Gollum is generally regarded as the most complex character in J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Beyond his iconic speaking mannerisms, he is a character of great thematic relevance and psychological depth. Advancing from his simpler and menacing form in The Hobbit, the Gollum of the sequel is darker and more tragic than his previous incarnation. This Gollum is a character torn between two halves, a more humanised persona — called ‘Smeagol’ — that has the capacity to turn to the light and free himself from the evil influence of the Ring, and his darker alter-ego ‘Gollum’, a figure that is both malicious and cruel, and in a constant battle for control over his mind. Through Gollum we see the exploration of mercy most keenly: much of what is accomplished in the story occurs because of the pity Bilbo and Frodo, and eventually Sam, take upon the scheming and desperate being who falls before them at critical points in the journey.
- Origins of Gollum
The reader is first introduced to Gollum in the second chapter of the book ‘A Shadow of the Past’ when Gandalf explains the Ring’s history to Frodo. Gollum is described as once being a hobbit-like being called Smeagol who lived near the Great River and enjoyed a life of fishing and exploring. Smeagol is commonly understood in modern culture through the Peter Jackson adaptations. There he is…
