Yavanna's Chosen

[Ancalagon'sFire]

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. Thus he got his name (which is in the tongue of Numenor of old, and signifies, it is said, "tender of beasts").

Unfinished Tales - The Istari

There is no hint of an explanation of why Yavanna's evident desire that the Istari should include in their number one with particular love of the things of her making could only be achieved by imposing Radagast's company on Saruman; while the suggestion in the essay on the Istari (p.407) that in becoming enamoured of the wild creatures of Middle-earth Radagast neglected the purpose for which he was sent if perhaps not perfectly in accord with the idea of his being specially chosen by Yavanna.

Unfinished Tales - The Istari

It is said that of all the Istari Gandalf was the only one to have remained faithful to the task set by the Valar. I wonder then was Yavanna's choice of Aiwendil specific to her purpose and if so did he in fact remain faithful to her and ultimately succeed in Middle-Earth?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I figure that Radagast's task was, like that of the other Istari, to help the Free Peoples to fight against Sauron. I think his specific purpose, what he should have done, would have been to observe that animals and such do not fall to Sauron and offer resistence to him, so to say, battle on this field while others are concerned primarily with maintaining Gondor etc., Radagast's task would be to see that not only for example the Men of Gondor stand against Sauron, but also that the animals in the forests of Gondor are not dangerous, i.e. it would be nice to have a land of proud men, but what if Sauron infiltrated the West through the woods, so to say, with some corrupted beasts or whatever. His task could have been also to appeal to the more "hidden" folks of Middle-Earth, like the Woodmen or perhaps Drúedain.

Last but not least, I think Radagast could have been there to give the Istari's mission "ecological" aspect. I.e. prevent that, for example, Saruman would not come and say "Oh, I know how to defeat Sauron! Let's build ten thousand factories and forge unbeatable weapons." Radagast's vocation would have been probably to correct his course at that point.

So, all in all, I think in comparison to others Radagast remained relatively quite close to his task (although we don't really know about Alatar and Pallando), but still, not enough. He was, let's say, lazy, distracted, probably did not fulfil his tasks, did not do what he should. He and Saruman should have had warmer relationship (it is hinted that they were chosen intentionally together), maybe in the optimal case Saruman's eagerness would have kept Radagast active, while Radagast would have helped Saruman to calm down and take into account also others than himself. Alas, neither of that happened.

[Alfirin]

Other things he might have been sent to do.

Make sure no one tired in the corse of the wars (and post wars) decided to go an extermianted the Ents who were as I recall in some ways Yavanna's chosen children (much as the dwarves were Aule's). As the war progressed or possibly once the war ended and men became numerous there might have been a risk of men trying to exterminate the Ents for more or less the same reason Saruman's forces tried to, so as to be able to fell trees at thier leisure wherever and whenever they chose, with impunity.

Assuming that Ishari retain, in some degree the qualities and inclinations of the Maiar they were and the Valar they served, Yavanna may indeed, as Legate proposed have been necceary to keep ME ecosystem intact. Of the remaing four Saurman (Aule's) was indeed very mechanistic and might have tried to talk the free peoples into a very mechanistic world view of "tech over nature" Gandalf was concered very much with the people directly (at least it might have seemed so when he first came) and might have seen the sacrafice of ME the land an accepatble loss if it ultimately benfited the actual people in the short term. As for Alatar and Pallando they were sent by Orome, who presumably is not called "the Huntsman" for nothing. Under thier tutelage once the war with Sauron was over man might have hunted all of the beast of ME to extinction. Maybe Yavanna did think ME needed a worlds advocate.

[Rumil]

I've often wondered if Radagast had more of a hand in the story than we generally appreciate.

Specifically as a contact with The Eagles (and if eagles perhaps Manwe???)-

Bilbo & co at the fir trees, Battle of Five Armies, Gandalf's ecape from Orthanc and from Zirak Zigil, Battle of the Morannon, rescue of Frodo and Sam - so fairly influential I'd say.

Of course we can't really link any of these with Radagast except the escape from Orthanc, but I think it's a possibility.

So perhaps Radagast failed 'on points' ? His heart was in the right place but he just didn't get sufficiently involved with the fight against Sauron?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Rumil

So perhaps Radagast failed 'on points' ? His heart was in the right place but he just didn't get sufficiently involved with the fight against Sauron?

Yes, I think that would be roughly summing it up in a few words. And of the examples you mentioned, even if Radagast was not directly involved in the events, we might perhaps ascribe to him some influence on the animals in question - like, if in the Hobbit we hear that some (the "Non-High") eagles were "cruel", perhaps Radagast's influence at some point helped to increase the ranks of the "good eagles" in comparison to the "bad guys" among them, which in turn could have led to giving the eagles more chances and space and "manpower" to operate outside their own nests, which in turn could have indirectly led to them being capable of saving Gandalf or intervening in the Battle of the Five Armies.

And otherwise I very much agree with what Alfirin said, that was what I was basically trying to express too.

[Pitchwife]

Among other tasks, I'm pretty sure Radagast's activities included furthering higher education among foxes, qualifying them to observe Hobbit behaviour patterns and comment on irregularities therein.
More seriously -

Originally Posted by Legate

Last but not least, I think Radagast could have been there to give the Istari's mission "ecological" aspect. I.e. prevent that, for example, Saruman would not come and say "Oh, I know how to defeat Sauron! Let's build ten thousand factories and forge unbeatable weapons." Radagast's vocation would have been probably to correct his course at that point.

This sounds very plausible, except that he didn't - in other words, if such was his mission, he failed bigtime. I really don't understand why Radagast apparently trusted Saruman so long. All that tree-felling, burning and smeltering in and around Isengard should have outraged him - but in the short dialogue scene reported by Gandalf at the Council of Elrond, which seems to imply that Radagast had come straight from Orthanc looking for Gandalf, there's no hint of anything of the sort. So, are we to suppose that the whole industrialization of Isengard, including the breeding and armament of a huge army of Uruks, was done in the following months, with no preparations visible at the time of Radagast's last visit, or did he tell himself, "Well, I don't like at all what Saruman is doing there, but he's the head of the Order, so I won't question him?" If the latter, he really was the simpleton Saruman took him for, much as I'd prefer to think there was a little more to him.

[Ancalagon'sFire]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

So, are we to suppose that the whole industrialization of Isengard, including the breeding and armament of a huge army of Uruks, was done in the following months, with no preparations visible at the time of Radagast's last visit, or did he tell himself, "Well, I don't like at all what Saruman is doing there, but he's the head of the Order, so I won't question him?" If the latter, he really was the simpleton Saruman took him for, much as I'd prefer to think there was a little more to him.

You raise an interesting point in relation to what Radagast observed at Orthanc, which we can but surmise. Suffice to say he was there before Gandalf had visited and Saruman had not yet begun to prepare his army with such vigour. It had already been months gone by before Radagast found Gandalf and explained the news given him by Saruman. The role Saruman wanted him to play.

Suddenly another voice spoke, low and melodious, its very sound an enchantment. Those who listened unwarily to that voice could seldom report the words that they heard; and if they did, they wondered, for little power remained in them. Mostly they remembered only that it was a delight to hear the voice speaking, all that it said seemed wise and reasonable, and desire awoke in them by swift agreement to seem wise themselves. When others spoke they seemed harsh and uncouth by contrast; and if they gainsaid the voice, anger was kindled in the hearts of those under the spell. For some the spell lasted only while the voice spoke to them, and when it spake to another they smiled, as men do who see through a juggler's trick while others gape at it. For many the sound of the voice alone was enough to hold them enthralled; but for those whom it conquered the spell endured when they were far away, and ever they heard that soft voice whispering and urging them. But none were unmoved; none rejected its pleas and its commands without an effort of mind and will, so long as its master had control of it.

The Lord of the Rings

It may be fair to say Radagast could have fallen foul of the honey dripping from Saruman's forked tongue. When Gandalf relates his meeting with Radagast back to Elrond he is certain that he had not given himself to the whim of Saruman, simply that Saruman had played on the honest nature of Radagast for his own ends. I do not believe Radagast knew the extent of Saruman's fall, his designs or his dominion by Sauron. He simply acted in good faith to warn a brother in need.

That of course does not answer whether he succeeded in Middle-Earth in the role appointed him by the Valar. It does however show that he did play a role in undermining Sauron by contributing to frustrating his efforts. However, it would seem that his heart was given to all things that grow and the animals that live among them. He became the ultimate gardener of Middle-Earth his focus on all things made by Yavanna. With Middle-Earth now closed to The West, sending a Maiar (Kindred Spirit) in whom she could extend her own hand was a masterstroke but difficult to quantify. Remember, she was adamant he go with Saruman as she had her own motives over and above bringing together the free peoples of middle-earth to unite in their insurgence against Sauron.