Saruman became the head of the White Council (though Galadriel, being very wise or very foresighted, favored Gandalf). Tom Shippey*, in his magnificent J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century, points out Saruman's way of speaking -- particularly the way he attempts to persuade Gandalf before imprisoning him in The Fellowship of the Ring -- is among the most "modern" (meaning 20th Century) dialogue in the book. In fact, it's a particular dialect of 20th Century politician Weaselspeak.
Tolkien was a philologist, so there's no chance at all this was a coincidence.
*I give Shippey's book my highest possible recommendation and then some. Rangers should Ranger -- twice, if they have to -- to get their mitts on a copy. The title is chosen deliberately, and Shippey explains why at the beginning. Note also that Shippey was the consultant who apparently "exited" the Amazon Prime production of LOTR. Make of that what you will.
Saruman became the head of the White Council (though Galadriel, being very wise or very foresighted, favored Gandalf). Tom Shippey*, in his magnificent J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century, points out Saruman's way of speaking -- particularly the way he attempts to persuade Gandalf before imprisoning him in The Fellowship of the Ring -- is among the most "modern" (meaning 20th Century) dialogue in the book. In fact, it's a particular dialect of 20th Century politician Weaselspeak.
Tolkien was a philologist, so there's no chance at all this was a coincidence.
*I give Shippey's book my highest possible recommendation and then some. Rangers should Ranger -- twice, if they have to -- to get their mitts on a copy. The title is chosen deliberately, and Shippey explains why at the beginning. Note also that Shippey was the consultant who apparently "exited" the Amazon Prime production of LOTR. Make of that what you will.