Part 5/8:
What truly led to Saruman's downfall was a loss of connection to his original essence, exacerbated by his rebellion against the creator, Ilúvatar. As a consequence of this rebellion, Saruman was effectively left to his own devices, with his powers waning due to a lack of divine replenishment. This mirrors what happened with Melkor (Morgoth), who, despite being one of the mightiest Valar, became less powerful than Sauron—the Maia he once influenced—because he depleted his strength.