Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page |
01-22-2006, 05:59 PM | #1 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Muddy-earth
Posts: 1,297
|
Radagast the Green?
Tolkien states in Letters 211, that distinction in the colours of The Istari was only important in those that stayed in a very small area of the northwest of Middle-Earth, why?, were they not all different in appearance, certainly Saruman and Gandalf were. Were the colours important for the sake of rank, maybe, that's why two blue wizards, why not Pallando the Purple?. The linking of the colours to their respective sponsoring Vala is also a problem, Olorin seems not to be of the people of Manwe or Varda, but of Este or Nienna in Lorien. Their is a tenuous link in the raiment of Gandalf, to that of Este. If we push this link further we see that Melian who also resided within Lorien, marries King Greymantle (cloak). Melian desired to recreate an image of Lorien at Menegroth/Doriath, did she also bring the possible raiment of the people of Este to Beleriand?. Did the returning Noldor name The Grey-Elves after their position between the Light and the Dark, or the colour of their raiment?. In reality they could either be Moriquendi or Calaquendi, there is no grey area, in as much as you cannot half exist. The next problem is that of Aiwendil/Radagast. It is said that Curumo took him to oblige Yavanna wife of Aule. If he was of the people of Yavanna shouldn't his raiment be Green?, however he may of been of the people of her sister Vana, who had a link to the birds. Maybe Vana asked her sister to include Radagast.. The next thing I would like to discuss is, whether the colour was linked to a form of ability?. This could explain Sarumans desire to be of many colours. He may well have linked his desire for knowledge of Ring-making, to his lack of respect for the other Istari, therefore trying to replace their talents within himself. His frustration was his downfall, he thought the others had lost their way. Grey was not given to Gandalf as his rank among The Istari, for it was already the chosen garb Of Olorin, so this brings us back to why he was wearing that colour.
|
|
|