Could Gandalf and Saruman have claimed the One Ring and mastered it? What about Galadriel or Elrond?
Whether anyone other than Sauron could attempt to claim the One Ring and manage to wield its power is ultimately uncertain. What I mean by this, is that we only have situations where a being *might be able to or thinks they are capable of this feat, but even then it’s not 100% guaranteed. As J.R.R. Tolkien put it:
“In the 'Mirror of Galadriel', 1381, it appears that Galadriel conceived of herself as capable of wielding the Ring and supplanting the Dark Lord. If so, so also were the other guardians of the Three [Elven-rings], especially Elrond. But this is another matter. It was part of the essential deceit of the Ring to fill minds with imaginations of supreme power. “[1]
So, ultimately even in the case of Galadriel or Elrond - two of the last great “lords of the Eldar” [2] left in Middle-earth during the Third Age - we are not told if they would actually succeed in wrestling control of the Ring from Sauron and taking his place. Tolkien merely stated that these two are among the very few beings that *might have a chance to pull this off. It is safe to say that Galadriel was the greatest Elf in Middle-earth at that time, for she is described by Tolkien as being “strong of body, mind, and will, a match for both the loremasters and the athletes of the Eldar in the days of their youth”.[2] But at the same time, the author had implied that it was in the nature of the Ruling Ring of Power to fuel one’s delusions of grandeur - including potentially making someone fancy that they could actually bend it to their will.
Now in the case of Saruman and Gandalf, we have two members of the Order of Istari (Wizards), belonging to the same angelic race as Sauron (who was part, however, “of a far higher order”[3] - the “all Maiar are equal” argument that I see very often on social media is false; even the Valar, for that matter, had different levels of power or held different spheres of influence). They probably stood even more of a chance, given their greater inherent power. *But, it is still uncertain if they would, in the end, prevail in mastering the Ring.
Recall that when the meeting at Orthanc occurs, Saruman’s first offer extended to Gandalf is to join Sauron as his lieutenants (eventually becoming the true powers behind his throne), and he presents this as, basically, the “safe option”:
“A new Power is rising. Against it the old allies and policies will not avail us at all. There is no hope left in Elves or dying Númenor. This then is one choice before you, before us. We may join with that Power. It would be wise, Gandalf. There is hope that way. Its victory is at hand; and there will be rich reward for those that aided it. As the Power grows, its proved friends will also grow; and the Wise, such as you and I, may with patience come at last to direct its courses, to control it.”[4]
It is only after Gandalf dismisses this - saying he has heard similar speeches before from other emissaries of Mordor - that Saruman goes ahead and proposes the second, “riskier path” so to say: to acquire the One Ring for themselves and *attempt to use it to supplant the Dark Lord.
“Why not? The Ruling Ring? If we could could command that, then the Power would pass to us.”[4]
Please note the “If”. So not even Saruman, in spite of his greed and vanity, seemed to be 100% sure he would be able wield the Ring in order to usurp Sauron’s throne. Which is why, even while he searched for the Ruling Ring of Power, the corrupted Wizard still pretended to be a faithful servant of the Dark Lord.
Nevertheless, Tolkien does say what could happen if Galadriel/Elrond/Gandalf *did manage to impose their will on the Ring and how a power-struggle between them and Sauron would go:
“In any case Elrond or Galadriel would have proceeded in the policy now adopted by Sauron: they would have built up an empire with great and absolutely subservient generals and armies and engines of war, until they could challenge Sauron and destroy him by force. Confrontation of Sauron alone, unaided, self to self was not contemplated. One can imagine the scene in which Gandalf, say, was placed in such a position. It would be a delicate balance. On one side the true allegiance of the Ring to Sauron; on the other superior strength because Sauron was not actually in possession, and perhaps also because he was weakened by long corruption and expenditure of will in dominating inferiors. If Gandalf proved the victor, the result would have been for Sauron the same as the destruction of the Ring; for him it would have been destroyed, taken from him for ever. But the Ring and all its works would have endured. It would have been the master in the end.” [1]
So even *if one of the three beings mentioned above managed to control the One Ring and overthrew the Dark Lord, there would not actually be much change for Middle-earth. There would still be a tyrant about, eager to spread his dominion, only it would not be Sauron himself but someone that, succumbing to the Ring’s influence, would become his spiritual successor. Elrond made that much clear during the council that was held in Rivendell:
“If any of the Wise should with this Ring overthrow the Lord of Mordor, using his own arts, he would then set himself on Sauron’s throne and yet another Dark Lord would appear.”[3]
Tolkien also stated that the Ring would warp Gandalf’s desire to do good, so Gandalf as Ring-Lord “would have made good detestable and seem evil”[1]. Recall that Sauron himself was not evil straight from the very beginning, from the moment he was created by the One (Eru). He too had once considered the welfare of the Free Peoples, but his heart was won over by pride and greed, and his passion for order became a mere justification for his thirst for power and desire to set himself up as Lord of Middle-earth. Had Gandalf succeeded in wrestling control of the Ring from Sauron and claimed it as his own, he would have suffered a similar descent into evil.
Also, I want to point out that there would be no actual “working together” between Saruman and Gandalf (as phrased in the question’s title). The White Wizard merely wished to know the whereabouts of the One Ring and he believed that the Grey Pilgrim knew or had a better idea where it could be found:
“[…] and I believe that you know where this precious thing now lies. Is it not so? Or why do the Nine ask for the Shire, and what is your business there?”[3]
It was pretty clear that Saruman only sought to use Gandalf up to a point in his quest to gain possession of the One Ring, just like Saruman himself was used as a tool by Sauron, his “new master”[4], to wage war on the kingdom of Rohan. Gandalf perceived this - he knew that if Saruman did acquire the Ring, there would be no “us” in the end. It was just as much of a folly to imagine Saruman sharing power with Gandalf (option #2), as it was to imagine Sauron actually sharing power with vassals like Saruman (and Gandalf, if he had joined them; option #1).
Now, honestly, I do not see much reason to give any more thought to this entire hypothesis. Because Gandalf would never consider, even for a fleeting moment, working with Saruman in an attempt to command the Ring. Because the Grey Pilgrim does not covet power! He would never bend the knee to Sauron to reap the fruits of his triumph (since he was not an opportunist like Saruman), or try use the One Ring to oust him (because he feared that, if he did succeed, he would become something just as evil as Sauron). Gandalf firmly rejects Saruman’s two offers:
“Well, the choices are, it seems, to submit to Sauron, or to yourself. I will take neither.” [4]
None of the Wise (Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond or Círdan) for that matter, would consider even trying to brandish the One Ring as a weapon to challenge Sauron. Because they opposed with all their heart what the Dark Lord stood for: absolute tyranny, whose symbol was the Ruling Ring of Power. It was just as unlikely for them to take this course of action as it was for them to succumb to despair and bow to the Dark Lord.
When Galadriel was offered the Ring by Frodo - which held the promise of her potentially setting herself up in Sauron’s place as a Queen “beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night”[4] - she passed the “test” by refusing to accept the Ring and give into temptation. Gandalf also staunchly refused to take it, even for safekeeping:
“And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly. […] Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good. Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused. The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength. I shall have such need of it. Great perils lie before me.”[4]
Throughout the time he spent embodied on Middle-earth, Gandalf remained fully committed to bringing about “that end which the Valar under the One that is above them had designed”[2], by encouraging others to deeds of valor, helping those in need and by rallying all the peoples of the world under the banner of liberty. The mission of the Five Istari was to aid all Free Folk in the struggle against Sauron. But not by commanding Elves, Dwarves and Men, not by imposing their will upon them - because this is what the Dark Lord himself would have done:
“It was afterwards said that they [i.e. the Istari] came out of the Far West and were messengers sent to contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbidden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate Elves or Men by force and fear.”[4]
They were supposed to lend their wisdom and counsel and fight side by side with them. They were not to seek dominion over the Free Peoples, to yearn for their adoration, as the Dark Lord had done. Gandalf understood this, which is why he was able to fulfill his task. Radagast, though far more concerned with the fauna and flora of Middle-earth than with Elves, Dwarves or Men, also remained “a good fellow and a worthy wizard”[5] as Daniel Ratcliffe put it, for he did not become domineering and his actions ultimately contributed to the final overthrow of Sauron.
Saruman, of course, failed utterly: he came to desire to rule Middle-earth, whether as Sauron’s successor with the power of the Ring at his behest, or if not, at the very least, by rising at the Dark Lord’s side as his chief lieutenant. And he deluded himself that these two paths were both means towards a noble end, which was the “greater good” of Middle-earth as viewed by *himself (based solely on his vision, not the actual needs and wants of the peoples of the world). Saruman thus fell into mimicry of his master, Sauron, fancying himself wiser than the Free Folk, which in turn led him to consider imposing his will upon them to be for their benefit (when, in truth, it was only for his own).
Tolkien explains this in relation to the potential fate of the Blue Wizards:
“[…] whether they remained in the East, pursuing there the purposes for which they were sent; or perished; or as some hold were ensnared by Sauron and became his servants, is not now known. But none of these chances were impossible to be; for, strange indeed though this may seem, the Istari, being clad in bodies of Middle-earth, might even as Men and Elves fall away from their purposes. and do evil, forgetting the good in the search for power to effect it.”[2]
There is an interesting quote by Mandos, the Doomsman of the Valar, on this topic:
“We may indeed in counsel point to the higher road, but we cannot compel any free creature to walk upon it. That leadeth to tyranny, which disfigureth good and maketh it seem hateful.”[5]
The Wise - such as Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond and Círdan - embrace the first path. The second path was embraced by Sauron and his minions (Saruman especially), but also people like Denethor - who, though still opposed to the Enemy, coveted the Ring; Tolkien clearly stated that, had Denethor survived, “even without use of the Ring, he would have taken a long stride towards becoming himself a tyrant”[6].
And it was the ambitious Denethor, after all, who planted the thought into his son Boromir’s mind, that the Ring could be used as a weapon against Sauron, an idea which Boromir later reiterated during the Council of Elrond:
“Why should we not think that the Great Ring has come into our hands to serve us in the very hour of need? Wielding it the Free Lords of the Free may surely defeat the Enemy. That is what he most fears, I deem. The Men of Gondor are valiant, and they will never submit; but they may be beaten down. Valour needs first strength, and then a weapon. Let the Ring be your weapon, if it has such power as you say. Take it and go forth to victory!”[4]
Sources:
- Letter 246
- Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth
- Letter 184
- The Lord of the Rings
- Morgoth’s Ring
- Letter 183
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