Saruman's death

[miriena]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Exactly. In my opinion Saruman was not beyond redemption at all, and my personal belief is that in fact, the only thing which was responsible for his fate was that he continuously kept rejecting the redemption that was being offered to him over and over again. Actually I think he was being offered the chance more times than anybody else in M-E.

Yes, this is what makes me feel that chances are, he didn't end up alongside the darkest of the Dark. Maybe he was offered another chance to redeem himself, but not as what he used to be. Or maybe just sent off somewhere where he could do no more harm. Or just... shoo'd off like a piece of lint from an eyelash. Maybe someone is hoping his senses will return to him eventually, or that he still has the power to do something important even though his original task did work out well.

[Azrakhor Akallabeth]

It may also be worth it to bear in mind, when considering Curunir's's fate, that he also, like Gorthaur, poured out his spirit and power into the making of a ring and the dominion and control of lesser beings, along with the dark sorcery involved in genetic manipulation. The degree to which he himself had dissipated and distributed his native power is unknown, but what CAN be known by these tidbits of evidence is that whatever his fate, it appeared to be the same as that of Gorthaur because both became wisps of powerless shadows, bereft of form and substance, and not welcomed in any proper circles among decent folk.

[Morthoron]

Although the fates of Saruman and Sauron are not revealed, I believe a central assumption can be divined for both of them. Tolkien may have eschewed allegory, but his symbolism is quite apparent.

First, Saruman's demise:

…about the body of Saruman a grey mist gathered, and rising slowly to a great height like smoke from a fire, as a pale shrouded figure it loomed over the Hill. For a moment it wavered, looking to the West; but out of the West came a cold wind, and it bent away, and with a cold sigh dissolved into nothing.

Now, Sauron's exit:

...there rose a huge shape of shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent: for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was blown away...

The emphasized phrasing in both quotes are mine.

Although it is clearer in Saruman's case (particularly when Tolkien refers metaphorically to the grey mist appearing like a pale shrouded figure gazing almost imploringly to the West), it is plain that a great wind, like the pounding of a judge's gavel, passed final judgement on both of them and dispersed their spirits forever. Unlike Morgoth, whose spiritual and/or physical manifestation was imprisoned until the final battle at the end of all things, Sauron and Saruman would remain incorporeal and impotent, and would no longer plague Middle-earth.

That a "great wind" or "cold wind" should propitiously be summoned at such precise junctures (a 'cold' wind in Saruman's case, because he had betrayed his sacred trust) indicates, in my mind at least, the intervention of Eru, or perhaps Manwe, because "the winds and airs were his servants, and he was lord of air, wind, and clouds in Arda."

[Azrakhor Akallabeth]

Yeah. What he said. But that's also what I just said, the details being implied, and it re-enforces my personal perspective that they shared a similar fate. Good points up there, Morthoron.