Why'd Sharkey do that?

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Maybe it's not so much that he wanted to die, but I don't think he wanted to continue his miserable life. If he did want to survive and go somewhere else then he would have left as soon as Frodo returned and he would not have tried to murder him. He was basically asking for the Hobbits to kill him by killing Frodo.

And there's that metaphor of the sighing spirit being turned away by the Western wind (metaphor? It might be...) It suggests that Saruman thought the whole affair pathetic and 'sigh-worthy'.

[Elu Ancalime]

I just thought of this: Frodo could not visualize the Shire when the Ring 'controled' him the most on Mt Doom. When the Ring was destroyed, he was sent back into the world he knew, virtually free from what the Ring took from him. Praps when Sauruman saw Isenguard fall so quickly, he realized he was just a wizard fallen from his path. And after the Ring was destroyed, I suppose he might have realized his life was wasted, really, on his dreams. But he took this in spite. Like his long term feeling of when for that moment, those within grasp of the ring felt they coulf fufill their desires with the ring, then realizing they can't. Kind of like Sauruman was drunk for all those years, and then when he was sober, he realized he had done some stupid stuff. [well ive never been drunk or taken a drink-im only 14, so i cant say this from experiance lol]
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[Lalwendë]

Why would Saruman expect Frodo to have become stronger as a result of being the Ringbearer? He was knowledgeable in Ring Lore and might easily assume that Frodo would be entirely incapable of putting up any challenge against him. In addition, Saruman is one of those in Middle-earth who underestimates Hobbits and considers them to be passive and a pushover; this is in fact more or less the case until Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin return and stir up resistance.

As to why he goes there in the first place, he was clearly exploiting the resources of the Shire at an earlier date so this is an extension of that. It is a rich place in terms of potential labour force, and also can provide goods such as food and pipe-weed, valuable resources for someone who wished to build his own army.

I think Saruman does not bother to rouse himself and challenge the Hobbits at the Battle of Bywater as he simply believes he will overcome them at the doors of Bag End. He has the pride and arrogance of a conqueror over a seemingly small people; he allows them to kill his own people as these Men are expendable, he is sitting smugly in Bag End assuming he will win out when they come to challenge him, that is if they even dare to challenge him. When he issues his threat, the Hobbits all recoil in fear until Frodo warns them against this, which shows that Saruman has wrongly guessed at what Frodo will now be like as a result of his experiences.

[Eluchíl]

He was also quite nihilistic. Maybe he just wanted to get in as much as possible without caring about any means or end.

[Holbytlass]

Originally Posted by Eomer

He was basically asking for the Hobbits to kill him by killing Frodo.

Reminds me of suicide by police. Interesting, a death wish, never thought about it before.

One of the most dangerous kind of people are the ones who've lost everything and therefore have nothing to lose. And Saruman fits that bill, lost his domain, his status, his powers (except his voice) even his staff.

I disagree though, I don't think Saruman was wanting to die. I believe his attempt on Frodo was a spite and he was blinded from rational thought of what the immediate consequence would be. Though Saruman was stripped of any powers he still retained his voice and his smarts, in due time he could of as Elu Ancalime pointed out gone to some other parts and start some new mischief.

As far as Saruman leaving before Frodo got there, good point but isn't part of the fun is seeing the reactions of those victimized? He just didn't realize what he would be dealing with.

[Thinlómien]

Maybe Saruman tried to kill Frodo, because he was overcome by sudden anger and/or he hadn't anything to lose really anymore.

I wouldn't say that he wanted to die; I'd say that he didn't care if he died.

[Farael]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Maybe Saruman tried to kill Frodo, because he was overcome by sudden anger and/or he hadn't anything to lose really anymore.

I wouldn't say that he wanted to die; I'd say that he didn't care if he died.

I always thought that the death of Sharkey (Saruman) was more an example of his fall as a wizzard. We see from Gandalf (and Saruman's actions before his fall) that the Istari were somewhat like chess players, always thinking three steps ahead of themselves.

Instead, by attacking Frodo Sharkey (who is no longer called Saruman, perhaps again representing that this character was no longer the Istari he once was?) shows lack of thought, he is over matched and over powered by enemies who do not exactly love him.... he should have talked his way out (even if his voice had lost part of its spell I'd believe he was still powerful enough)

I think the point of that situation happening is to show how low Saruman had fell and how, by trying to take control over the world, he had compromised himself so much that when defeated he lost more than his troops. He lost himself.