Wizard's Mission

[The Saucepan Man]

I have always felt uncomfortable with the quote referring to Gandalf being the only one to succeed in the 'mission' of the Istari, since it devalues those others who were sent but who did not (necessarily) fail in the same way that Saruman did. I am reluctant, for example, to accept that Radagast 'failed', even though he might not have been instumental in the defeat of Sauron in the same way that Gandalf was. It seems to me, therefore, that the distinction suggested by Boromir88's post is an important one. While Gandalf may have been the only one to succeed in their 'general' mission, namely to counsel and guide the Free Peoples and thereby assist them in bringing about the defeat of Sauron, I like to think that Radagast succeeded in his own 'personal' mission, to care for the flora and the fauna of Middle-earth.

I also like to think that Alatar and Pallando succeeded in their own way, possibly by counselling some Men of the East against allying themselves with Sauron, and thereby depleting the forces available to him. Although that is pure speculation and more difficult to square with the statement that Gandalf was the only one who succeeded.

Of course, Gandalf was (as far as we are aware) the only one to receive a 'turbo-boost' (following his 'death' in the fight with the Balrog of Moria), which seems to have allowed him to use his powers more directly, and with more devastating effect, thereafter.

[Son of Númenor]

I too feel that Radaghast was sold short; he is sort of like the free-spirited, nature-loving son who decides not to take over the family business. As honorable as the family business may be, you cannot discredit the son too much for choosing a life that revolves around understanding & interacting with the natural world, instead of the business world. Of course, this analogy trivializes the whole affair, but you get my drift.

But Saucepan Man, can we be sure about Alatar & Pallando? In the "Istari" essay in Unfinished Tales it says:

Of the Blue little was known in the West... for they passed into the East with Curunír, but they never returned, and whether they remained in the East, pursuing there the purposes for which they were sent; or perished; or as some hold were ensnared by Sauron and became his servants, is not now known. But none of these chances were impossible to be; for, strange indeed though this may seem, the Istari, being clad in bodies of Middle-earth, might even as Men and Elves fall away from their purposes, and do evil, forgetting the good in the search for power to effect it.

It is uncertain whether they truly stayed in the East to fulfill their purpose, or whether they turned to evil or stopped caring; though I agree that declaring that they have failed without any substantial evidence does not seem justified.

Ironically, the last statement about "forgetting the good in the search for power to effect it" seems to tie in with the 'Tolkien, Technology & War' discussion, since the same statement can be applied to the scientific minds who attempt to make great strides that benefit humanity only to create things like the atom bomb. But that is a topic for another thread.

[The Saucepan Man]

But Saucepan Man, can we be sure about Alatar & Pallando?

No, we can't. I just prefer to look at their glass as half full.