Saruman's Demise

[Sanity Check]

 

In the LOTR book trilogy, there is a good wizard named Saruman who is seduced by evil.

 

While Saruman's magic power isn't well defined. It is illustrated that one of his abilities is influencing others into believing everything he says is true. Whatever Saruman says, is what people believe.

 

Late in the story, Saruman's tower is attacked by treeborn Ents and the area becomes flooded with water. Saruman's situation is desperate.

 

In his desperation, Saruman unwisely abuses his power and overexerts himself, shattering his own magic. 

 

This has always been interesting to me. Saruman was never directly defeated in combat or war. Instead his story is that of a wizard who apparently defeats themselves.

 

Is this something that actually happens in the real world? Or is it merely fiction? 

 

How did JRR Tolkien come by this plot twist.

 

Long story short, people say I waste my time paying attention to fictional stories. Maybe they're right. 

Or perhaps there is something that might be learned at times?

Edited 15 hours ago by Sanity Check

[Nungali]

It is a well known writer's theme because , guess what ?   People like to read about others they consider have more 'power'  (in various ways ) and their  misuse of the power  causing their demise . 

 

https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Literature-with-the-theme-of-self-destruction-PKXZPNL36ZYA

 

 

Macbeth would be the classic example . Regarding specifically 'wizards'  ,  Faust by Marlow ( although there is a variation of end theme in Goethe's version)   is probably the classic example .  The other would be ' "Der Zauberlehrling'  by Goethe . 

 

Or you could watch 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' segment from 'Fantasia'     

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

[Master Logray]

Saruman's corruption probably came from owning a property.   His tower needs lots of resources to build and maintain.   Other wizards like Gandalf lived poorly.  Even the Rohan King didn't have a proper palace.   Owning huge property is not good for maintaining spiritual development.

[Apech]

3 hours ago, Master Logray said:

Saruman's corruption probably came from owning a property.   His tower needs lots of resources to build and maintain.   Other wizards like Gandalf lived poorly.  Even the Rohan King didn't have a proper palace.   Owning huge property is not good for maintaining spiritual development.

Hobbits had holes.

[Apech]

8 hours ago, Sanity Check said:

 

In the LOTR book trilogy, there is a good wizard named Saruman who is seduced by evil.

 

While Saruman's magic power isn't well defined. It is illustrated that one of his abilities is influencing others into believing everything he says is true. Whatever Saruman says, is what people believe.

 

Late in the story, Saruman's tower is attacked by treeborn Ents and the area becomes flooded with water. Saruman's situation is desperate.

 

In his desperation, Saruman unwisely abuses his power and overexerts himself, shattering his own magic. 

 

This has always been interesting to me. Saruman was never directly defeated in combat or war. Instead his story is that of a wizard who apparently defeats themselves.

 

Is this something that actually happens in the real world? Or is it merely fiction? 

 

How did JRR Tolkien come by this plot twist.

 

Long story short, people say I waste my time paying attention to fictional stories. Maybe they're right. 

Or perhaps there is something that might be learned at times?

He changed ‘white’ into many colours… representing his disintegration?

[stirling]

12 hours ago, Sanity Check said:

This has always been interesting to me. Saruman was never directly defeated in combat or war. Instead his story is that of a wizard who apparently defeats themselves.

This is the human story. The more contrived and labyrinthine our plans to define and get what we think will make us happy are, the more likely they are to lead us through the fall of everything we have built up in its pursuit FIRST.

 

Brings to mind some quotes from the Tsin Tsin Ming, by Seng T'san.
 

Quote

 

The Way is perfect like vast space
where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess.

 

Indeed, it is due to our choosing to accept or reject
that we do not see the true nature of things.
 

-

 

The more you talk and think about it,
the further astray you wander from the truth.

 

Stop talking and thinking
and there is nothing you will not be able to know.

 

To return to the root is to find the meaning,
but to pursue appearances is to miss the source.

 

At the moment of inner enlightenment,
there is a going beyond appearance and emptiness. - Tsin Tsin Ming, Seng T'san

 

 

https://terebess.hu/english/hsin.html#3

 

...and, thematically perfect, The Tower card in the Rider Waite tarot deck:

 

[Jenn]

I think in a roundabout way you usually defeat yourself, even if your "demise" is seemingly at the hands of others.

 

Oppress, cheat, scam, manipulate, extort, seize power, exploit, abuse, horde resources, flaunt, harm, etc.

 

Create a lot hate, don't be surprised if one day that hate brings you down. No one really invests effort into destroying a some nobody that keeps to themselves. But the more that hate you, the more "enemies" you have, the more people and energy that build up against you, better hope you don't waver or become overwhelmed by what you created. 

 

One might be defeated by an enemy - but why do you have enemies in the first place? You can't control a lot of things that might bring about your "end" - those are risks everyone carries, but you can absolutely decide to not add more fuel to your pyre by choosing a little decency.