Radagast (Middle-earth)

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Radagast the Brown is one of the five Wizards in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings and is mentioned in The Hobbit.

He was an ally and confidant of Gandalf, who describes him in The Hobbit as his cousin, although this may have been a description of convenience for Bilbo's sake. Radagast had a strong affinity for — and relationship with — wild animals. He lived for much of his time in Middle-earth at Rhosgobel, on the western eaves of Mirkwood, near the Gladden Fields on the Great River.

Radagast, like the other Wizards, came from Valinor around the year 1000 of the Third Age of Middle-earth and was one of the Maiar. His original name was Aiwendil, meaning bird-friend in Quenya. The Vala Yavanna forced Saruman to accept Radagast as a companion, which may have been one of the reasons Saruman was contemptuous of him.

Radagast lived in Rhosgobel in the Vales of Anduin. He played a part in the White Council, which was formed to stand against Sauron, but it seemed his greatest concern was with the Kelvar and Olvar (flora and fauna) of Middle-earth and little else is told of him in the chronicles of that time. He was wiser than any Man in all things concerning herbs and beasts. It is said he spoke the many tongues of birds. Even the Beornings and Woodmen of Mirkwood and the Mighty Ent guardians of the Forest of Fangorn spoke with reverence of the wisdom of Radagast the Brown, for in forest-lore he had no equal.

Radagast was unwittingly used by Saruman to lure Gandalf to Orthanc, where Gandalf was captured. However, Radagast also unwittingly helped rescue the grey wizard by alerting the eagles of Gandalf's journey there.

It is not known when or if he left Middle-earth. Tolkien writes that he forsook his mission as one of the Wizards by becoming too obsessed with animals and plants, so presumably he failed, and might not be allowed to return with honour. Tolkien also wrote that he did not believe that Radagast's failure was as great as Saruman's and that he may eventually have been allowed (or chose) to return to the Undying lands. Gandalf's references to him in the book are positive, describing Radagast as a "worthy wizard" and "honest".

According to the essay "The Istari" from the Unfinished Tales, the name Radagast means "tender of beasts" in Adûnaic, the language of Númenor. However, in a later note Tolkien said that the name is in the language of the Men of the Vales of the Anduin, and that its meaning is not interpretable.

The name Radagast may actually be Anglo-Saxon, and could have several interpretations. The word gast, or gæst, or giest means guest. With a different inflection, gāst means "ghost, spirit, angel." The element rad could be derived from rudu, meaning "ruddy, reddish", or from Hræd meaning quick, or nimble. So his name could either be read as "Swift Guest" (close to the Quenya meaning) or "Ruddy Angel." Since the Maiar are Tolkien's 'lesser angels', Radagast would mean simply "Ruddy Maia", perhaps in reference to his cloak's colour (brown, or perhaps ruddy brown). But this may be too much speculation. See Radegast for meaning of the name in Slavic languages from which Tolkien possibly drew the name.

[edit] In adaptations

The moon moth which served as a messenger between Gandalf and Gwahir partially replaced Radagast's role to the plot

Radagast as depicted in The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game.

In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Radagast was entirely cut, and partially replaced by a moon moth. Given that Tolkien's text hints at least once that Radagast possesses shape-shifting abilities (Gandalf calls him "a master of shapes and hues") it is entirely possible that the moth is meant to be Radagast. This is never stated however. The presence of the benign Eagles (commanded by an unseen force) are likely commanded by Radagast.

He appears in The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game.