The Unfair Fate of Saruman

[Lotrelf]

Yes, that was the article I was talking about. I didn't say you have to agree with it, 'cause I didn't agree with that too, and most people wouldn't as well. I agree with EVERYTHING you have said. Saruman never encountered the Ring, that's why there's no logic of him being in the list at all. Whatever the excuses are given by the author do not justify his (Saruman's) evil deeds. And thus his "resistance" makes on sense to me.
Also, the list, to me, seems more about "who gave up the Ring willingly" than "who resisted it."
On a side note, didn't Galadriel let herself be tempted unlike Gandalf? She let herself be tempted and resisted, something that Gandalf didn't do (because he never needed it, and I think she needed to do so in order to be accepted in Valinor). Whatever the reason is, that does not make Gandalf inferior to Galadriel.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

On a side note, didn't Galadriel let herself be tempted unlike Gandalf? She let herself be tempted and resisted, something that Gandalf didn't do (because he never needed it, and I think she needed to do so in order to be accepted in Valinor). Whatever the reason is, that does not make Gandalf inferior to Galadriel.

Galadriel's desire for power to resist Sauron and preserve the beauty of Lothlórien was her temptation, and an obvious one. But I don't think it can be said that Gandalf had never felt the pull of the Ring. When Frodo offers him the Ring (as he later does Galadriel), Gandalf's response seems no less considered than does Galadriel's.

'With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly. Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself, Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good.'

FOTR The Shadow of the Past

Compare that with Galadriel's rejection of the Ring.

'You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night!....Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!'

FOTR The Mirror of Galadriel

If Gandalf had not been tempted, I do not think his reaction to Frodo would have been so near to Galadriel's words.

[Lotrelf]

Gandalf's reaction was same as Galadriel, and he feels the pull as well, but I don't think he is really as tempted as Galadriel. Because he does not let himself do it. Someone who comes in the contact of the Ring, and goes unaffected must be someone of the "mightiest will" and the mightiest will is of Eru. My point is, Galadriel actually feels the pull, and probably more than Gandalf. This does not mean Gandalf hasn't resisted it, but Gandalf was not as tempted, or he was not in such circumstances.
The case with Galadriel is that she allows herself to do so(because she has reasons, and being the Wise, I don't think, she'd give in too easily), while Gandalf doesn't.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

Someone who comes in the contact of the Ring, and goes unaffected must be someone of the "mightiest will" and the mightiest will is of Eru.

What about Bombadil?

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

My point is, Galadriel actually feels the pull, and probably more than Gandalf. This does not mean Gandalf hasn't resisted it, but Gandalf was not as tempted, or he was not in such circumstances.

I'm not sure if Galadriel or Gandalf was more tempted, but it's worth considering what Gandalf says immediately after what Inzil quoted above:

"Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused. The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength. I shall have such need of it. Great perils lie before me."

I think the line "I shall have such need of it" is particularly telling. Gandalf could, seemingly, foresee to some extent trials in his future (the circumstances of his death, perhaps?) where using the Ring could spare him suffering and exertion. In some ways I would argue that Gandalf might be more tempted than Galadriel - but is a bit more subdued about it.

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Zig�0‹4r

What about Bombadil?

Wasn't he an exception who could even disappear the Ring?

I'm not sure if Galadriel or Gandalf was more tempted, but it's worth considering what Gandalf says immediately after what Inzil quoted above:

"Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused. The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength. I shall have such need of it. Great perils lie before me."

I think the line "I shall have such need of it" is particularly telling. Gandalf could, seemingly, foresee to some extent trials in his future (the circumstances of his death, perhaps?) where using the Ring could spare him suffering and exertion. In some ways I would argue that Gandalf might be more tempted than Galadriel - but is a bit more subdued about it.

I think that's the matter of opinion. We don't know who was more tempted or who needed it more. Gandalf resisted, but Galadriel "allowed" herself to be tempted. They both needed the Ring(or Power) and they both had motives of their own, they could have taken the Ring without resisting it. They both resisted. Who "needed" it more, you can't forget Frodo for that matter. Like Gandalf he needed the power too, to end the evil. He resisted as well. So did Gandalf. But Galadriel felt its power more than Gandalf.

Wait! Wasn't Gandalf around the Ring longer than her???

[Ivriniel]

Galadriel was tempted. Gandalf was tempted. Elrond, no doubt also. Certainly, Saruman was tempted, though he had no direct contact with the Ring. I'm not sure direct proximity was necessary for that kind of temptation, sometimes.

Isildur and Boromir were both tempted and succumbed to the Ring's call. It wouldn't have been long for Isildur, I've always imagined, until bad things started happening. He was warned at Orodruin about the Ring.

I'm not sure that ranking needs, wants, temptation and capacity for resisting the Ring is achievable, or easily achievable. There were qualitative imperatives rather than quantitative ones bearing upon the Ring's influence. Galadriel, a realm and love of Light of Aman in a realm she could oversee. Gandalf, a Maia who had no real territorial imperatives bearing upon his feelings for the Ring (the citation upstream notes 'pity' was the way to his temptation) for labours dark ahead. Galadriel's was overlordship and preservation or her realm.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Ivriniel

Galadriel was tempted. Gandalf was tempted. Elrond, no doubt also. Certainly, Saruman was tempted, though he had no direct contact with the Ring. I'm not sure direct proximity was necessary for that kind of temptation, sometimes.

It is self-evident that Saruman was tempted to seize the Ring, since he in fact tried to do so. The question is whether he can meaningfully be said to have "resisted" the Ring earlier in his career, before the opportunity to claim it had presented itself. Actually, it seems to me there's a sort of sleight-of-hand involved: the author admits Saruman never got near the Ring, then (I suppose) uses this to argue that, since just *thinking* about the darn thing could corrupt him, he deserves Brownie points for ever having thought about it without *immediately* turning evil. Something like that, anyway.