Saruman of Many Colors A Hero of Liberal Pragmatism

Abstract

This essay explores the role of the wizard Saruman the White in The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, and challenges the common conception that Saruman is a villain, instead arguing that Saruman is a hero espousing the values of liberal pragmatism. The policy goals and implicit values of Saruman are contested with his peer and ultimately opponent, Gandalf the Grey, later the White. Both wizards attempt to defeat Sauron but, where Saruman considers new methods, such as recruting the orcs, Gandalf is stuck in old methods and prejudices, as he is unwilling look for new races to recruit. Both wizards construct alliances to accomplish their goals but the racial composition of these alliances can be used to see the wizards in a new light. While Gandalf offers a conventional alliance of “the free” races of Middle Earth (Elves Dwarves, Men. Hobbits and Ents), Saruman can be seen as uniting the marginalised and down-trodden people and races, under a common banner with a common goal. In particular, Saruman brings enemies together into a strong functioning whole, showing that orcs and men can work and prosper together. Gandalf’s blinkered conservatism and Saruman’s pragmatic embrace of diversity are reflected symbolically in the symbolism of white and the rainbow of many colors. After examining all these points it becomes clear that Saruman the White is not the villain that he is assumed to be by Gandalf the Grey, later the White, and his followers in Middle Earth. Instead Saruman is a hero as he is willing sacrifice everything in the service of his mission, just so that the races of Middle Earth might have a chance of defeating Sauron and making a better world in the future, which would embrace the liberal values that he champions in his policies.