prior to finding the Ring. The Ring, in other words, affects each individual
according to that individual's character. That is why Frodo endures to the very
last possible moment: it is in his character to be led so far into temptation,
where most others...maybe others, would yield to the power of the Ring.
Smeagol was not an admirable character prior to the Ring coming into his path,
and he reacts to the Ring according to that character.
Tolkien discusses this in letter 181 (can anyone tell I am reading the letters
carefully at the present moment? *lol*). He says, "Gollum was pitiable, but he
ended in persistent wickedness, and the fact that this worked good [ie: that he
fell into the Fire with the Ring he took from Frodo, my editorial comment] was
no credit to him. His marvellous courage and endurance, as great as Frodo and
Sam's or greater, being devoted to evil was portentous, but not honourable. I
am afraid, whatever our beliefs, we have to face the fact that there are
persons who yield to temptation, reject their chances of nobility or salvation,
and appear to be 'damnable'...The domination of the Ring was much too strong
for the mean soul of Smeagol. But he would have never had to endure it if he
had not become a mean sort of thief before it crossed his path."
any typing errors are mine.
a.s.
Everybody's wonderin' what and where they all came from.
Everybody's worryin' 'bout where they're gonna go when the whole thing's
done.
But no one knows for certain and so it's all the same to me--
I think I'll just let the mystery be. --Iris DeMent
