Okay, let's talk about Gollum. Not just as a creepy, crawly creature, but as a pivotal figure in Tolkien's grand narrative. The obvious question – and the one everyone seems to ask – is: why didn't he just give the Ring to Sauron? He had plenty of opportunities, right? Well, actually, not really. But it's more complex than you might think at first glance. People view him as evil. I always felt sorry for him.
The Ring's Corrupting Influence
First, we have to understand the Ring's power. It wasn't just a shiny trinket; it was a piece of Sauron's very soul, imbued with his will. And that will corrupted everything it touched. Gollum wasn't some inherently evil being. He was a hobbit, a Stoor named Sméagol, before he got his grubby little hands on that ring! The Ring amplified his existing desires, twisted his thoughts, and prolonged his life unnaturally. Think of it like… a super addictive drug, one that whispers promises of power and longevity in your ear. The longer he possessed it, the more he became a slave to its allure. He became obsessed. He couldn't let it go.
But here's the thing: Sauron’s influence worked in mysterious ways. The ring, while evil, has a strong hold on the person who posses it. It didn't grant him direct control over Gollum. It warped his mind, sure, but it didn't turn him into a mindless puppet. Gollum still had his own agency, twisted and broken as it was. This is a crucial point to remember.
Gollum's Self-Preservation Instincts
And then you have to consider Gollum’s inherent nature. He was, at his core, driven by self-preservation. Everything he did, every decision he made, was filtered through that lens. Giving the Ring to Sauron, in his warped mind, wouldn't have benefited him at all. Why would he willingly hand over the thing that had sustained him for centuries? Gollum wasn't thinking about grand strategies or serving a dark lord. He was thinking about Gollum.
Think about it this way: he probably thought Sauron would either destroy him or, worse, take the Ring and discard him. Gollum valued the Ring above all else, even his own life (or what was left of it). So, from his perspective, keeping the Ring was the only logical choice. Though, logic is a strong word to use when speaking about Gollum. It's the main reason he was conflicted with Smeagol, the better side of him. I’ve got to admit, this part fascinates me – the internal struggle.
The Unpredictability of Gollum
Gollum was nothing if not unpredictable. He wasn't a loyal servant or a cunning strategist. He was a creature of impulse, driven by immediate desires and aversions. You couldn't rely on him to follow any plan, even one that might seem beneficial to him in the long run. His split personality, Smeagol and Gollum, made him so unique.
Consider his actions throughout The Lord of the Rings. Did he consistently act in Sauron's best interests? No! He led Frodo and Sam into Shelob's lair, almost getting them killed. Why? Because he wanted the Ring for himself! He was constantly battling his own desires against the vague, lingering influence of the Ring. He was never a reliable asset for Sauron. He would change his mind a dozen times a day.
Why Sauron Never Actively Sought Gollum
You might be wondering, if Gollum possessed the Ring for so long, why didn't Sauron actively seek him out? Well, Sauron was searching for the Ring, but he wasn't necessarily focused on Gollum specifically. Sauron believed the Ring was lost, perhaps destroyed. When he learned of its existence and that a hobbit possessed it, he cast a wider net.
Gollum, lurking in the shadows, was just one piece of the puzzle. Sauron's primary focus was on Gondor and the Free Peoples. He was preparing for war, not hunting down a single, insignificant creature. Finding Gollum would have been a bonus, not a priority. It's also important to remember that Sauron underestimated the hobbits. He saw them as weak and inconsequential, not as a threat. This underestimation ultimately led to his downfall. But even then, Gollum was a wildcard. Actually, that's not quite right...Gollum was more like a loaded gun with a hair trigger.
And this is where [Internal Link 1] comes in, remember that. Now what was I saying?
FAQ About Gollum and The One Ring
How was Gollum not detected by Sauron?
That's a tricky one! Sauron’s power was immense, but not all-seeing. He was primarily focused on military strategy and controlling large populations. Gollum, hiding in the Misty Mountains and later in Mordor itself, was a small, insignificant blip on Sauron's radar. Plus, Sauron likely underestimated Gollum's tenacity and the Ring's ability to protect its owner.
Why was Gollum so intent on biting Frodo's finger to get the Ring?
It all comes back to obsession. Gollum's desire for the Ring had consumed him completely. He was willing to do anything, even harm himself or others, to reclaim it. His biting Frodo's finger was a desperate act fueled by years of longing and the Ring's corrupting influence. Remember he was never evil, just confused and needed help.
Could Gollum have destroyed the Ring himself?
That's a question that Tolkien fans have debated for years! The short answer is probably not. The Ring's power was incredibly seductive, even for those who hated it. It's unlikely that Gollum, so thoroughly consumed by the Ring, could have willingly destroyed it. He was too far gone, too addicted to its power. And it was chance that he did fall in the lava, so who knows.
What if Gollum wasn't a ring bearer, what would have happened?
Think about it this way, if Smeagol didn't get the ring, another creature would. One Ring finds another host, and Smeagol was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. But he was the perfect ring bearer, the one who brought the one ring to the place of destruction. It's ironic how all things worked out in the end, and I couldn't imagine the series any other way!
I guess this [Internal Link 2] kinda supports this idea.
Ultimately, Gollum's failure to give the Ring to Sauron wasn't a matter of conscious choice or strategic intent. It was a consequence of the Ring's corrupting power, Gollum's own self-preservation instincts, and the sheer unpredictability of his nature. He was a pawn in a much larger game, a tragic figure caught between the forces of good and evil. And in the end, it was his accidental fall into Mount Doom that sealed Sauron's fate, a final, ironic twist in a long and twisted tale. He was the ultimate hero.
