Saruman and the Ring

[Tinwë]

What would have happened if Saruman gained possession of the ring? Would it have defeated Sauron? What would he have used it for?






-Tinwe :elfqueen:

[Galadriel]

I think that if Saruman did gain control of the ring he would use it for his own benfit. He would probable use it to defeat Sauron and then take over all of Middle Earth. I mean unless Sauron or anyone else found some way to get the ring from Saruman then he would just be able to use its great power and just take over.

[Mirkgirl]

He wouldn't give it to Sauron for sure... if Sauron would manage to take it - who knows.

There are many possible scripts.

I think the most important thing is when Saruman gains possession - in Anduin? from Gollum? from Bilbo? from Frodo before he knows what it is? From the fellowship? So many possibilities

[Sindarin]

Even if Saruman possessed the One Ring, he could've never used it to wield power.

[Tinwë]

If he got it, then he couldn't have defeated Sauron, right? If Saruman got it, then Sauron would find out where it was pretty quickly, and send his orcs and Nazgul to take it from him, wouldn't he? It would have turned him invisible, since he couldn't "wield" it, right?

[Mirkgirl]

If Saruman had found the ring in Anduin, maybe Sauron wouldn't be ready to react, maybe Saruman could weild it more or less... and then he'd be able to destroy Sauron and become the enemy... and who knows what'd happen with Saruman in Sauron's place - someone who knows the good guys' minds disturbingly well.

If he gains possession later, Sauron would smash him and regain the ring, but yet there might be place for interventions

[Algamesh]

Well ... Sauron and Saruman are cut from the same cloth. Remember, they were both servants of Aule before Melkor's betrayal.

Saruman would simply become another Sauron. I would imagine that both Maiar would be equally powerful wielding the One Ring. Saruman possessing the Ring is no lesser threat than Sauron ... but of course ... wouldn't have been much of a story, eh? That is ... unless the Valar decided to make a trip across the pond and stomp Saruman into some oddly flavoured jelly ;)

[Ringwraith]

I think Saruman would have defeated Sauron and then taken controle of all Middle-earth.

[Catz]

i dont think he would have....not if he gained the ring after he fell under Saurons power....i think in that case he would have handed it over....or been forced to. Sauron already controlled him. If on the other hand hed gotten it before then, well, then i agree, it would simply have been a dark lord with another name....
:catz:

[Tinwë]

But as Gandalf said, there is only one Lord of the Ring,..the ring only answers to one, Sauron. Would it have had the same effect on Saruman as it did Sauron? Would he have been able to use it the way he wished?

[Catz]

if he were free of Saurons influence yes i think he coul have...it was his intensive study, bordering on obsession with the Rings and Ring lore that allowed Saruman to be snared by Sauron in the first place....short of Sauron himself, Saruman was the leading authority on the rings in ME
:catz:

[TheRingBearer]

I reckon he'd have tried to use it, blinded by his own greed, which would lead to Sauron finding Sauruman and taking back control of the one ring.

[Mirkgirl]

Well, he said it for the time he said it... and if Saruman manages to destroy Sauron, he'd be the one in a way, the same as Sauron

[Orofacion of the Vanyar]

I recall discussing this with a friend, a far more learned in Tolkien friend, before and he made some interesting points. I remember reading what he said before and I will post the main points and attempt to find them in the writings later.

If Saruman, or one of equal or comporable power, wore the ring and spoke the words that were engraved in it, they would become the new dark lord/queen with all such powers that the master of the One would have. They would have mastery over the other rings and therefore over the Nazgul.

But with such power would come corruption, and infact it would be that which they would become that made them what they would be... if that made any sense. Basically it's greed that would create the new Dark Lord, and that new lord would be ruled by greed. Sauron was this initial evil force, the creature of the desire. It is the effects of his initial effort that would create the new Dark Lord, though he himself would be overthrown.

I always liked this idea, that "evil" is chaotic and unstable, that there is often never a constant evil in the world but manifests itself as various aspects of the physical, mental, and spiritual worlds. Sauron, an "evil" presence, would be overthrown and a newer presence established. One evil is traded for another.

And now that I've put you all to sleep, I will... shut up.

[Catz]

well you didnt put me to sleep.....and as its 6.00 am, i kind of wish you had:naughty: ;) lol ....
Yes i think that there would have been another dark lord, as i say, as long as Saruman was not already under the influence of Sauron. That was the danger of the ring to those of ME with such power....the ring conferred power but only to the level to which which the individual was capable....thus in the hands of Galadriel for example, the ring was far more dangerous and the temptation was far greater to her, than say for Frodo, at least at first. i like the point you made Oro, about greed being the driving force here, tho id be inclined to think of it more as hubris, greed being a major factor in that anyway.
:catz:

[Lady Melody]

Saruman would've used it for him own benefit, be it good or evil, but also the ring would devour him, or Sauron would've had his neck slit when HE finds out.

Well, there's plenty of possibilities but its midnight here now and I'm sleepy... so I'll just make it simple...

It'll lead to more doom than good.