Written by Alex Nikolopoulos

for Prof. Rebecca Million

After readers gregariously journeyed through the last few pages of J.R.R. Tolkien’s first novel, Tolkien justly rewards their enthusiasm by crafting a sequel, The Two Towers, and, indeed, it does the first great justice. In essence, it is in this novel that Tolkien truly showcases his writing prowess and powerful command of the English language by quickly setting the novel into motion and, in the process, cannons readers into two vastly different worlds. Fundamentally, Book 3 (the first part of the sequel) explores Aragorn, Gandalf and their company’s attempts to suppress the forces of the enemy; this is contrasted by Frodo’s efforts to destroy the Ring (by travelling to Mount Doom with the help of Sam and the devious, self-serving Gollum) in Book 4. Essentially, the author accomplishes the challenging feat of doing justice to both the books’ protagonists by using a compelling storyline that develops at an increasingly rapid pace as the plot progresses.  It is emphasized that Gollum’s importance to the novel is paramount not only because of the impact he has on both Frodo’s and Sam’s characters while serving as a dynamic foil, but also in how he further develops the prominent theme of pity.

Immediately, from the fourth book’s captivating beginnings, it becomes exceedingly clear that a relationship between Gollum and Frodo is not only necessary, but also proves to be crucial to the plot’s development. In essence, Frodo’s fate is inextricably linked to that of Gollum because they both share a very special connection with the Ring. This intertwined relationship is powerfully defined by the Ring’s hold over both bearers, present and past; more specifically, Frodo resorts to manipulation by using the Ring’s allure to make Gollum a slave to his will.  Essentially, as is suggested by the chapter’s title: “The Taming of Sméagol” (603-620), Frodo employs the Ring to tame Gollum; although Frodo does not physically put on the Ring and awe Gollum with its power, he plays on Gollum’s psyche and understands that the creature’s longing for the Ring will, for the most part, pacify  his treacherous and underhanded nature.  This is clearly seen when Frodo forces Gollum to swear his allegiance by the ring: “Frodo drew himself up, and again Sam was startled by his words and his stern voice. ‘On the Precious? How dare you?’ he said. ‘Think!’” (Tolkien 618) Furthermore, Frodo pities Gollum.  Not only does the brave hobbit understand that the Ring is responsible for Gollum’s dissolution, but he also comes to the stark realization that he may indeed be doomed to the same fate. Evidently, the resemblance Frodo perceives between his struggling self and Gollum is too sharp to ignore; it is this pity that convinces him to free Gollum of the elven rope restraining him. The pull of the Ring proves too strong for Frodo to resist. Despite the hobbit’s best efforts to not wear the Ring, he takes advantage of Gollum’s utter obsession with it in order to control him. Essentially, this act of manipulation reflects prototypical behaviour of a Ringlord: the Ring is used in the conquest of power. The ultimatum that Frodo proposes to Gollum only has one possible solution, and that is to swear by the Precious.  It is at this point where Frodo’s character transforms into an individual who is now capable of indirectly harnessing the Ring’s power. This newfound ability is illustrated by Sam’s reaction to Frodo masterfully handling the situation of Gollum’s loyalty: “For a moment it appeared to Sam that his master had grown and Gollum had shrunk” (618).

The complex relationship between Frodo and Gollum previously explored contrasts with the relationship between Gollum and Sam, which is characterized by mistrust and intensity. Fundamentally, while Frodo and Gollum are connected through the Ring, Sam’s relationship with Gollum is one of a prison guard and an inmate; Sam is constantly vigilant in order to ensure that Gollum doesn’t betray his master (Frodo). The inevitable resulting suspicion leads to a high degree of mutual contention. Sam despises Gollum, and this loathing is amplified as his suspicions heighten with the novel’s culmination. Fundamentally, Sam’s inherently protective nature (re: Frodo) forces him to always be wary of Gollum, as exemplified when Sam assumes that Gollum has abandoned them after their night’s sleep: “Gollum was not to be seen. Various reproachful names for himself came to Sam’s mind, drawn from the Gaffer’s large paternal word-hoard” (623). In a sense, Sam is responsible for ensuring that the pity shown to Gollum by Frodo is not adversely exploited by Gollum, thus undermining Sam and Frodo’s common goal of ensuring the Ring’s eventual destruction. Unfortunately for Gollum, Sam is indeed responsible for the creature’s eventual and total character dissolution. In perhaps one of the novel’s most humanizing moments, Gollum attempts to caress Frodo, as if in an effort to repent for his sinful past. Instead, Sam interprets this human act as a threat and counters Gollum’s attempt to reconnect with what little innocence he has left with suspicion. This attempt at an initial reconciliation, at the stairs of Cirith Ungol, is interrupted by Sam when he believes Gollum is threatening his master when Frodo is at his weakest and sleeping: “‘But at that touch Frodo stirred and cried out softly in his sleep, and immediately Sam was wide awake. The first thing he saw was Gollum- ‘pawing at master,’ as he thought. ‘Hey you!’ he said roughly. ‘What are you up to?’…’But where have you been to-sneaking off and sneaking back, you old villain?’” (714) As a result, and because Gollum is unable  to connect with either his former humanity or his human-like companions, he follows through with his initial plan to take the Ring for his own devices by leading the hobbits straight into Shelob’s lair and the giant spider’s awaiting death-trap.

Fundamentally, both of Gollum’s distinct relationships with the two hobbits are able to elicit pity from both readers and Frodo alike. However, Gollum’s character is rather unique because he is able to draw sympathy from readers and further develop this prominent theme by the sad nature of his character. To readers, Gollum’s dehumanization is powerfully characterized when he elects to eat raw rabbit devoid of herbs, as opposed to Sam’s cooked stew: “’You couldn’t say no to that.’ ‘Yes, yes we could. Spoiling nice fish, scorching it. Give me fish now, and keep nasty chips!” (655) This primitive, animal-  like behaviour forces readers to sympathize with Gollum’s plight and truly pity the dissolution of Sméagol (a member of a simple folk who has degraded into the animalistic and dehumanized Gollum).  At a certain instance in the novel when both hobbits are sleeping at the stairs of Cirith Ungol (before Sam interrupts Gollum’s tranquility), Tolkien paints a truly humanizing image of Gollum; although he subsequently demolishes this sympathetic picture, it serves to reinforce the notion that Gollum was once capable of showing affection and that the Ring is ultimately responsible for the degradation of both his humanity and deplorable condition:

Peace was in both of their faces. Gollum looked at them. A spasm of pain seemed to twist him, and he turned away, peering back up towards the pass, shaking his head, as if engaged in some interior debate. Then he came back, and slowly putting out a trembling hand, very cautiously he touched Frodo’s knee- but almost the touch was a caress. For a fleeting moment, could one of the sleepers have seen him, they would have thought that they beheld an old weary hobbit, shrunken by the years that had carried him far beyond his time, beyond friends and kin, and the fields and streams of youth, an old starved pitiable thing (714).

This passage further develops the theme of pity because readers understand that a small part of Gollum desires to re-connect with his former innocence and previous identity.

In conclusion, Tolkien’s novel deploys a vast array of themes and characters that help the novel culminate. Pity is a prominent theme and it characterizes the relationship between Gollum and Frodo and serves to show the protagonist that the balance of his quest lies heavily upon his burdened shoulders. This relationship is then juxtaposed by the one shared between Gollum and Sam, where Sam’s main focus is centered on Frodo’s safety and Gollum is considered expendable for his very presence jeopardizes this key objective. Fundamentally, Tolkien illustrates that Gollum’s two vastly different relationships serve to reinforce the growing theme of pity and the great effect Gollum has on the outcome of the hobbits’ mission.

 

 Works Cited

Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings. 50^th Anniversary ed. Boston, Mass.:

Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Print.