Radagast

2011-09-29T19:28:55Z

83.11.45.77: /* Etymology */

{{Istari infobox
| image=[[Image:Radagast (Decipher).JPG|250px]]
| name= Radagast
| othernames= The Brown, [[Radagast|Aiwendil]], Bird Friend, Tender of Beasts, [[Bird-tamer]]
| coming={{TA|1000}}
| duty=[[Istari]]
| death=Unknown
| gender=Male
| robes= Brown
| hair=White and Grey
| appearance=Old man cloaked in brown
|}}
{{pronounce|Quenya - Aiwendil.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
{{quote|Radagast the Brown! ... Radagast the Bird-tamer! Radagast the Simple! Radagast the Fool! Yet he had just the wit to play the part that I set him.|[[Saruman]], ''[[The Council of Elrond]]''}}

'''Radagast the Brown''' was one of the [[Wizards]], a good friend of [[Gandalf]], and had a strong affinity for animals. He lived at [[Rhosgobel]], on the western eaves of [[Mirkwood]], near the [[Gladden Fields]] on the [[Anduin|Great River]].

== History ==
Radagast, like the other Wizards, came from [[Valinor]] around the year [[Third Age 1000|1000]] of the [[Third Age]] and was one of the [[Maiar]] of [[Valie]] [[Yavanna]]. His original name was '''Aiwendil''' (pron. {{IPA|[aɪˈwendil]}}), meaning ''Bird Friend'' in [[Quenya]]. Yavanna forced [[Curumo]] to accept Radagast as a companion, which may have been one of the reasons Saruman was contemptuous of him.

The wizard's home was in [[Rhosgobel]] on the western borders of [[Mirkwood]]. He was a friend of [[Beorn]] as well as a friend to the forest's many creatures, especially birds whom he communicated with. Despite this, Gandalf was still more knowledgeable of the animals, and more respected by them than Radagast. Radagast spent most of his time with the wildlife instead of [[Men]] and [[Elves]], whom he found more difficult to deal with. Radagast grew neglectful and easygoing, and he lacked courage, however he remained of good will.

In the summer of [[Third Age 3018|3018]] Radagast was unwittingly used by Saruman to lure Gandalf to [[Orthanc]], sending him to [[Bree]] with a message for Gandalf. In this message Saruman asked Gandalf to come to Orthanc, where Saruman trapped and captured him. Luckily, Radagast didn't mean any harm to Gandalf, and wasn't aware of Saruman's plan. So Radagast also helped rescue the grey wizard by alerting the [[Eagles]] of Gandalf's journey there.

Radagast is without a doubt a mysterious character. While there is little doubt that his heart was in the right place, he did not possess that same selflessness that allowed Gandalf to fulfil the task set to him by the Valar, to aid the free people. Deigning to leave his wooded home, Radagast remained in Northern Mirkwood with the birds and the beasts and the trees.

So in the end, it seems that Radagast was among the four wizards who failed in their tasks to help fight against Sauron. He was not ambitious and cruel like Saruman, but there is no record of him contributing to the downfall of Sauron.

What became of Radagast the Brown in the [[Fourth Age]] is left to speculation. It is possible that he was allowed to return to Valinor, but this seems unlikely. Radagast may have left to wander [[Middle-earth]], or he may have stayed with his birds and his beasts, content to while away the days in Mirkwood until he himself faded away and became part of the forest, the trees and the plants and the leaves.

==Other names==
[[Image:Angelo Montanini - Radagast.jpg|thumb|right|''Radagast'' by [[Angelo Montanini]]]]
* The Brown
* [[Radagast|Aiwendil]]
* Bird Friend
* Tender of Beasts
* Radagast the Bird-tamer - a name mockingly given to Radagast by Saruman.
* Radagast the Simple - a name mockingly given to Radagast by Saruman.
* Radagast the Fool - a name mockingly given to Radagast by Saruman.

== Etymology ==
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 [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] said that the name is in the language of the [[Men]] of the [[Vales of Anduin]], and that its meaning is not interpretable.

The name ''Radagast'' may actually be [[Old English|Anglo-Saxon]]. The word ''gast'' means "ghost, spirit, angel." The element ''rad'' could be derived from ''rudu'', meaning "ruddy, reddish". If this is the case, his name could be translated as "Ruddy Angel" or "Ruddy Spirit", in reference to his [[Maia]] nature and his cloak's color (brown, or perhaps ruddy brown). But this may be too much speculation.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radegast_%28god%29 Radagast] was a Slavic name, perhaps referring to a god from Slavic mythology and perhaps Tolkien drew it from there. See the link for the meaning of the name.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Ring]]'':'''
:[[Donald Gee]] provided the voice of Radagast. He is however not the person who sends the [[Eagles|Eagle]] to save Gandalf from [[Orthanc]].

'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
[[File:WiMe-Radagast&Hobbits-1.png|thumb|200px]]
:Radagast is non-playable character in this game.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:The character Radagast and virtually all references to him were removed. He was originally to appear in a background scene, but this was removed because it was thought it would only confuse people.{{fact}} He later appeared on a [[Decipher Card]], played by [[Weta Workshop|Weta]]'s John Harding.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Radagast is a non-playable character, who gives various quests. He resides at Ost Guruth and Agamaur, keeps in the [[Lone-lands]].

{{references}}
* ''[[The Hobbit]]'', [[Queer Lodgings]]
* ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[The Council of Elrond]]
* ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[The Istari]]
* ''[[The Lost Road and Other Writings]]'' "The Etymologies," entries [[AIWĒ-]] and (N)DIL
* ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 156]]

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Radagast|Images of Radagast]]

{{ainur}}
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Masculine names]]
[[Category:Names]]
[[Category:Wizards]]
[[de:Radagast]]
[[fa:راداگاست]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/ainur/maiar/istari/radagast]]
[[fi:Radagast]]

Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Radagast