system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[LoTR]: What happened to Saruman and Sauron after they died?

In my understanding, when Gandalf died his soul/Maiar nature went back to the Lands Undying, and he was sent back by Eru, empowered and transformed. What happened to the antagonists' souls/eternal natures? Did they merely cease to be?
gpt
They don't really die. They live on, in the background, as severely diminished and impotent spirits. Gandalf received special treatment from Eru, the god of middle earth.

They don't cease to be, but realistically they are a non-entity on the world stage.