Wizards (Middle-earth) facts for kids
The Wizards in J. R. R. Tolkien's stories are also known as the Istari. They were very powerful angelic beings called Maiar. They came to Middle-earth looking like Men to help its people. This happened in the Third Age, after bigger, more direct help from the gods (the Valar) had caused problems in earlier times.
Two main Wizards stand out: Gandalf the Grey and Saruman the White. A third Wizard, Radagast, also appears briefly. Saruman started as the leader of the good side, but he became tempted by power. He ended up trying to be like the evil Dark Lord Sauron, and even became his helper without realizing it. Gandalf, however, always helped the Company of the Ring in their mission. Their goal was to destroy the One Ring and defeat Sauron. As Saruman fell, Gandalf rose and took his place as the White Wizard. Gandalf is often compared to the Norse god Odin because of his wandering nature. He has also been described as an angel or a Christ-like figure.
All three named Wizards appear in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. In the films, they seem to act more physically than in Tolkien's books. However, this often helps make the movies more exciting.
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Who Are the Wizards?
The Wizards of Middle-earth are actually Maiar. These are spirits similar to the god-like Valar, but they have less power. They look like Men but are much stronger in body and mind. The Elves call them Istari, which means "Wise Ones" in Quenya. The Valar sent them to help the free peoples of Middle-earth in the Third Age. Their main job was to fight against the Dark Lord Sauron, who was also a powerful fallen Maia.
Their Names and Colors
There were five Wizards sent to Middle-earth. The first three are well-known from The Lord of the Rings. They are Saruman, whose name means "man of skill." Then there's Gandalf, meaning "elf of the staff." And finally, Radagast, whose name might mean "tender of beasts." Tolkien never gave the other two Wizards non-Elvish names. Their names in Valinor were Alatar and Pallando. In Middle-earth, they were called Morinehtar and Rómestámo.
Each Wizard wore robes of a special color:
- Saruman wore white, showing he was the chief and most powerful.
- Gandalf wore grey.
- Radagast wore brown.
- The other two, known as the Blue Wizards (Ithryn Luin in Sindarin), wore sea-blue.
Gandalf and Saruman play big roles in The Lord of the Rings. Radagast appears only briefly, mostly to help the story move forward. He accidentally helps Saruman trick Gandalf, but then he luckily tells the eagle Gwaihir to rescue Gandalf. The Blue Wizards don't appear much in Tolkien's stories. They are said to have traveled far to the east. Their final fates are not known.
Serving the Valar
Since the Istari were Maiar, each one served a Vala. Saruman was a helper of Aulë, the Vala of crafts. This is why Saruman knew a lot about building, machines, and working with metal. We see this in his later actions. Gandalf served Manwë or Varda, but he loved the Gardens of Lórien. Because of this, he understood the hopes and dreams of Men and Elves. Radagast served Yavanna, the Vala of nature. He loved all living things, both animals and plants. The Wizards acted in Middle-earth based on what they learned from their Vala.
Gandalf the Grey and White
Gandalf the Grey is a main character in The Hobbit. In that story, he helps Bilbo Baggins on his adventure. He is also the leader of the Company of the Ring in The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien got the name "Gandalf" from an old Norse poem. It means "staff-elf." Gandalf was originally called Olórin. He was the wisest Maia and lived in Lórien. But in the Third Age, Manwë asked him to join the Istari and go to Middle-earth. His job was to protect the free peoples from Sauron. Gandalf was afraid of Sauron and didn't want to go, but Manwë convinced him.
As a Wizard and the owner of a Ring of Power, Gandalf has great power. But he mostly uses it by encouraging and convincing others. He starts as Gandalf the Grey, full of knowledge. He travels constantly, always focused on his mission to stop Sauron. He is linked to fire. His ring is Narya, the Ring of Fire. He loves to make fireworks for the hobbits in the Shire. In times of great need, he also uses fire as a weapon.
Gandalf is an immortal spirit, but in his physical body, he can be harmed. He is killed by the Balrog in Moria. But he is sent back to Middle-earth to finish his mission. He returns as Gandalf the White and becomes the new leader of the Istari. Tolkien once said Gandalf was like an angel. Others have compared him to the Norse god Odin or a guide figure like Christ.
Saruman the White
Saruman the White is the leader of the Istari and the White Council. He is important in The Hobbit and at the start of The Lord of the Rings. However, he starts to want Sauron's power for himself. He plans to take over Middle-earth by force. He changes his home, Isengard, to be like Sauron's Dark Tower, Barad-Dur.
Saruman's story shows how power can corrupt someone. His desire for knowledge and order leads to his downfall. He even refuses a chance to become good again. The name Saruman means "man of skill or cunning." He represents how technology and modern ways can be overcome by forces more connected to nature.
Radagast the Brown
Radagast the Brown appears briefly in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. His role is small, mostly helping the plot. He had a bigger part in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit movies. Some parts of his character were made up for the films. But his main traits, like talking to animals, being good with plants, and being able to change his shape, come from Tolkien's descriptions. Radagast is an unusual name for Middle-earth, as it comes from Slavic languages and is the name of a god.
Why the Wizards Are Important
Tolkien said that the biggest challenge for the Wizards was impatience. This impatience made them want to force others to do good. From there, it became a simple desire for power. This is what led to Saruman's downfall.
Saruman is like a copy of Sauron, but not as powerful. He also acts as a contrast to Gandalf. Gandalf becomes the kind of leader Saruman should have been, after Saruman fails in his original purpose.
The Wizards represent special messengers sent by the gods. They take the form of Men, which means they can be affected by human weaknesses. Saruman, for example, becomes too proud and full of himself.
Critics have noted that Tolkien's characters are not always simply good or evil. Even among the Wizards, evil can appear, showing that even powerful beings can be corrupted.
Wizards in Movies
Three Wizards appear in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie series.
- Saruman was played by Christopher Lee.
- Gandalf was played by Ian McKellen.
- Radagast was played by Sylvester McCoy.
In the films, Gandalf is shown as a powerful character. He is strong and wise, but he doesn't take over all the decisions for the heroes. He is "less like an angelic spirit" and more physically present than in the books. This helps make the movies more exciting. He often uses magic, like fire, rather than just his sword.
Christopher Lee's Saruman in the films is seen as a powerful and vengeful character. He captures the idea of a leader who has fallen from grace.
The Wizards' staffs in the films are more detailed. Their tops are more complex and can hold a crystal to make light. Some viewers found the staff-battle between Gandalf and Saruman in Orthanc a bit too much like the light-saber fights in Star Wars.
See also
In Spanish: Istari para niños
