The wizard called himself "Saruman of Many Colors" and "Saruman Ring-maker," indicating his covetous nature led him to try to make a Ring of Power for himself. Still, it lacked the strength of Sauron's or Gandalf's, so the former White wizard joined the Dark Lord in an attempt to claim some of his power.

Why was Saruman working with Sauron?

Saruman's story really began when he was the leader of the noble Istari, who were selected by the Valar to fight back against Sauron. As Saruman became more powerful leading this group, he also became more hungry for power. He soon began to desire the power that Sauron possessed and wanted to obtain it for himself.

Why did Saruman fall to Sauron?

He was originally the Istari's chief, and was head of the White Council that for a time opposed the Dark Lord. But by the late Third Age, Saruman was overcome by lust for power and swore fealty to Sauron, becoming one of his greatest servants.

Did Saruman want the ring for himself?

Saruman, walking on the same ruinous path as Sauron, attempted to forge for himself a Ring of Power.

Why did the white wizard join Sauron?

He is leader of the Istari, wizards sent to Middle-earth in human form by the godlike Valar to challenge Sauron, the main antagonist of the novel, but eventually he desires Sauron's power for himself and tries to take over Middle-earth by force from his base at Isengard.

The Complete Travels of Saruman | Tolkien Explained

Is Saruman more powerful than Gandalf?

5 Saruman The White

He was originally the chief of the wizards as well as the White Council that was formed to fight against Sauron. He was more powerful than Gandalf at these stages, but his study of dark magic turned him to support Sauron. However, before he turned to the dark forces, he was a very powerful wizard.

How does Gandalf know that Saruman has joined Sauron?

Saruman's betrayal

Soon thereafter Gandalf arrived at Isengard. At their meeting, Saruman finally exposed his own betrayal by revealing his desire for the One Ring. He offered to his "old friend and helper" that they take the Ring for themselves and seize power from Sauron.

Why is Saruman afraid of Aragorn?

Bloodlines are very important in Tolkien's stories, and it makes a lot of sense that Sauron would fear the great-grandson of the man who cut off his hand. Aragorn carried the blood of Numenor with him. His genetic connection to the heroes of the Second Age established him as a dangerous opponent of Sauron.

Why did Saruman turn so evil?

Saruman's Jealousy Made Him Desire A Ring Of Power Of His Own. Though Saruman resented that Gandalf (and Radagast) were sent with him to Middle-earth, he cooperated with them for many years. As Gandalf explained in The Lord of the Rings, he believed the head of his order to be a wise, strong, and trustworthy leader.

Why did Gandalf have a ring and not Saruman?

We know that Saruman became jealous of Gandalf long before his imprisonment atop Orthanc. So, according to Unfinished Tales, Saruman knew beforehand already. A second possibility is that Saruman just wasn't interested in the ring since he saw it as being of no value to him and his designs.

How did Galadriel banish Sauron?

The outcome is that Galadriel is able to penetrate Sauron's mind and issues a single command "Go back to the void from whence you came!" Unable to resist her any longer, Sauron screams and flees with the Nine.

Is Galadriel evil?

In The Lord of the Rings, Galadriel chose to use her powers for good, even helping to form the Council of Elrond. Galadriel was not evil. But had she been, there would be none who could stand against her forces, especially if she was in possession of the Ring.

Why is Galadriel so powerful?

The majority of her powers come from her Ring of Power, Nenya, the Ring of Water. The ring, also known by the names the White Ring and the Ring of Adamant, is one of the three Rings of Power given to the Elves of Middle-earth in the Second Age.

Why was Sauron more powerful than Saruman?

To be clear, Sauron's powers were diminishing, but he had a lot more natural power than Saruman. It would have taken a while for anyone to notice the effects. Additionally, Sauron bound much of his power into his One Ring. Because the Ring was bound to Middle-earth, it severely slowed his powers from diminishing.

Was Saruman loyal to Sauron?

He still considered himself an enemy of Sauron - but now as a rival to replace than as a guardian of the mortal peoples - but he really wasn't. By the time of the book, probably even by the time of the Hobbit infact, Saruman had been subconsciously working to Sauron's benefit, without even realising it.

Could Saruman have defeated Sauron?

As such, Saruman wouldn't have been able to use the Ring against Sauron, per se. Rather, Saruman would have had to dominate Sauron's will and essentially kick him out of the Ring. If he succeeded in doing that, Sauron would have been defeated because it was his saving anchor.

How strong is Sauron compared to Morgoth?

Morgoth, the first to reign terror upon Middle-earth, was more powerful than Sauron and commanded an army of dragons and Balrogs. While both Morgoth and Sauron were cunning, Morgoth's rule and terror lasted longer and his corruption spread further, making him more formidable in the Lord of the Rings universe.

Is Saruman more evil than Sauron?

Sauron was the great evil, Saruman is petty evil. What's more humiliating for Saruman, is that he was now beneath the notice of Gandalf. Gandalf parted with his Hobbit friends before they entered The Shire, instead going to the Old Forest to treat with Tom Bombadil.

What happens to Radagast?

It is unknown if Radagast left Middle-earth. J.R.R. Tolkien wrote that he forsook his mission as one of the Wizards by becoming too obsessed with animals and plants, so presumably failing, perhaps being disallowed to return to Valinor with honour.

Was Sauron afraid of Galadriel?

In his notes, Tolkien remarks that Sauron saw Galadriel as his equal. Add that to the fact that she's untrusting of Sauron (yes, even when he's in his Annatar guise) and an unwavering, single-minded force, and it's more likely than not that Sauron feared Galadriel — or the potential she held to upend his plans.

What is Sauron afraid of?

Gandalf stated that Sauron feared “something indomitable” within Gollum. By the exact language used, Gollum is indomitable, meaning he cannot be dominated. Sauron is all about domination - and Gollum was openly defiant - breaking under torture, but still openly displaying his hatred and wrath to Sauron.

Why did Sauron betray Gandalf?

The Big Picture

Saruman was sent by the Valar to offer counsel and inspiration, but his envy of Gandalf and desire for power led to his downfall. Saruman pacified his allies by pretending the One Ring was lost, while secretly searching for it himself.

Did Sauron know who Frodo was?

Sauron Thought Frodo Was Just a Spy

And Sauron is likely made aware of Frodo's intrusion, as the Mouth of Sauron (his loyal messenger) learns about the Hobbit and the mithril armor he carries.

When did Gandalf realize Saruman was evil?

However, when Gandalf traveled to Isengard to seek his aid, he learned that his old friend had given in to the evil influence of the Dark Lord Sauron. From that point onward, Saruman became the secondary antagonist of the story, threatening Middle-earth just as his master did.