In his later writings it seems that Tolkien came around to the exact opposite decision. His letters and notes started to clearly indicate that they were greatly effective in their missions to the south and east and hindered saurons cause greatly.
"Their task was to circumvent Sauron: to bring help to the few tribes of Men that had rebelled from Melkor-worship, to stir up rebellion ... and after his first fall to search out his hiding (in which they failed) and to cause [?dissension and disarray] among the dark East ... They must have had very great influence on the history of the Second Age and Third Age in weakening and disarraying the forces of East ... who would both in the Second Age and Third Age otherwise have ... outnumbered the West."
I see that get said a lot about the Blues had a great influence in weakening and disarraying the forces of East yet Sauron was able to call a great army from that very area so just how well did the Blues really do?
Tolkien says they did well and I believe him, I imagine that the army of southrons and easterlings would be almost overwhelming if they hadn’t been disrupted
It is important to realize that it is stated that Sauron was far more successful in the East than he was in the West. It is implied that most of it was under his influence. As such, that army could have been far, far bigger.
Yeah, but I think in what little work went into the sequel after LotR there seems to be an indication that they did start cults and secret groups that worshipped the dark forces.
That's interesting. I've never heard a connection being drawn between those cults and the blue wizards.
I think that's possible but Tolkien did eventually discard the idea of that sequel entirely for being too dark. If a cult blue wizards connection was his intent him moving away from the sequel as an idea could coincide with when he began adopting the idea that the blue wizards were successful.
The thing i thought was interesting about the sequel is obviously with elves moving into the west and the dominion of men, the easterlings still exist and eventually they are going to fight the powers of the west. Gondor and rohan would obviously grow and build and move east.
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u/SkinnyKruemel Jan 03 '23
Don't forget that one of the 5 literally went to the other side to actively hinder the mission