Radagast was indeed afraid of the Nine, but so was Gandalf. Even the Wise are uneasy when the Nine are abroad. My point was that he is very different from Tom Bombadil, who himself went singing and laughing into a Barrow.
It is true we know very little of Radagast from the books. We were however comparing the film Radagast with Tom Bombadil, and from the shots we see of him in the films I cannot find any real parallels between him and Tom.
Back to comparing film Radagast with book Radagast, the only person in the books who ever called Radagast a simpleton or fool was Saruman. He says this openly at the height of his pride and scorn, when he called all of Gandalf's friends "fools", and even said of Gandalf, "I did not expect you to show wisdom." I cannot remember anything about Gandalf treating Radagast as a friendly old fool, or ever showing any signs of sympathetic fondness for him. This comes from PJ and the AUJ. Gandalf just calls him a cousin, colleague, and a member of the Order. He is a friend and ally of Gandalf's. To take Saruman seriously and represent Radagast as a simpleton or fool is a grave mistake. He is a master of shapes and hues, herbs and plants, beasts and especially birds. Others may misunderstand him, and fail to appreciate his work, but he isn't a simpleton or fool. He is not the "typical" Istari either, because all the Istari are different and have different callings. He is however certainly not the friendly fool PJ shows us. In no part in the book is he shown as a scatterbrain or nutter. As for dignity, even animals don't normally walk around with poo on their faces. I'm not saying Radagast has the same self-importance as Saruman, but as an Istari he should not be running around looking worse than his animal friends.
We have worked with animals, and we know that humans (or wizards) need a certain authority and presence when with them. Only when you are above the animals can you truly work with or help them, or even really be their friends. Radagast is not a snuffling little hedgehog, rummaging about in the dirt. He is a wizard, guardian and friend of the birds and beasts. If anything he would take on their more noble characteristics. In the film he is shown mostly together with cute hedgehogs, bunnies, and tweety birds. Is he not also the friend of foxes, deers, bears, ravens, owls, eagles and all the higher animals? In that sense the old GW Radagast miniature is more like my interpretation of the book Radagast. A great wizard, the noble and wise protector of the forest that can summon the birds and beasts to his aid in times of need.
Of course so little is known about Radagst from books that PJ's version may indeed be the right one, but in my opinion PJ's sits badly among the Istari and doesn't befit a Maia spirit, even one who has gone "wild" and spends most of his time in the wild with the beasts and his bird friends.
jdizzy001 wrote:
Wow, compeling arguements on all sides.
The famous
"Water Lilies vs. Mushrooms" debates. Lol.
I enjoy these talks, its great to think through Tolkien's universe, you always come out with a greater appreciation for the books and films.
Elladan
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Its kinda like the serial stories you read at the back of cereal boxes when you're have breakfast, just way, way better!
"Leave Sauron to me."
), but what I'm trying to point out is that Radagast doesn't need to be so whacky and out of place. I prefer to picture him more like a druid, a real power in the forest and a more serious ally. Or maybe kind of like a Istari Red Indian, at one with Nature and himself.
