Saruman’s turn to evil in The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest betrayals in literary history, and it becomes even more impactful when considering the wizards’ background with Gandalf the Gray. Of course, a good deal of the pair’s friendship was left out of the movies, and even the books included very little about who they really were and where they came from. J.R.R. Tolkien’s various works dive slightly into Saruman and Gandalf’s past together, but understanding their relationship fully requires diving far deeper into the appendices of The Lord of the Rings.
In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf tells Frodo that Saruman is the head of his order—a wise wizard he looks to for answers and guidance. Of course, once the Gray Wizard arrived in Isengard to ask Saruman about the One Ring, he discovered that his “old friend” had turned from the ways of good, instead deciding to serve Sauron in an attempt to claim power (and even the One Ring) for himself. Ultimately, this choice had a lot to do with Saruman’s jealousy of Gandalf, though he never admitted it. The seeds of the betrayal were planted thousands of years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, and when observing Tolkien’s work, Saruman’s steady descent is clear.
Why Gandalf Claims He Is Saruman When He Returns In The Two Towers
Gandalf’s resurrection in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was made even more confusing by his claim that he had become Saruman.
Gandalf & Saruman Were Sent To Middle-earth Together By The Valar
Though Saruman and Gandalf appeared to be old wizards in The Lord of the Rings, they were both actually ancient and immortal angel-like beings who had assisted in the creation of the universe. Their original names were Curumo and Olórin, respectively, and before Sauron’s dark presence had begun to grow in Middle-earth during the Second Age, they resided in Valinor, or the Undying Lands, with the Valar (demigod-like beings). When it became clear to the Valar that the Men and Elves of Middle-earth would need guidance in their fight against Sauron, they sent a few of the Maiar.
Curumo (Saruman) was eager to volunteer to go to Middle-earth, hoping to prove himself in this world of weaker beings. He would have gladly gone alone, but the Vala Yavanna suggested that her own Maia, Aiwendil (Radagast) go as well. Then, the god of the Valar, Manwë, indicated that his Maia go as well. This was Olórin, or Gandalf, who was reluctant to agree since he was terrified of facing Sauron (who had also once been a Maia). However, Manwë and his wife, Varda, were not only adamant that Olórin go anyway, but they declared that he would be second to Curumo despite having been chosen third.
The king and queen of the Valar being so determined that Gandalf go to Middle-earth as well caused the first instance of jealousy for Saruman. He wholly believed he could handle this mission alone, yet Manwë ordered Gandalf, who didn’t even want to go, to be his second. Of course, Curumo said nothing of this at the time. He, Olórin, and Aiwendil were sent to Middle-earth in the form of aged wizards (hereafter called the Istari) and were ordered not to use their powers to influence the beings of Middle-earth or to challenge Sauron—they were meant only to guide.
Saruman’s Jealousy Of Gandalf Grew Because Of Narya, The Ring Of Power
Though Saruman was insulted by the Valar’s decision to send Gandalf to Middle-earth, the Gray Wizard showed only respect to the head of his order, having no desire to lead the Istari. This is likely what allowed their relationship to succeed for so long—but that isn’t to say Saruman’s jealousy didn’t grow. In fact, the moment the Istari reached the Grey Havens of Middle-earth, the White Wizard had more reason than ever to envy his inferior. The Elven shipwright Círdan, responsible for sailing ships between the realms of Valinor and Middle-earth, immediately recognized Gandalf as someone pivotal to the world’s salvation and gave him a substantial gift.
According to Appendices B in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Círdan was the oldest and wisest of the Elves, and he could see into the soul of a person (and possibly even into the future). He was also secretly the bearer of one of the Three Elven Rings, Narya, which he immediately gave to Gandalf upon meeting him. This was a surprising choice on Círdan’s part since Saruman was Gandalf’s superior and, as the White Wizard, far more powerful. Still, the Elf handed Narya over, saying a line that would have been a slap to the face for Saruman: “Take this ring, Master, for your labors will be heavy, but it will support you in the weariness that you have taken upon yourself.“
Saruman Mocked Gandalf’s Interest In Hobbits But Secretly Grew His Influence In The Shire
The years between Saruman, Gandalf, and Radagast’s arrival in Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings are never described in regards to the wizards’ relationship. However, we can see bits of Saruman’s built-up resentment in his behavior toward Gandalf during the events of the Lord of the Rings books. For example, in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Saruman mocked Gandalf’s interest in Hobbits, noting that the Gray Wizard spent far too much time with them, smoking Longbottom Leaf. Though this implies that he looked down on Gandalf’s interest in these simple beings of Middle-earth, he had secretly been developing influence in the Shire.
In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Merry and Pippin discovered stores of Longbottom Leaf hidden away at Orthanc, proving that despite his criticism, Saruman had been partaking as well. Additionally, when the Hobbits returned to the Shire at the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Return to the King, they found Saruman had industrialized the entire region and had established himself as a sort of villainous ruler over Hobbit-kind. The wizard had started this process long before the events of Lord of the Rings since he was suspicious of Gandalf’s interest in this region of Middle-earth and assumed his rival intended to claim influence there himself.
Even After His Defeat In Lord Of The Rings, Saruman Still Believed Gandalf Wanted His Power
Though Saruman’s jealousy is evident when observing his part in Tolkien’s stories, the wizard’s true paranoia and covetous nature regarding Gandalf came to the forefront upon his defeat in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. After the Ents cut off Isengard’s resources and trapped Saruman within Orthanc, Gandalf attempted to offer his old mentor mercy. He told Saruman that he could leave Isengard but that he must first hand over his wizard’s staff and the key to Orthanc, both of which would be returned “later” if the disgraced wizard proved himself worthy. However, even then, Saruman believed Gandalf was trying to trick him:
“‘Later!’ he cried, and his voice rose to a scream. ‘Later! Yes, when you also have the Keys of Barad-dûr itself, I suppose; and the crowns of seven kings, and the rods of the Five Wizards, and have purchased yourself a pair of boots many sizes larger than those that you wear now.’” – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Saruman’s jealousy of Gandalf had grown so extreme that even when offered mercy, he assumed his fellow Maiar was after power. Ultimately, this made sense given who Saruman—Curumo—had always been. He greatly desired power and influence and secretly coveted the One Ring Sauron had created. This made Gandalf receiving a Ring of Power feel like salt in a wound. Then, after secretly sending spies in and around the Shire to keep an eye on Gandalf, the reveal that a Hobbit had the One Ring confirmed, in Saruman’s eyes, that Gandalf was also after Sauron’s power. From the beginning to the end of The Lord of the Rings, Saruman never believed or understood that Gandalf never saw him as a rival—only a lost friend.
