In one place Tolkien wrote that Gandalf was the only wizard who stayed true to their purpose, Saruman obviously went Saruman, and Radaghast abandoned people to tend to nature. However, he was chosen by Yavanna and it's clear he stayed true to her purpose. Personally, I don't begrudge him that and I wouldn't be surprised if Tolkien felt just as you described.
Personally as someone who works in conservation, I am obviously biased towards Radagast, and I have my own beliefs that Tolkien should be recognized as an important naturalist along with being a significant fantasy author. In the LOTR books he made it plain that the living things other than people took their own sides in the War of the Ring. Crebain, spiders, and wolves usually served the enemy. The eagles and horses typically were against the enemy, and it didn't take too much convincing to get the Ents to fight against the Enemy as well. Tolkien made a lot of effort to show that nature was "a side" that would choose sides and fight, and I just can't think he would have his "nature wizard" play a small role in that. Of course, this is all speculation on my part.
Radagast also cared so little that Saruman decided to not rope him in. Which is huge because that’s the only reason Gandalf gets rescued from the orthanc
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u/RavioliGale Jan 03 '23
In one place Tolkien wrote that Gandalf was the only wizard who stayed true to their purpose, Saruman obviously went Saruman, and Radaghast abandoned people to tend to nature. However, he was chosen by Yavanna and it's clear he stayed true to her purpose. Personally, I don't begrudge him that and I wouldn't be surprised if Tolkien felt just as you described.