No, Sauron never truly forgot who he was; he was a Maia who retained his immense power and memories, even using disguises like "Annatar" (Lord of Gifts) and "the Necromancer," but he deliberately concealed his true identity from others and often underestimated his foes, especially those motivated by love, projecting his own lust for control onto them. While Maiar in Middle-earth could experience some memory fading, Sauron's power and connection to the Ring kept him largely aware, even if he was surprised by the hobbits' resilience.
Why was Sauron afraid of Aragorn potentially possessing the Ring? Gandalf explains it in the Return of the King (during the council after the battle of the Pelennor fields) that Sauron would never think somebody would want to destroy the One Ring.
Saruman was selected to be the chief of the order of wizards. When Gandalf was raised back he was given the role of Saruman. In a sense, when he took the role of Saruman he embodied WHO Saruman was. That's why he says ``Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been.''
His two most salient powers were his knowledge and his voice. Saruman was, in a very real way, the junior brother of Sauron both having been Maia of Aulë, Valar of Smithcraft, in the very beginnings of time.
He actually never sees Frodo until Frodo declares that the Ring is his at the Crack of Doom. He knows someone's wearing it, he can feel that but he never sees who or what has it until the end.
It's not the years; it's the mileage. Gandalf isn't a Maia in the same way Sauron is. He was sent to middle earth as an old man, so his body is much more real than Sauron's “raiment”. He can't use his power to the same extent, he can't change his forms at will.
Instead, we have to consider that Sauron, the original owner, is not human, but has a quasi-divine status. Therefore ownership of the Ring is subject to Divine Law. With this precedent in mind, many of the ambiguities clear up nicely. After numerous transfers by violence and trickery, Frodo is the true owner.
Sauron needed Gandalf out of the picture permanently, as he was the only enemy with the knowledge, leadership and determination to thwart him. His biggest mistake was ego. He succeeded by trickery, by his ability to deceive others. He conquered so much land that his ability to control became out of reach .
As a Maia, Gandalf was an angelic being in human form, in service to the Creator (Eru Ilúvatar) and the Creator's 'Secret Fire'. He took on the specific form of an old man as a sign of his humility. His role was to advise but never to attempt to match Sauron's strength.
Gandalf does not WANT to touch the ring. Just as Galadriel resists the temptation to take it when Frodo offers it to her willingly. And all this because "Power Corrupts". Sauron and the Ring are allegories for the corruption that inevitably arises when too much power is concentrated in one place.
Radagast the Brown is one of five wizards that came from the Undying Lands to Middle Earth. Gandalf the Grey was one other and considered Radagast a close friend, even calling him 'cousin' in The Hobbit.
Elrond chose the fate of the Elves and therefore the choice was presented to his children. The reason why Eldarion and his sisters (the children of Aragorn and Arwen) were born mortal was because Arwen chose mortality and therefore that fate was passed on to the rest of their line.
He was terrified in a way beyond comprehension. Gollum knew if Sauron ever got it back, he would never possess it again. Gollum/Smeagol was a twisted and tragic character, but, like the other characters, he too was facing fear, internal conflict, and risking his life to stop Sauron from getting The Ring.
Saruman first appeared during a fourth phase of writing in a rough narrative outline dated August 1940. Intended to account for Gandalf's absence, it describes how a wizard titled "Saramond the White" or "Saramund the Grey", who has fallen under the influence of Sauron, lures Gandalf to his stronghold and traps him.
The Ring's effects
Inversely, the hobbits' good-naturedness and lack of ambition makes them less susceptible to the Ring's promises of power, as in Frodo and Samwise Gamgee, who are able to handle the Ring for extended periods of time.
It tells you why right in the book, Sauron releases him because he knows Gollum will go after the ring, and can be watched, leading Sauron to the ring.
Exclusive worldwide rights to motion picture, merchandising, stage and other rights in certain literary works of J. R. R. Tolkien including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were sold by Tolkien himself to United Artists in 1969, reportedly for a small amount, and are currently owned by Middle-earth Enterprises ( ...
Gollum is a hobbit that is featured in The Lord of The Rings, where his story his primarily focused on his possessive love of the One Ring. The power of the ring causes an unusual extension of life and in Gollum's case caused him to live to around 500 years old.
Gandalf the Grey's light up staff by noble collection (the staff used in The Hobbit, an Unexpected Journey) came in three pieces and had a plastic like finish. Due to the technical elements some design elements were markedly different to the United Cutlery and Wētā versions of the staff.
The wisest of the Maiar, Gandalf was created by Ilúvatar before the Music of the Ainur. At the beginning of Time, he was amongst the Ainur who entered into Eä. In his "youth" he was known as Olórin and lived in Lórien.
Their sole exchange occurs in The Fellowship of the Ring, at the Council of Elrond, when Légolas pledges himself to Frodo's quest: “And with my bow.” That is it; no other direct words pass between them for the remainder of their journey.
Sauron could not take fair form after the fall of Numenor, and Gollum talks about seeing only four fingers on his black hand in the Two Towers. So yeah, it's likely he did.
I'll give a bookish answer. In the book, Frodo has the Ring for some 17 years before he sets out on his Quest, as Gandalf hasn't yet figured out it is the One Ring . Now Bilbo and Frodo are both good-natured and generous people, and they came to posses the Ring in a peaceful manner.