Why did Saruman become corrupt?

Saruman had flaws of character-desire for power and arrogance-that made him susceptible to corruption, but it was the direct contact with Sauron via the Palantir that overwhelmed him.

Why does Saruman go bad in Lord of the Rings?

Paul Kocher identifies Saruman’s use of a palantír, a seeing-stone, as the immediate cause of his downfall, but also suggests that through his study of “the arts of the enemy”, Saruman was drawn into imitation of Sauron.

How was denethor corrupted?

Unlike Saruman, Denethor was too strong to be corrupted directly by Sauron. He began secretly using a palantír to probe Sauron’s strength, incorrectly insisting he could control it. Nonetheless he continued to fight Sauron until the forces of Mordor arrived at the gates of Minas Tirith, at which point he lost all hope.

Was Sauron corrupted by the ring?

The corrupting effect of power in the book is not limited to the Ring. Sauron was already corrupted when he chose to put much of his power into the Ring to gain further control of Middle-earth. Sméagol kills his friend Déagol to gain the Ring, and is corrupted by it, becoming wholly miserable as the monster Gollum.

Was Saruman a good guy?

Thinking he could gain it for himself or become Sauron’s servant alone, Saruman allied Isengard with Mordor in the War of the Ring, in which he was defeated. He is one of the few characters in Middle-earth who is morally “grey” – being neither a genuine servant of evil nor an agent of good.

Why can only hobbits carry the ring?

Chief among the reasons that the hobbits are more resistant to the Ring is that they do not crave power, lust after fame, or desire to rule over any others. Many of the other characters in The Lord of the Rings have their own agendas and secret desires, which the Ring is able to corrupt them through.

Was Saruman corrupt because of Sauron?

However, the “corruption” was due to Saruman’s own desire for the Ring, and he had not fallen under the influence of Sauron (unless it is the indirect influence of Sauron through the Ring; but had Saruman took the Ring for himself, he would have overthrown Sauron and become himself the dark lord ).

What was Saruman’s interest in the Shire and the hobbits?

Saruman’s resulting interest in the Shire and the hobbits was, at this time, but “a folly born of pride,” and unconnected with even the wildest thoughts of the Rings of Power (UT 350).

Why did Saruman take Isengard for his own?

In T.A. 2953, the Wise gathered once more to debate about the Rings of Power. Saruman quieted the Council claiming to have the knowledge that the One Ring was lost forever in the Belegaer. Following their final meeting (and the death of Steward Turgon ), Saruman took Isengard for his own and fortified it.

Why did Saruman refuse to step down as King?

Saruman refused to step down due to his pride, while Gandalf had declined. At this point Saruman had begun to sense the resurgence of Sauron and to envy and desire his power, and especially the One Ring.