Smeagol’s life before obtaining the One Ring
Smeagol was a hobbit that lived in the Vales of the Anduin River. This timepoint was about 500 years before the War of the Ring and even before the Shire was established.
At this timepoint, many hobbits lived near the Vales of the Anduin River while those who climbed and crossed the Misty Mountains would later found the Shire and even migrate to Bree.
Smeagol’s cousin Deagol planned a fishing trip near the Gladden Fields on Smeagol’s birthday. The Gladden Fields were the fields where Isildur lost the One Ring.
Smeagol’s murder of Deagol over the One Ring
Smeagol and Deagol were fishing in the Anduin River near the Gladden Fields where Deagol caught a large fish but was dragged into the waters.
In the muddy riverbed, Deagol found a golden ring, the One Ring. Very unusual for hobbits as hobbits usually don’t desire much and were generally humble, Deagol and Smeagol fought over the One Ring while Smeagol demanded the One Ring as a birthday present. Smeagol eventually murdered his cousin Deagol for the One Ring.
Exile of Smeagol and Corruption by the One Ring
Smeagol after obtaining the One Ring by secretly murdering his cousin Deagol, started to harass the other hobbit villagers. Smeagol would make weird coughs and the villagers started to call him Gollum for his gurgling coughs as despise of smeagol’s mischief.
Eventually Smeagol was banished from his hobbit village. Slowly by the One Ring, Smeagol started to deteriorate where he couldn’t bear the sun and his body started to shrink and twisted.
The One Ring like the other Rings of Power elongated the lifespan of Smeagol that would make him live for over 500 years.
However, the One Ring and the Rings of Power elongated life but didn’t prevent the deterioration so Smeagol became a slim, pale, wrinkly corrupted creature. The evil of the One Ring also consumed Smeagol that corrupted Smeagol.
Development of Smeagol and Gollum Identity disorder
However, Smeagol did feel the guilt from murdering his cousin Smeagol and went through excessive emotional pain for being banished from his hobbit village.
Smeagol made another identity Gollum, possibly because of the remaining consciousness of Smeagol regretted his misbehavior so he wanted to blame the bad side of himself Gollum, the nickname the hobbit villagers used for Smeagol by their hatred on him.
Smeagol became the kind personality while Gollum became the evil personality obsessed with the One Ring
Why did Smeagol call the One Ring “Precious”
Smeagol first demanded the One Ring as a birthday present to his cousin Deagol. For Smeagol, the One Ring was a precious birthday gift.
However, Smeagol also knew that the One Ring was a curse that urged him to murder his cousin Deagol and caused trouble so Smeagol was abandoned by his fellow hobbits.
Smeagol both hated and loved the One Ring as his temptation was too strog to resist the One Ring while he knew the One Ring only brought despair.
Gollum even feared the One Ring because he knew that tragedy would also fall upon him with the One Ring. Eventually, Smeagol and Gollum continued this hate-love relationship with the One Ring by calling it Precious as he lost his mind over his “precious birthday gift”.
Why were the effects of the One Ring different on Bilbo and Frodo Baggins from Smeagol(Gollum)
Smeagol first earned the One Ring by murdering Deagol while Bilbo Baggins first earned the One Ring by saving and sparing Smeagol’s life.
The mercy of Bilbo Baggins was one of the most significant events of middle earth which is why Gandalf constantly highlights Bilbo Baggin’s mercy.
Frodo Baggins also accepted his destiny as the Ring Bearer of the One Ring after witnessing the arguments and conflicts between the dwarves, elves and men at the Council of Elrond.
The beginning of the journey of the Ring Bearers with the One Ring shows the significant difference between Smeagol and Frodo,Bilbo. Gollum couldn’t overcome his evil nature that was unusual as a hobbit while Frodo and Bilbo Baggins had a kind nature that helped them bear the resistance and the evil will of the One Ring.
Why did Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins travel barefooted
Hobbits had unusually strong feet so hobbits generally didn’t need to wear shoes. The strong feet of hobbits allowed them to be so sneaky and stealth as well.
Thus Frodo and Sam didn’t wear shoes because they were isolated and surrounded by the enemies in Mordor, but hobbits didn’t require shoes due to their strong feet.
Why did Smeagol and Gollum betray Sam and Frodo
Gollum and Smeagol felt betrayed from Sam and Frodo when they were all captured by Faramir and the rangers of Ithilien. For Smeagol and Gollum, the betrayal they felt from Sam and Frodo reminded them when they were banished from their hometown hobbits.
Thus, for Smeagol and Gollum, Sam and Frodo were the same hobbits that left them in pain and agony 500 years ago at their hometown at the Vales of the Anduin.
Also, as Sam, Frodo and Gollum were closer to Mordor, the power of the One Ring strengthened and the temptation of the One Ring to Gollum grew stronger and stronger. Thus, Gollum and Smeagol plan an evil plot to kill Sam and Frodo to recover the One Ring.
Gollum’s plot to kill Sam and Frodo by Shelob
When Gollum wandered the lands of Mordor, Gollum encountered the giant spider Shelob the descendant of Ungoliant at Cirith Ungol.
Shelob may not have devoured Smeagol as he was already foul and corrupted that discouraged Shelob’s appetite.
Smeagol, however made a promise to the spider Shelob that he shall lure prey to Cirith Ungol if Shelob spared his life.
Shelob agreed and spared Gollum’s life. Smeagol and Gollum were still afraid of their oath to serve Frodo on the Precious, the One Ring so Smeagol and Gollum decided to lure Frodo and Sam to Cirith Ungol for Shelob’s dinner.
Smeagol and Gollum did guide Frodo and Sam to Cirith Ungol because it was one of the less guarded points because of Shelob though. However, as Smeagol and Gollum decided to betray Sam and Frodo, it became a great chance for Smeagol to snatch the One Ring without using their own hands.
