Gollum’s story is one that develops throughout the film, as the time goes on the audience is given the chance to put the pieces of Gollum’s history together. He is first introduced in the prelude spoken by Galadriel, who mentions that the Ring was in his keeping for 500 years and we hear that during this time Gollum became exceedingly attached to it.
“He hates and loves the Ring just as he hates and loves himself… he will never be rid of his need for it.”
The words of Gandalf in Moria are the next time we hear of this creature, as he follows them through the mines. Gollum’s past is hinted at here, when Gandalf says:
“Sméagol’s life is a sad story… yes Sméagol he was once called, before the Ring found him… before it drove him mad.”
It is also at this point that Gandalf says that he believes that Gollum has some part yet to play, for good or evil, before the quest is over.
The story continues. and after the breaking of the Fellowship, Gollum follows Frodo and Sam. He is eventually captured by them as he tries to take the Ring from the ‘sleeping’ hobbits. They tie him with the elvish rope and continue on their way, however, Gollum makes such a racket that they are forced to make the decision of tying him up and leaving him or releasing him to continue with them. Frodo, against Sam’s advice, chooses the latter, and instructs Gollum to lead them to the Black Gate, which he does.
At the gate, Gollum persuades them not to enter, for he says there is another way and that the hobbits would surely be caught if they entered there. Once again Sam objects to Gollum’s advice, but Frodo chooses to trust him. So they begin their journey to the Morgul Vale as Gollum intends to lead them through the pass of Cirith Ungol.
Throughout the time of Gollum leading the hobbits, the audience is made to feel pity for him, especially in the scene where he overcomes his ‘Gollum’ side. As the trio cross through Ithilien on their way to Mordor, they are captured by Rangers. Gollum eludes this capture, but stumbles upon the ‘forbidden pool’ which is a secret entrance to the rangers’ hideout. In a bid to save his life, Frodo convinces Gollum to come with him, to ensure that he is captured and not killed. However, Gollum does not understand and considers this action ‘betrayal’, and this combined with his ever mounting need for the Ring causes him to plot revenge on the hobbits and hopefully regain his ‘precious’ as well.
This revenge is planned while Gollum is still leading them to the ‘winding stair’, and actually to ‘Her’, hoping that she will kill them, and when she throws away the empty clothes, he can take back the Ring.
At the beginning of the third film we see a flashback of Gollum’s life. He is shown finding the Ring. Him and his best friend and cousin, Déagol, were fishing. Déagol finds the Ring and Sméagol is immediately drawn to it. This results in him murdering Déagol and taking the precious for his own. He is driven away from his home and makes his way to the Misty Mountains, where he stays for many years with only the Ring and goblins for company.
At the point where Gollum feels betrayed, his ‘Gollum’ side returns and helps him plot revenge on the hobbits. Gollum then argues with himself over the plan, however, his ‘Gollum’ side reminds ‘Sméagol’ that he has done it once (murder) and can do it again. This finalises his resolve to continue with his plan, though it is ‘risky’.
Sam overhears the plan and tries to attack Gollum, but is once again stopped by Frodo. So Gollum leads on, and finally they come to the stair. It is during the climb that Gollum, who has always disliked Sam, begins to turn Frodo against him by hinting that Sam wants the Ring and will try and take it from him. Later in the climb, while the hobbits are sleeping, Gollum throws away their remaining lembas and frames Sam as having eaten it. It is at this point that Sam, furious with Gollum for his lies, once again attacks him. Frodo intervenes again, but Sam, seeing his master so exhausted, is distraught and desperate to find some way of helping him, so he offers to carry the Ring and ‘share the load’. Gollum’s plan has worked and Frodo, now seeing Sam as one eager for the Ring, instructs him to go home, continuing on with Gollum alone.
Gollum leads Frodo to the tunnel but his plans go astray when Frodo survives his journey. It is at this point that Frodo realises the treachery of Gollum, and the two fight briefly outside the tunnel. However, Frodo relents when Gollum says that it was the precious that made him do it, only too conscious of his own failings brought on by the Ring’s hold. Moments later, once Frodo has turned his back, Gollum attacks him again, but is pushed over the edge of a rocky cliff-face.
Gollum is presumed dead by the audience as the story continues. However, at the very last leg of the journey, he appears again, attacking the hobbits just as they are reaching the central opening to Mount Doom. Sam, having returned to his master, throws a rock at Gollum to prevent him from suffocating Frodo, then attacks him with a sword, while Frodo runs to the core of Mount Doom. Despite having his chance to kill Gollum, Sam is more concerned about Frodo and leaving Gollum to nurse his wounds follows Frodo up the mountain.
The need for the precious continues to drive Gollum and he follows too, arriving just after Frodo has placed the Ring on his finger, being unable to destroy it. Knocking Sam out with a rock, he attacks the now invisible Frodo and takes the Ring from him by biting off his finger. The two fight again as Frodo tries to take the Ring from Gollum. Finally in the scuffle Gollum falls over the edge and with his ‘precious’ dies in the fires of Mount Doom. Gollum thus fulfils Gandalf’s foresight in Moria: he did indeed have a part to play.
By Elvishmusician
