Part 4/8:
A prevalent belief among some in the Tolkien community is that Saruman lost his magical abilities during his confrontation with Gandalf at Orthanc, particularly when Gandalf breaks Saruman's staff. However, this interpretation is flawed. In Tolkien's universe, a wizard's staff serves merely as a conduit for magic rather than a source of power itself. The destruction of Saruman's staff did not render him powerless, as similar instances, like Gandalf's own experiences, demonstrate.