Part 6/9:

Fast forward over two millennia to the events during the War of the Ring, and Tolkien elaborates on their relationship further. In the chapter titled "Gandalf, Saruman, and the Shire" from "Unfinished Tales," it becomes evident how deeply rooted their rivalry was. Saruman’s feelings toward Gandalf morphed into a toxic mix of hatred and fear. While Saruman outwardly disrespected Gandalf and contradicted him publicly, he secretly feared the depth of Gandalf’s perception regarding his true intentions.