The Fate of Sauron and Saruman After ‘The Lord of the Rings’
Sauron, the Dark Lord, and Saruman, the White Wizard, serve as the primary antagonists in J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’, and by the conclusion of the story, both appear to meet their demise. Sauron’s fate is intricately linked to the One Ring, as he perished when the Ring was destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. Saruman’s end varies between Tolkien’s novel and Peter Jackson’s film adaptation, but in both versions, he is betrayed by Grima Wormtongue just before his own death.
However, the conclusion of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ does not mark the ultimate end for either character. Both are divine spirits known as Maiar, like Gandalf, meaning their souls are immortal, despite their physical forms being vulnerable. This immortality allowed Sauron to return after his initial defeat by Isildur in the Second Age. Tolkien’s works shed light on their fates post-’The Lord of the Rings’ and explain the differences between Sauron’s two defeats.
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Sauron and Saruman were born in the Timeless Halls of Ilúvatar, aligning themselves with Aulë, the Valar’s Smith, at the world’s creation. Initially called Mairon, Sauron was celebrated for his virtues but became corrupted by an obsession with perfection, ultimately serving Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Conversely, Saruman remained untainted for longer, portraying himself as noble before revealing his envy and ambition during -’The Lord of the Rings’ timeline, even creating a new breed of Orc.
In the novel, Sauron is the first to die when Barad-ûr collapses with the destruction of the Ring. Witnesses see his spirit rise as a dark shadow, though it is now impotent. Gandalf predicted that Sauron’s defeat would leave him powerless, rendering him a mere malevolent spirit.
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Saruman’s fate mirrors Sauron’s in some respects. After being killed by Wormtongue, his spirit rises as a gray cloud, indicating weakness. Attempting to seek forgiveness, his spirit is blown away by a cold wind from the west, never to return to Middle-earth. Tolkien’s ‘Unfinished Tales’ clarifies that Saruman’s spirit was forever doomed to wander, unable to reclaim any power.
In conclusion, both Sauron and Saruman endure a fate worse than death, forced to witness the dismantling of their legacies while being unable to reclaim their lost might. Despite their ambitions, the paths set forth by their past actions left them permanently weakened, sealed in a state of despair. While the potential for Morgoth’s return looms, the likelihood of Sauron or Saruman regaining power remains uncertain, with their fates seemingly sealed.
–Farheen Ali
