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What happened to Radagast?
From: The Tolkien FAQ by William D.B. Loos
Radagast was said to also have failed his mission, but it's tempting to think that his
"failure" was not as bad as that of the others. The Essay on the Istari:
"Indeed, of all the Istari, one only remained faithful, and he was the last-comer. For
Radagast, the fourth, became enamoured of the many beasts and birds that dwelt in Middle-earth,
and forsook Elves and Men, and spent his days among the wild creatures." (Unfinished Tales, p. 390)
Radagast certainly never became evil. The above quote suggests, however, that his mission
was not just to relate to wild creatures but also to build bridges between them and Elves and
Men. He did, in fact, have his friends the birds gather much information, but since they were
reporting to Saruman as the head of the Council that wasn't altogether helpful. On the other
hand, it has often been suggested (though there is no direct textual evidence of any kind) that
the way Eagles kept showing up at opportune times may have been partially his work.
We know nothing of what happened to Radagast after the end of the Third Age. It seems
conceivable, though, given the more ambiguous nature of his failing, that he might have been
allowed back to Valinor eventually.
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