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Gollum Allegory

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In J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the character of Gollum has quickly proven to be the single most important character to the plot. This is due partly to his role in the destruction of the One Ring; but more to do with the themes associated with the character of Gollum. Gollum, despite being a disgusting and repulsive creature who had entered the story later than most other characters, embodies the strongest allegory in the entire trilogy. Gollum is an allegory for the depravity of Man because he puts all of his focus on a physical object with absolutely no eternal value, Gollum's devotion to the One Ring led to major physical and mental transformations, and Gollum's eventual obsession with the One Ring brought about the terrible …show more content…

At the beginning of the trilogy, it is explained that Smeagol was once a Hobbit before he discovered the One Ring. but when he first encounters Frodo and Sam, they find it difficult to believe that he is even natural, much less a Hobbit. Gollum is one of the characters who least resembles a human.. In The Fellowship of the Ring. Tolkien paints a very vivid picture of Gollum; "... a small black shape was moving with its thin limbs spayed out. Maybe its soft clinging hands and toes were crevices and holds that no hobbit could ever have seen or used, but it looked as if it was just creeping down on sticky pads, like some large prowling thing of insect-kind. And it was coming down head first, as if it was smelling the way." Smeagol has descended so far that he has ceased to be human, or even a hobbit. he is completely and utterly unrecognizable as a civilized …show more content…

But when Gollum stole it, Frodo remembered something Gandalf had told him' "'But do you remember Gandalf's words: Even Gollum may have something yet to do? But for him, Sam, I could not have destroyed the Ring. The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end.'" Gollum was so mentally warped, his mind could not perceive the danger between him and the ring. His lack of foresight coupled with his obsession with the Ring brought about the ultimate end of both himself and the One Ring. Smeagol is an allegory for the depravity of Man because he puts all of his focus on a physical object with absolutely no eternal value, Gollum's devotion to the One Ring led to major physical and mental transformations, and Gollum's eventual obsession with the One Ring brought about the terrible end of both himself and the

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