The usage of brown colour in “The lord of the rings” by J.R.R.Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings is an epic high-fantasy novel written by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a development of Tolkien's fantasy novel The Hobbit, but eventually enlarged into a much larger work. Written between 1937 and 1949, The Lord of the Rings is one of the best-selling novels ever written, with over 150 million copies sold. Initially the book was intended to be one of two-volume set, the other was Silmarillion. This idea was dismissed by the publisher for economic reasons. The Lord of the Rings was published in three volumes over the course of a year from 29 July 1954 to 20 October 1955[1] . The three volumes were titled The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. Structurally, the novel is divided internally into six books, two per volume, with several appendices of background material included at the end. Some editions combine the entire work into a single volume.

There are numerous interesting factors to be explored in J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece, “The Lord of the Rings”. The one interesting factor we will be focusing on is the theme of friendship, which is an important underlying theme throughout the books. In order to explore the theme, it is vital to examine what characteristics different friendships have in common in Tolkien’s books. Tolkien himself seems to have valued friendship very highly, and there are certain elements which he seems to have emphasized as important factors in such relationships throughout his life. Thus by comparing Tolkien’s own views regarding friendship to the relationships in the books these factors are revealed. One more interesting factor which is considered to be explored is the usage of different color symbolism in his writing.

Tolkien used different colors in the Lord of the Rings. So, one of the major character in his work has the color of brown. Brown color is very serious and very down to earth, with properties like stability, structure and support. Being friendly and welcoming color, it stands for protection and supporting the family with great sense of duty and responsibility. Brown color is never in the center of the attention. It is a color that in no way calls the perfection, but rather promotes order and organization. Brown prefers to stay in the background; other colors can shine around it. By the psychological point of view brown is referred to as honest, genuine, and sincere. This color can give one a sense of calmness and comfort. Brown associated with healthy, natural and organic products. This color shows a degree of sophistication depending on what other colors they are connected to. The brown colour is also solid, with strength and maturity. It prefers to stay in his own world, not liking any surprises.

Radagast the Brown is one of the wizards, sent to Middle-earth to protect peace of nations. As other wizards, he was also Maia of Yavanna. He fractionally took part in the war of the ring at the end of the Third Age. Saruman had to take him, by request of Yavanna, creator of plants and animals. White wizard could not refuse, but since that time he had felt distaste and contempt for Radagast, thinking that he was not worthy of great Istari mission.

Radagast the Brown! [...] Radagast the Bird-tamer! Radagast the Simple! Radagast the Fool! Yet he had just the wit to play the part that I set him. [2]

Radagast is, of course, a worthy wizard, a master of shapes and changes of hue; and he has much lore of herbs and beasts, and birds are especially his friends.

Radagast could understand the language of animals and birds, and was an adept in the life of wood. I think it is the main purpose why he was called Radagast the brown. Because brown is color of the earth, land, nature. Radagast was also as a herb doctor and healer. The wizard knew every leaf of his wood and attend to trim and welfare of wood inhabitants, warely looking after his wood friends. With time, he broke away from people and other wizards at all.

Radagast who was also known as Aiwendil, (the person who loves birds) looked like as an old man, but strong physically. The wizard had not only visual appearance, but real body, feeling fear and pain, fatigue, ability of feeling hunger and thirst, and even which can die. But due to his noble spirit, he was not gone, but became old from his works and concern. Radagast always wore brown cloth as land. He did not have so much power as Gandalf and Saruman, but was big-hearted and good-natured. By the words of Gandalf, Radagast was the master of shapes and changing colors, an adept of herbs and friend of animals, especially birds. He was very honest, and by the Gandalf’s opinion, Radagast would never become a traitor.

Radagast loved birds and animals, and thought that it was much easier to have conversation with them than with people and elves. Radagast was not proud and overbearing, but he was inobservant and nonchalant. It could help Saruman to use Radagast in his aims. Nevertheless, at the and he realized Saruman’s curiosity and began helping much to Gandalf in critical moments.

Radagast the Brown is also one of the wizards, sent to Middle-earth to protect peace of nations. As other wizards, he was also Maia of Yavanna. He fractionally took part in the war of the ring at the end of the Third Age. Saruman had to take him, by request of Yavanna, creator of plants and animals.

White wizard could not refuse, but since that time he had felt distaste and contempt for Radagast, thinking that he was not worthy of great Istari mission.

Tolkien is a great writer who was able to use almost all main positive and negative colors in his masterpiece The Lord of the Rings. The usage of colour symbols in his writing, made his work much more interesting to read. Tolkien could find the most interesting way to depict each main personage of the book. Every colour he used with the personages in The Lord of the Rings has deep meaning and shows characteristic of the heroes.