Part 5/7:
The real turning point for Saruman was his obsessive curiosity about dark magic and the origins of the Rings of Power. Losing educational focus, Saruman spent over 300 years obsessed with the secrets of these forbidden arts, convinced that through his studies, he could grasp ultimate power.
Access to the palantír—an artifact of seeing—further deepened his corruption. Utilizing it, he began to communicate with Sauron, mistakenly believing that he could outwit the Dark Lord and twist the results to his advantage.