9:20 The moment you mentioned modern politicians not being able to admit they don't know something, I immediately thought of Gary Johnson's "What is Aleppo?" moment and how the press and public reacted to it! In case anyone cares, it happened during the 2016 Election, Aleppo is a major city in Syria, and the Syrian Civil War was raging at the time, with Aleppo in the thick of the fighting. When a reporter to whom Johnson was giving an interview asked him his opinion about the situation in Aleppo, Johnson's response was "and what is Aleppo?" He got slammed by the media for that and spent the rest of his campaign unsuccessfully trying to combat the idea that he was "out of touch" or "clueless".

A character analysis that discusses contemporary issues in the present? A good day indeed.

Though maybe not entirely fair, I have always thought that democracy leads to a society getting the politicians it deserves. As a Brit, that does not reflect well on our society, and I suspect others fear the same for their politicians.

19:30, i'm glad you also picked on the bureaucrats.

Great video! I feel like Saruman is broadly applicable to charismatic/manipulative people prioritising gaining power, and whatever else they desire, through their career while abandoning moral principles. Sarumans can be found wherever being selfish is rewarded, in the public and the private sector. Sadly, the principled opposition of Gandalf's sort is hard to come by because it's much less flexible and profitable, which is what is incentivized today.

To me "Saruman of many colours" is more a sign of vanity, like the coat of many colours (Genesis 37:3). I know the Bible meaning isn't exactly that but it's how it might seem to a child. After all Saruman does know practically everything, but he has let himself become prideful (as Gandalf remarks to Frodo). And what is it with politicians and colours? : "This is a moment to seize. The Kaleidoscope has been shaken. The pieces are in flux. Soon they will settle again. Before they do, let us re-order this world around us." -- Tony Blair to the Labour Party conference, Tue 2 Oct 2001 (take note of the date) EDIT Sorry if that sounds partisan. It's not meant to be and I am not commenting on any current events -- just a striking example of the mindset we are talking about.

Tolkien was really prescient here, Saruman is the perfect Davos/WEF man. I wonder if Tolkien met people like this, Fabians etc.

So relaxing to listen to you nerd out on Tolkien 😊 glad the channel's going strong again 👍

Interesting perspective, good video. One thing I cannot agree about is the Aleppo thing - it was a major point in international politics (given who was involved) so I would really think that a candidate for a USA president should be aware of it. P.S. Of course, anybody who claims to have a valid opinion on everything is scamming you, and requiring from a politician to know everything is asking for trouble.

My melon Geek, As usual, you are wise--not merely claiming it as did Saruman, but actually being wise without making that claim. You elucidate Tolkien's art in drawing out the sinister character of Saruman who sought power for his own ends, not the ends for which he was sent to Middle Earth by the Valar. Gandalf points this out to him, and to us, that to join Sauron, or to pretend to join him, is to betray all that is good and true in their lives and their civilization. Wisely, Gandalf refuses, and wisely you have lifted the veil that Tolkien has created for his legendarium for us to see the use of this image. Well done, good and faithful man, who hands on the wisdom of his lord--or Professor, in this case. Keep to the path. Namarie.

Very interesting take, great vid.

Around 25:00 you're talking about how Saruman presents Sauron as a "New power" when it is really not, like politicians tend to do. The Coalition Avenir Québec, the party in power in my Province, has recently been mocked because they tried a slogan, while already preparing the ground for the elections in two years. "Change what doesn't work". They have been in power since 2018. So yeah, trying to pretend being the party of change when you're a political party made up of politicians from the two other oldest parties, that has been in power for 5 years, that's rich. Especially since the add ends with the Prime Minister Legault saying: "Change what doesn't work" *Black out with a signature*: "Your government".

oh boy 45 minute Tolkien Lore video? count me in!

Amen brother! 🙏 We need wiser leaders for sure, but those people with that potential seem to be more like dwarves, seeking riches and keeping to themselves. Keep up the great content!

I enjoyed this video very much Saruman is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating characters professor Tolkien ever created. How could one so great and wise fall so low? Or did he have a dark core from the very beginning? Like Sauron he was a star pupil of the Vala Aule wasn't he? I do wish we got to see more of him in the movies, while Sir Christopher performance is excellent I'd like to have seen the scouring of the shire, or his meeting with the heroes after Aragorn was crowned king. As a non American I feel that politics are perhaps not the same but similar everywhere. A great many experts whose advice we "must" heed or else dire things will happen and yet I fear that many of these folks are as clueless as the rest of us if not more so. I wouldn't want to rule, as I've made a fair share of mistakes, and sooner or later you end up paying for them. Best not to drag other people down with you when it's time to pay the piper yes? "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain" one would hope that humanity had evolved beyond that at this point, but looking around today I guess not

I'm reminded of the quote from "Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy" : "Anyone capable of getting themselves elected, should on no account be permitted to do the job."

I'm watching a video of a lawyer talk about how evil politicians. Hehheh.

While honest ignorance is preferable to just waffling and making stuff up… obliviousness to major world events (like the Syrian civil war) while they’re happening should make you think thrice about casting your lot with a would-be ruler of the foremost superpower.

I think Saruman was a charismatic totalitarian leader. I think "political"implies choices. The Orcs had no choice. The Dunlendings had no choice. He used the power of his voice to control people, mostly to want what he wanted them to want, not what they actually needed. Sharkey was a perfect totalitarian ruler in the Shire. There were requests from the prople, debates, just outcomes, etc. It was more militaristic than political.

Correction: Gary Johnson’s gaffe was in the 2016 election, not 2012. You were right on your second guess.

An unconstitutional monarchy is also consistent with Tolkien's religion. Holding authority accountable to an infallible or at least supremely made document, is a Reform and Baptist idea.

Damn solid rant by the way.

Man I was a bureaucrat for a while or at least one of their harolds public facing IT support for the state government) and this certainly fits, technocrats and bureaucrats everywhere who probably started out meaing well and still perhaps do by their own reckoning.

I don’t expected anyone to even read my comment. But if anybody does, then cool, whatever. 😁 The quote that I’m about to type down really reminded me about what you said in this video The X-Files (Talitha Cumi) Cigarette-Smoking Man speaks to Jeremiah Smith in prison Smoking Man: “This becomes a responsibility. The thing I am now called upon to put right and put down. Certainly you expected nothing less.” Jeremiah Smith: “I’m not ashamed of my actions.” Smoking Man: “Ashamed? You’re not allowed the luxury of human weakness in penitence. You’re not allowed to put your indulgences ahead of the greater purpose.” Jeremiah: “I no longer agree in the greater purpose.” Smoking Man: “Them your fate is just.” Jeremiah: “My justice is not for you to mete out. You may have reason; you have no right, and you have no means either.” Smoking Man: “You presume to dictate *me*? Have you any idea what the cost of your action is? What their effect might be? Who are you to give them hope?” Jeremiah: “What do you give them?” Smoking Man: “We give them happiness, and they give us authority.” Jeremiah:” The authority to take away their freedom in the guise of democracy.” Smoking Man: “Men can never be free, because they are weak, corrupt, worthless and restless. The people believe in authority; they’ve grown tired of waiting for miracle or mystery. Science is their religion, no greater explanation exists for them. They must never believe any differently if the project is to go forward.” Jeremiah: “At what cost to them?” Smoking Man: “The question is irrelevant, and the outcome inevitable, the date is set.” (Jerimiah morphs into Deep Throat, which terrifies Smoking Man): “At what cost to them for your own selfish benefit? How many must die at your hand to preserve your stake in the project?” Smoking Man: “I’m not impressed by your miracles or moved by your trickery. Your justice will be meted out.” Deep Throat:” By whom this time, and by what tool?” Smoking Man: “By those who posses the most oil of your destruction.”

Hi Tolkien Geek, i have been a fan of your channel for a while now. I was wondering if you are a Zeppelin fan and maybe if you could make a vid talking about how their lyrics are inspired by Tolkien. Thanks for giving us great in depth analysis of Middle Earth

A man of class who appreciates Vivek ;)

imo tolkien touches on a supremely important reality here and that is losing sight of in this case Eru. Saruman KNOWS what Eru is. he was there. Yet he loses faith. Ultimately faith is clearly a major if not the major theme of the work, and here we see Saruman lose his faith for worldly practicality. no mistake that Tolkien called the world Morgoth's Ring (biblical "god of this earth" reference imo)

There isn't enough funding for schools.

Pretty much every argument of whether something is right or wrong, is an argument that the ends justify the means. I suppose what people are trying to say when they say, "O you're saying that the ends justify the means," is that the accused is arbitrarily deciding what is an end and what is a means.

do you like JK Rowlings work on the Harry Potters series, Tolkien Geek? I feel she makes some good examples of bureaucracy gone wrong with things like the corruption of the ministry of magic etc.

SARUMAN OF MANY COLOURS!

Woidrow Wilson when he was a Political Science professor, wrote a paper advocating a government by experts. All policy would be determined by committees of experts, and the President would be replaced by a Chief Administrator. Thankfully, he never implemented or even tried to.

The Gary Johnson thing was dirty as all hell. That reporter deliberately set him up to look like an idiot by switching subjects mid conversation with no transition. I recommend looking up the full interview.

Humanity being a fallen species fits our Modern world perfectly.

Funny, I never thought Tolkien was pro royalty. I thought he was pretty evenly critical of both systems, what with Numenor. Byt it's true that if you only look at The Lord of the Rings there is clearly a leaning towards "the rightful ruler" and "the king is only doing bad things because he's being manipulated by evil counselors".

I was thinking of Saruman of many colors as more of a biblical reference, like he is the favored of the wonderwoman incarnations.

I think you did a good job.

Perfect now to talk about politics, thanks for signalling that this is now a political channel. So my politics if I'm frank, are the same as Gandalf and therefore utterly Villiers in nature, with a dash of Bock-Cote and Howardian on the side. I'm joking here, but in all seriousness Saruman sounds like EVERY politician in the world saving a few I've seen in France and Japan, the rest seem utterly corrupt and disappointing. I guess there's one or two others who aren't so bad out there, but I don't know. I'm slowly divorcing myself from politics and paying ever more attention to only literature, history and my own novels these days. That said, Saruman makes a poor argument for his case, just as is the case with all political fellows, and one can only hope things change soon. That said, I quite like your point about how Saruman is obsessed with his own 'wisdom' and vanities, and how Gandalf points out that he preferred the White colour, as this shows his preference for purity of mind and intention.

Saruman of many colours in a political sense may imply that he covers all opinions and values that there are. So basically people who love freedom and people who hate freedom should vote for him alike. Gandalf was so kind to point out to Saruman how ridiculuous it would be to claim adherence to conflicting values, but not so kind to keep silent about this embarassing verbal lapse of Saruman, so that we can all roll our eyes at it

My minds hovering around an idea that keeps escaping me but maybe Saruman is loosely based on Thomas Wolsey who benefited greatly from his position as Lord High Chancellor. A Roman Catholic, he was tasked to negotiate the annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon but failed and was stripped of all his privileges. I wonder if there’s some sort of equivalent in that regard to Saruman courting the power of Sauron.

Could elves return from the Undying Lands? Or were they prohibited by the Valar of doing so? We know that Glorfindel returned, but he did it at the request of the Valar. Could Finrod do it if he wanted? I mean, after the First Age.

Would you say Tolkien contradicts these sentiments himself in letter 183, where he writes: "In The Lord of the Rings the conflict is not basically about 'freedom', though that is naturally involved. It is about God, and His sole right to divine honour. The Eldar and the Numenoreans believed in The One, the true God, and held worhsip of any other person an abomination. Sauron desired to be a God-King, and was held to be this by his servants; if he had been victorious he would have demanded divine honor from all rational creatures and absolute temporal power over the whole world. So even if in desperation 'the West' had bred or hired hordes of orcs and had cruelly ravaged the lands of other Men as allies of Sauron, or merely to prevent them from aiding him, their Cause would have remained indefeasibly right."? Like here he seems to claim that evil means wouldn't have corrupted the cause, but the passages you quoted or paraphrased seem to suggest that they would. One should remember, that having human soldiers ravage enemy lands is brutal enough, having Tolkien-orcs doing it would be far far worse. Excess destruction and death are basically guaranteed.

3:12 Eyyy! *highfive*

Against the Power of Morder there can be no victory, @TLore

Saruman is more like a cult leader than a politician, me thinks.🤔

I'm no angel, but I'm not fallen. It's not that dramatic. I'm just a dude. Just an ape. Chillen, watching some LotR lore videos.