The Unfair Fate of Saruman

[Nikkolas]

We might remember this one fellow by the name of Melkor.

The progenitor of Evil itself in Arda; the being responsible for ruining some of the greatest creations and efforts of his brothers and sisters.

The Result:
Chain him up for a while, he says he's sorry, and all is forgiven.

Saruman? He made a tiny orc army, killed an inconsequential amount of humans, and...uh...that's about it. Oh, tortured some hobbits.

The Result:
BANISH HIM FOREVER FROM THE BLESSED REALM!

We must also look to their drastically different circumstances. Melkor descended into Arda specifically to rule it and to ruin everyone else's life.

Saruman? In many ways his Fall is as much to do with his Vala-imposed limits as his own faults. The task he and the other Istari had been set was pretty much impossible. I think Saruman, being a rather intelligent fellow, realized this. In many ways, his desperation for the One Ring was a reaction to his belief that there was absolutely no other way to defeat Sauron.

What do you all think? Do you agree Saruman got an overly harsh punishment? Essentially, does the punishment fit the crime?

[blantyr]

I think you're looking at it from the wrong perspective. Would his return improve the value of real estate in the Blessed Lands?

[Nerwen]

So basically the early, misguided leniency of the Valar towards Melkor means nobody should ever be judged or punished again, no matter what? Just so their policy can be consistent?

[Morthoron]

Sauron was given the same godly gust of wind from the West. It's an ill wind as blows nobody no good, as I always says.

Besides, Morgoth was shut up beyond the doors of night. No cable TV for eternity.

[mhagain]

You're ignoring a lot of other factors here.

The actual sequence of events was:

1. Melkor stomps around the world being EEEEEVIL.
2. Melkor is chained the first time and imprisoned in Mandos.
3. Melkor is released and does more EEEEEVIL.
4. Melkor is chained the second time and is CAST OUT FROM THE FRICKIN' WORLD!
5. Saruman does some bad stuff too.
6. Saruman is denied return to the Blessed Realm.

So, the OP is written as though the events numbered (3) and (4) here did not exist. Melkor's treatment the first time round was lenient for the following reason (quoted from the Silmarillion):

For Manwë was free from evil and could not comprehend it, and he knew that in the beginning, in the thought of Ilúvatar, Melkor had been even as he; and he saw not to the depths of Melkor’s heart, and did not perceive that all love had departed from him for ever.

The second time round, however, the Valar were not taking any of his sh1t. They'd already made their mistake in being lenient and they'd already seen the consequences of that. So it's off with his feet and out into the void for the remainder of eternity for him.

By that yardstick Saruman's fate wasn't unfair; he actually got off fairly light.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Nikkolas

Saruman? In many ways his Fall is as much to do with his Vala-imposed limits as his own faults. The task he and the other Istari had been set was pretty much impossible. I think Saruman, being a rather intelligent fellow, realized this. In many ways, his desperation for the One Ring was a reaction to his belief that there was absolutely no other way to defeat Sauron.

The Istari were certainly capable of error. Radagast could be said to have "fallen" in a sense, in that he neglected the primary mission in favor of blissfully communing with nature.

I think Saruman's larger sin was his failure to take advantage of the opportunity for repentance the Valar, through Gandalf, offered him after his army was shattered.
Instead of seeing his folly for what it was and accepting that he must turn his back on personal ambition and work for the good of Middle-earth, he let pride master him, and even went to the Shire personally to do what he could to spoil the Ring-bearer's homecoming in a spirit of petty meanness.
To indicate his true disconnection with the West, he tried to kill Frodo after being offered forgiveness and mercy by him! After so many unheeded chances to show remorse and humility, that final act was the last straw for Saruman as far as his superiors were concerned.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Nikkolas

We might remember this one fellow by the name of Melkor.

The progenitor of Evil itself in Arda; the being responsible for ruining some of the greatest creations and efforts of his brothers and sisters.

The Result:
Chain him up for a while, he says he's sorry, and all is forgiven.

Saruman? He made a tiny orc army, killed an inconsequential amount of humans, and...uh...that's about it. Oh, tortured some hobbits.

The Result:
BANISH HIM FOREVER FROM THE BLESSED REALM!

The Valar learned from their earlier mistakes with Melkor and punished Saruman accordingly.

Too bad that he didn't learn from Melkor's example. "Curunir", indeed...

[Galadriel55]

I don't think evil should be measured by the scope of creatures affected by the deed. Leave that to statistics. Morals should deal with principle. Therefore the fact that Saruman "only" hurt a "small" amount of people doesn't make the hurting any less evil than Morgoth's much larger campaigns.

[Alfirin]

It's a long shot but it is also possible we actually underestimate the "evil" Saruman actually did. Between Mandos, Vaire and Illuvitar himself, it is possible the Tolkinien cosmology contains the concept of predestination/knowledge of the future, and that, in cases of the "judgement" of a soul, thier deeds were accounted with this is a factor. In other words, one might be judge not only on any evil acts you did yourself, but any evils that resulted from those deeds; including those occuring long after one was born.
To consider this in terms of Saruman specifically. Let us consider what his "sins" were. Turning from his mission of course, but, as noted, Radagast seems to have turned from his as well and, (as far as we know) the Valar did not punish him with such severity (whether or not Radagast ever returned to Aman, we don't hear anything about, say, the Valar sending a message to any straggling elves to track Radagast down and execute him for "abandoning" his mission, or Gwahir being told to ambush him carry him over jagged mountains, and drop him). He wants to claim the ring, but Isildur actually DID claim the ring, and as far as we can tell, his death, while certainly abrupt, does not seem so far outside of the normal purview of ends of men to require the hand of the Valar to intervene.
But then we get to Saruman's tendency towards technology and mechanization. In and of themselves, tecnology is not neccecarily considered a bad thing in ME cosmology (if it was, Aule would have to be accounted among the bad guys). But choosing tech OVER nature clearly is. And that is what Saruman seemed to do, building great engines of war, doing (or at least encoruaging) crossbreeding of orc and man on a massive scale, engaging in wholesale deforestation, and generally taking the concept of, for lack of a better term "souless science" to prominence. Under Tolkein's rather pro-bucolic view, pretty serious crimes in and of themsevles. But more importantly, since ME is, within the context of the story, supposed to be OUR OWN early history, and, in our own world, the mentaility of Industrialization over nature and science over faith are so prevalent, to the point of nearly being dominant, one could argue that Saruman, as such a strong proponent of these thing, and as an encourager of them in man's mind, could be responsible, and deserve punishment for, setting humanity on that path. Like a Tolkenian Prometheus, or the Serpent of Eden his sin is not merely giving man fire against the will of the Gods, or talking them into going agaisnt divine will, but giving them "knowledge" that turns them from the path of true wisdom. By Valar/Tolkien standards, that could be a sin of near cosmic levels.

[mhagain]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

But then we get to Saruman's tendency towards technology and mechanization. In and of themselves, tecnology is not neccecarily considered a bad thing in ME cosmology (if it was, Aule would have to be accounted among the bad guys). But choosing tech OVER nature clearly is.

It's interesting that you note this, because Saruman was originally a Maia of Aule, as was Sauron, and Aule did step over the line in creating the Dwarves.

There's also this:

Then Manwe and Yavanna parted for that time, and Yavanna returned to Aule; and he was in his smithy, pouring molten metal into a mould. 'Eru is bountiful,' she said. 'Now let thy children beware! For there shall walk a power in the forests whose wrath they will arouse at their peril.'

'Nonetheless they will have need of wood,' said Aule, and he went on with his smith-work.

Aule is ever the pragmatist, recognising that nature is there to be used, but the key difference is where he says:

they shall use all that they find in Arda: though not, by the purpose of Eru, without respect or without gratitude

Likelihood is that Saruman would have known Sauron personally before the latter turned to Melkor; they may even have worked on projects together during the initial work in Arda. A possible reason for Saruman/Curumo's choosing is that someone with this kind of knowledge of Sauron might be well-positioned to oppose him.

Aule does get a raw deal with his Maiar though, doesn't he? If I were one I'd be worried: "I'm next to be the evil guy, aren't I?"

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by mhagain

It's interesting that you note this, because Saruman was originally a Maia of Aule, as was Sauron, and Aule did step over the line in creating the Dwarves.

That returns to the idea of repentance being a saving quality though.
When Aulë was confronted with his error, he was immediately contrite, and despite his love for the Dwarves, was ready to destroy them.
Ilúvatar made note of that genuine act of remorse, and not only forgave Aulë, but allotted the Dwarves a place in the Music.
Saruman could have avoided his fate if he'd been able to let go of pride and admit his wrongdoing.

[Mithalwen]

The Istari's task was not pretty much impossible, it was hard but posaible aince it was achieved by Gandalf who was originally perceived as lesser in power. The Valar didn't send them to fail and Saruman refused chances to repent in life.

[Nikkolas]

Fact: No one could willingly throw the One Ring in Mt. Doom.

it was sheer dumb lack/the Will of Eru/Plot Contrivance that allowed Frodo to complete his task.

Other than that, the armies of Sauron utterly eclipsed the remaining Men, Dwarves and Elves of Middle-earth. So the Istari's task, to "guide" the Free Peoples in opposing Sauron, was indeed hopeless because absolutely none of them could hope to prevail against him by force of arms.

So, destroying the Ring was logically impossible, challenging Sauron with armies was impossible....

If you are a general and it is your duty to defeat the enemy, do you put all your hope in chance? Would you trust or follow a guy who's strategy is "well, we can't really do anything but pray they succeed"?

I wouldn't and I don't think Saruman would either. He'd much rather put his hopes in something a bit more substantial.