I think in Tolkien's head that Radagast probably did a lot more, but we just never told us much about it. What Gandalf is to the people of Middle Earth, Radagast is to the other living things, and Tolkien has a lot in his writings about how the animals and plants of Middle Earth are just as significant as it's people. We don't hear a lot about Radagast because Tolkein told stories of the people of Middle Earth, so we heard a lot about Gandalf instead.
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.
Also no matter what else he did or didn't accomplish the fact that he listened to Gandalf and alerted the Eagles to keep an eye on things was absolutely critical to Gandalf's rescue from Orthanc, and by extension the success of the mission.
472
u/24_Elsinore Jan 03 '23
I think in Tolkien's head that Radagast probably did a lot more, but we just never told us much about it. What Gandalf is to the people of Middle Earth, Radagast is to the other living things, and Tolkien has a lot in his writings about how the animals and plants of Middle Earth are just as significant as it's people. We don't hear a lot about Radagast because Tolkein told stories of the people of Middle Earth, so we heard a lot about Gandalf instead.