The Corruption of Saruman

The Corruption of Saruman is the story of the fall of the head of the White Council, the greatest of the Wizards, from a position of trusted wisdom into a traitorous servant of evil. It is a descent driven by pride, by the perilous study of the Enemy's arts, and ultimately by the corrupting influence of the Palantír of Orthanc. His betrayal reshapes the War of the Ring, forcing the Free Peoples to fight on two fronts and ultimately leading to his own ruin and the destruction of his power at Isengard.

Origins and the Seeds of Pride

Saruman was once reckoned the greatest of the Wizards, the chief of the White Council, and a figure of immense knowledge and subtle thought. His power over the minds of others was formidable, capable of persuading the wise and daunting the lesser folk. He was a master of the lore of the Rings of Power, having long studied the subject in search of the lost secrets of their making. In the early days of his power, he was a friend to Rohan and a neighbor to the Ents, with whom he would converse, though he never repaid their wisdom in kind. His face, once open, became like 'windows in a stone wall: windows with shutters inside.' His pride grew with his knowledge, and he took ill any meddling in his affairs. He came to believe that the time of the Elves was over and that the world of Men was at hand, a world that he and the Wise were destined to rule. This ambition, and his conviction that he could control the forces he sought to master, laid the foundation for his fall.

The Study of the Enemy and the Trap of the Palantír

Saruman's corruption was accelerated by his decision to study the arts of the Enemy himself, believing he could use this knowledge to forestall Sauron. He settled in Isengard, a fortress of Gondor, and was given the keys to Orthanc by the Steward Beren. It was there that he discovered the Palantír of Orthanc, one of the Seeing-stones of the Kings of Gondor. Alone and without the counsel of the Wise, he dared to use the Stone, gazing ever further abroad until his sight was caught by Barad-dûr. This was his undoing. The Eye of Sauron, which possessed the Ithil-stone, trapped Saruman's roving gaze, and from that moment he was persuaded and daunted from afar, becoming a servant of the very power he had sought to oppose. He kept the Stone's existence a secret from the Council, and his will was bent towards finding the One Ring for himself, believing that with it he could command the Power and supplant Sauron.

Treachery and the War of the Ring

Saruman's treachery became manifest during the War of the Ring. He imprisoned Gandalf in Orthanc, seeking to learn the location of the Ring, and when Gandalf escaped, he set his forces against Rohan. He bred a new race of Orcs, the Uruk-hai, who could endure the sun, and he sent them to capture the hobbits, hoping to snare the Ring-bearer. His servants, including the treacherous Gríma Wormtongue, worked to weaken Théoden, King of Rohan, from within. He launched a massive assault on Helm's Deep, seeking to destroy the Rohirrim, while his spies and agents spread discord throughout the lands. His ambition to possess the Ring for himself put him in direct rivalry with Sauron, and his actions, though intended to secure his own power, ultimately served to draw the Dark Lord's attention and hasten the conflict.

The Fall of Isengard and the Loss of Power

Saruman's schemes were undone by the very forces he had dismissed. The Ents, roused by the destruction of their forests and the treachery of their neighbor, marched on Isengard and tore down his walls, flooding his stronghold and trapping him within Orthanc. When Gandalf, now the White Rider, confronted him, Saruman's power was broken. Gandalf cast him from the order of Wizards and broke his staff, declaring, 'Saruman, your staff is broken.' He was left a prisoner in his own tower, a figure of ruin and contempt. His voice, once a source of enchantment, was revealed as a tool of a fallen and desperate will. He was offered a chance to repent and leave, but his pride and hatred prevented him, and he chose to remain, nursing his bitterness.

The End of a Ruined Wizard

After the War of the Ring, Saruman was released by Treebeard, who could not bear to keep a living thing caged. He wandered as a beggar, a broken and withered figure, accompanied by the cowering Wormtongue. He made his way to the Shire, where he had long had agents, and took control of the land through Lotho Sackville-Baggins, becoming the real power behind the 'Chief.' He ordered the felling of trees, the building of ugly mills, and the oppression of the hobbits, seeking to ruin the land out of spite. When Frodo and his companions returned, they confronted him. Saruman attempted to stab Frodo, but his knife was turned by the mithril coat. Frodo spared his life, but Saruman's malice was undiminished. As he turned to leave, Wormtongue, driven to madness by his master's cruelty, cut his throat. Saruman's body dissolved into a grey mist, and his spirit passed away, a final, ignoble end to a once-great power.