Saturday, 2 January 2016

Why does Gandalf seek counsel from Saruman about the One Ring after leaving Frodo in the Shire?

When he went to visit Saruman, Gandalf did not know he had been corrupted. Gandalf knew that there was a certain ill-will, as has been said, but did not know the White Robes had turned to the dark side.



Gandalf knew that he and the others had been sent to shepherd the mortals through the Third Age. The rise of Sauron as a malevolent force would have been the undoing of all their hard work. Gandalf, quite reasonably, expected that in the face of the utter destruction of the Good races and the crumbling of all their work, Saruman would put aside their rather petty differences and work with him towards the elimination of the Enemy.



Saruman was knowledgeable and wise, and knew many things which had been forgotten to most, if not all, others. He alone of the peoples in Middle Earth was still knowledgeable about Ringlore and the crafting of rings. Moreover, he was in many ways Gandalf's boss ("the head of my Order").



When Gandalf discovered that Bilbo's ring was THE Ring, he realized what it meant and what was on the line. He sought every aid, every ally, every source of support he could find. It would have been morally reprehensible for him to NOT seek the aid of the single individual best equipped to inform them all of the Ring's history, powers, weaknesses, etc. For all Gandalf knew, Saruman could have known a simple spell or ritual that would have stripped the Ring of its power or defenses, or hidden it away where it could not be found.



Once he realized Saruman had betrayed them, it was too late - he'd already spilled the beans.

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