Posted: May 22, 2000 at 23:06:47: by David Freitag
Interesting discussion, though it strayed from Saruman rather quickly. Saruman can serve as a stand in or model (in the scientific sense) since we don't get to observe Sauron as directly as we do Saruman): both were Maia, one-time followers or studnets of Aule.
The Wise point out that evil is likely to dismiss the weak with contempt, not take them into account. Saruman knew about Hobbits and Ents, but convinced himself they were weak, useful only as sources of supply (pipe weed and wood) and as safe targets for his malice. If he knew of the Dunedain of Arnor, he'd long ago dismissed them as weak, has beens, not worth attention.
But, my point was also that, even prior to his unmasking, the Wise kept things from him. Aragorn, in all of his wanderings, never got to Isengard, not even in disguise.
Saruman was very isolated there in Isengard: you'd think the Rohirrim might pay him an occassional neighborly visit (didn't real world kings ride the bounds of their realms, make a point of getting acquainted with their neighbors?) Surely Grima wasn't the only of the Rohirrim to visit Isengard.
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