Gollum

This week, I decided to write about the significance behind the infamous character Gollum. Gollum was once a good hobbit named Smeagol, but once he gained possession of the ring he turned into a wretched evil creature. Smeagol represents the good, while Gollum represents the bad. These two alter ego’s battle with each other, causing this character to struggle choosing a course of action. However, a common trend in the series is that Gollum, the evil side, tends to win more frequently. This event is significant because it portrays how the ring can make a seemingly good hobbit turn to the dark side. The reason J.R.R. Tolkien chose to write Gollum into the series was to depict what could happen to Frodo. However, Gollum isn’t entirely evil, because when his two ego’s unite he is able to act as a guide to Frodo. By acting as Frodo’s guide, readers learn that Frodo possesses qualities, like strength and willpower, that Gollum does not possess. This revelation allows Frodo to be a more superior ring-bearer and remain more good than evil.