White Council met at Rivendell, Gandalf supported Radagast's report that the Necromancer was posing a danger to Middle-earth. However, Saruman, the White Council's leader, was unconvinced and said that the Morgul-blade was not enough evidence to prove such a claim. He even said that Radagast's reliability was questionable, having consumed an excessive number of mushrooms, which may have confounded his judgment.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

In the second movie, Radagast, as seemingly instructed by Galadriel, went to the High Fells of Rhudaur to meet with Gandalf. They found the Nazgul tombs, forcibly opened by “dark spells.” Gandalf believed that the Necromancer was behind the Nazgul's presence in Dol Guldur, but Radagast was skeptical knowing that human sorcerers are not capable of summoning the Nazgul. But Gandalf reasoned that the Nazgul are under the command of Sauron, who could be the Necromancer himself. Suspecting that Sauron could attack the Lonely Mountain, Gandalf wanted to rejoin with Thorin and Company, but Radagast insisted on searching Dol Guldur themselves. When they arrived in Dol Guldur, Gandalf felt that a concealment spell was cast on the fortress, which means that the enemy is buying time to gain more strength. He then sent Radagast to Lady Galadriel to give a message while he continued to conduct his probe of the forsaken fortress.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

In the third movie, Radagast was seen telepathically communicating with Gandalf, as he was reciting a mantra to help free him from his prison. Galadriel asked him to bring Gandalf, and Radagast took his sled and brought him from the Battle of Dol Guldur). He then gave a horse to Gandalf to ride to Erebor as well as his Wizard Staff, replacing the old one. Gandalf instructed Radagast to summon all the birds and beasts to join the battle in the Lonely Mountain. Radagast then led the Great Eagles to help the Elves, Dwarves, and Men. He was probably riding Gwaihir with Beorn.

Video Games

Radagast appears in various video games such as The Lord of the Rings Online, where he inhabited Ost Guruth city. The player will help him in a quest series of the Lone-Lands until they battle Ivar the Gaunt-Lord. Upon defeating Ivar, he moves to Barad Dhorn's tower in Agamaur. In the Lord of the Rings: War in the North, he leaves Rhosgobel and hides in Mirkwood while the War of the Ring is going on. He is captured by Saenathra, the spider, as commanded by Agandaur. He is freed by Farin, Eradan, and Andriel, killing Saenathra. Radagast tells the three where to find Urgost the dragon to move forward in their quest. Phil Proctor [3] voiced Radagast in the game. He is also in the LEGO, the Lord of the Rings game as a character you can buy in Bree and play.

However, he travels from places to places and is not always in a particular location. He only has his staff as his equipment, which is unique for his character. In the game LEGO The Hobbit: The Video Game, Radagast is also a character you can play. He can provide healing and can obliterate Lego objects, which are blue. In cooperative play, he joins with Gandalf to investigate Dol Guldur. In the Hobbit Strategy Battle Game [4] by Peter Jackson, Radagast is a hero figurine. It comes in two distinct versions: The model showing Radagast the Brown with the hedgehog Sebastian, and another limited-edition model which was sold inside a box of The Hobbit: Escape from Goblin Town.

Toys

In the LEGO to one set: Dol Guldur Battle, Radagast is an exclusive figure. It is sold in a game set, which includes Radagast, two Gundabad Orcs, the Necromancer, Azog, and Gandalf the Grey. Radagast is also in the trading card game connected with the Lord of the Rings trilogy by Peter Jackson.​