This research paper will analyze the transformation of Sméagol to Gollum and his personality throughout the series, his rehabilitation and taming but also the spirit of good and evil. There will also be a pointing out on his style of speech and his conversations with himself throughout the tale.
To sum it up, the main goal of the illustration by Gollum, is to highlight the morality and philosophical significance of The Lord of the Rings, but moreover the inner conflict between this creature of Gollum and his own fight against his desire for the ring.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The Transformation of Gollum
1.1. The Transformation from Sméagol to Gollum
1.2. The Taming of Sméagol
1.3. Style of Speech and Motives of Gollum and Sméagol
2. The Inner conflict between the good and bad
2.1. The heavily addiction to the ring and its powers
2.2. Moral and philosophical perspective of Gollum
3. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This research paper aims to analyze the dual personality of the character Gollum within J.R.R. Tolkien’s "The Lord of the Rings," specifically focusing on the internal conflict between his Sméagol identity and his corrupted Gollum persona. The study explores how addiction to the One Ring influences this degeneration and examines the philosophical implications of good and evil within the narrative.
- The psychological transformation from Sméagol to Gollum.
- The role of addiction and the "precious" in shaping character behavior.
- The influence of moral and philosophical "absolutes" in Middle-earth.
- Linguistic patterns and third-person self-reference as manifestations of a split personality.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. The Transformation from Sméagol to Gollum
Gollum is a contradictive character in Tolkien´s Lord of the Rings. Tolkien has a pattern of creating matched, parallel or double individuals, a pattern that allows him not only to emphasize certain personality traits but also to suggest internal splits or negative potentiality within his characters. One can assume that every character has its own shadow in his body or within his spirit. Gollum and Frodo are closely and purposefully linked. The implication is clear: Gollum is the Ring-destroyed soul that Frodo could become. Moreover, Gollum has his own duality. Gollum´s internal division is suggested by double names: Sméagol and Gollum. In contrast to the other Hobbits, who live of fields and gardens, Gollum detests herbal nourishment: “Sméagol […] doesn´t eat grass or roots, no precious, not till, he´s starving or very sick […].” This clearly shows that there is a difference in his nutrition after his diversification of Sméagol to Gollum. Contradictive to his hate for nature, he kind of has a slight closeness to it. He is good at climbing trees and a good swimmer too. He catches fish with his hands. But his relation to nature is like his personality very schizophrenic. On the one hand, he hates the sun and the moon, but on the other hand he is striving for them.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: Outlines the research focus on Gollum’s dysfunctional personality and the analysis of his internal conflict between good and evil.
1. The Transformation of Gollum: Examines the psychological and physical shift from the hobbit Sméagol to the corrupted creature Gollum.
1.1. The Transformation from Sméagol to Gollum: Explores Tolkien’s use of dual naming to illustrate internal splits and the degenerative impact of the Ring on Gollum’s nature.
1.2. The Taming of Sméagol: Investigates the possibility of Gollum's rehabilitation through Frodo’s kindness and the limitations imposed by his deep-seated addiction.
1.3. Style of Speech and Motives of Gollum and Sméagol: Analyzes how Gollum’s peculiar linguistic habits, specifically his third-person self-reference, symbolize his separated identity.
2. The Inner conflict between the good and bad: Discusses the broader thematic struggle of morality and the influence of temptation within the quest.
2.1. The heavily addiction to the ring and its powers: Explains how the Ring acts as a catalyst for the psychological battle in both Frodo and Gollum.
2.2. Moral and philosophical perspective of Gollum: Debates the nature of objective morality in Middle-earth and whether Gollum can be held responsible for his actions.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes the study’s findings, highlighting Gollum’s ambiguity and his ultimate role in the destruction of the Ring.
Keywords
Gollum, Sméagol, The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien, Inner Conflict, Addiction, One Ring, Good and Evil, Middle-earth, Moral Absolutes, Psychology, Literary Analysis, Transformation, Personality Duality, Quest
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this research paper primarily about?
The paper explores the character of Gollum in J.R.R. Tolkien’s "The Lord of the Rings," specifically examining his dual personality, his transformation from Sméagol, and his internal struggle with the addiction to the One Ring.
What are the central themes of the study?
The central themes include the psychological effects of power and addiction, the duality of human/creature nature, the distinction between good and evil, and the impact of mercy and kindness in a corrupted character.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze the morality and philosophical significance of Gollum’s character, focusing on the inner conflict between the "good" (Sméagol) and the "bad" (Gollum) as driven by his desire for the Ring.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The paper uses a literary and cultural studies approach, involving textual analysis of the source material (the novels), psychological interpretation of the characters, and an examination of philosophical concepts within Tolkien's created world.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover the transformation process, the failed attempt at "taming" or rehabilitating Gollum, the role of language in manifesting his split identity, and the philosophical debate regarding objective versus subjective morality.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Gollum, Sméagol, addiction, internal conflict, Middle-earth, moral absolutes, and psychological duality.
How does the author interpret the relationship between Frodo and Gollum?
The author views their relationship as complex, noting that Frodo acts as a compassionate figure who attempts to foster the Sméagol personality, while Gollum serves as a warning or reflection of what Frodo could potentially become under the Ring's influence.
What is the significance of the character's speech patterns?
The author argues that Gollum’s tendency to speak in the third person and avoid the pronoun "I" serves as a linguistic symbol for his fractured, schizophrenic personality and his loss of a singular, coherent identity.
- Citar trabajo
- Manar-Marc Soukar (Autor), 2018, J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings". Gollum versus Sméagol. The inner conflict between the good, the bad and the precious, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/457551
