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12-05-2004, 06:05 PM | #1 |
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What Was the Purpose of the 2 Blue Wizards
In one of the books, Tolkien states that along with Gandalf(the Grey), Saruman(the White) and Radagast(the Brown)
came 2 un-named wizards, and all that we know about them is that they were robed in blue, so the obvious question is, what was the purpose of the 2 Blue wizards, because they are never mentioned in the core LoTR books, and is never mentioned by either Gandalf, Saruman or Radagast. So i would like to hear your ideas... |
12-05-2004, 06:34 PM | #2 |
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An interesting question, I think.
This is, of course, mere conjecture, and I could easily be proven wrong by anyone with more knowledge of HoME. Gandalf (and arguably Radagast, though to a lesser degree) was the only wizard to remain loyal to the cause that the Valar had given them. He was the only one to stand beside the people of Middle Earth against Sauron in the war at the end of the Third Age. Making him the only one out of 3 wizards, to me, doesn't have as much of an impact as making him the only one out of 5. If 4 fell two inaction (and in Saruman's case, opposition), to me it speaks more for the difficulty of their task, even for Maiar, than if only 2 were disloyal (again, Radagast can be debated). It's the only idea I can come up with, at present. Anyone else... btw, I have no documentation, but I've seen in at least one forum the names "Pallando" and "Alatar" given to the blue wizards. Are these real names? ps... welcome to the Moot, ItalianLegolas! Hope you enjoy it!
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12-05-2004, 06:51 PM | #3 |
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The two Blue Wizards, Alatair and Pallandro, were said by JRRT in the Letters to have gone into the East, presumably to Harad or the environs, and further were said to have failed. I don't have the reference at hand, but a few moments work with the Index should turn them up.
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01-04-2005, 05:08 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
Pallando and Alatar were their "Valinorean names", as I understand it; I remember reading somewhere their Mannish equivalents, but where, I don't know. I'd like to see them again.
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12-05-2004, 07:08 PM | #5 |
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The purpose of the Blue Wizards was the same as the purpose of the other three.
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12-05-2004, 07:40 PM | #6 |
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In Radagast's case, i think, it was more of a case of blind trust/stupidity(they may be the same), as opposed to inaction/un-loyalness to the cause.
in response to Wayfarer, if it is true that they went into the East, is it not also possible that they, like Saruman were turned from there good ways and into the Dark-Lords service? Is it also possible, that maybe they came to rule Harad? or did they return to the West with their task unfinished? |
12-05-2004, 07:48 PM | #7 |
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Yes.
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12-06-2004, 01:10 AM | #8 |
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Been a few threads on these guys. A quick search will turn up the threads, and the sources.
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12-06-2004, 01:17 AM | #9 |
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http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/show...&threadid=6793
http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/show...Wizards+colors http://entmoot.com/showthread.php?s=...ht=blue+wizard
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12-06-2004, 07:44 AM | #10 |
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Wayfarer is correct as far as the 'Purpose Statement' goes.
For the names, and a bit more information, there's a section of 'Unfinished Tales' that can be of interest. Appropriately enough, a chapter called 'The Istari'. Tolkien actually speculates in a couple different directions about them - if he ever made up his mind for sure, I don't know which one he settled on. One - that they either became ineffective or were the source of 'false religions' in the eastern parts of Middle Earth, by which we might guess that the people there were more easily ensnared by Sauron. The other - that they WERE effective and faithful to their purpose - with a sort of 'who knows how bad things would have been without them' kind of statement. In any case, I believe there's mention someplace that the two went into the east with Saruman, and that he eventually returned alone. Say ... you don't suppose that HE might have ...
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01-22-2005, 10:42 AM | #11 | |
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Quote:
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01-23-2005, 12:36 PM | #12 |
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Yeah, that is the definite answer to it, Chrys.
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01-23-2005, 09:35 PM | #13 |
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well, that is the answer, but what did they do to better the lives of Men, Hobbits,Elves,Dwarves and all the other races of Middle-Earth? What did they do to thwart Sauron in his attempt for world-domination?
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01-29-2005, 08:37 AM | #14 |
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Well Saruman didn't do much at the end cause he went over to the dark side. Gandalf did his bits here and there, like making Frodo take the ring to Rivendell and helping him further on his journey. He also counseled Aragorn and destroyed the Balrog. I don't know what Radagast or the other did but I'm sure they pushed here and pulled there to set things in motion.
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01-29-2005, 09:06 AM | #15 |
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Gandalf did way more then a little bit, he was, as they say (somewhere) "the architect of Saurons downfall"
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01-29-2005, 09:46 AM | #16 |
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radagast sought to persuade birds and beasts to become friends of men elves and dwarves
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