Tied to the ring

[thephantomcredits]

If Gollum just would have accidentally dropped the ring into the fires of mount doom and it was destroyed, would gollum just shrivel up and die? Would his age catch up to him instantly?

[Finwe]

I don't think that it would catch up to him instantly. The same thing that happened to Bilbo would have happened to him, except probably at a much faster rate, since he had kept the Ring for a much longer time, and had grown much more dependent on it.

[Elennar Starfire]

I don't think it would have mattered how quickly his age would catch up to him, he probably would jump after it as soon as he realized it was falling.

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

I agree with Elennar. If someone is ready to walk hundreds of miles and bite off one's finger (not to mention the rest) to get the ring, he don't just watch his preciousss melting in the fires.

[Knight of Gondor]

I believe this topic was discussed an age ago, before my departure from the board for months on end. I think the idea was brought up (perhaps from one of the Histories?) that Gollum would have had a touching death scene in Frodo's arms on the slopes of Amon Amarth.

[Silmiel of Imladris]

The weird thing is that Gollum didn't seem to age after Biblo took the ring but after the ring passed to Frodo, Biblo aged significantly. I wonder why this is?

[Knight of Gondor]

Um, I don't think Gollum could have aged physically any more than he already had. He had lived with it for hundreds of years, and his life was tied in to it so much. It depended on it.

Bilbo carried the Ring much less, and I believe his innocence of spirit or something kept him from severe negative affects. In the books, Bilbo aged, yes, but probably not physically like he did in the movies. (That was sad! What'd they do that for? He was capable of riding a horse in the book)

[Osse]

Gollum did not age physically however, he aged mentally quite drastically, he became completely tired and even more wretched...

Osse

[Telperion]

I'm a new member of this forum!

Well...this question about Gollum..I've read it in another forum and I've made some thoughts on it since then. Perhaps its due to Gollum's already twisted spirit that caused him live longer than Bilbo. The Ring's evil power had truly eaten him fast and straightaway because Gollum himself had this evil quality in him... smilies/rolleyes.gif

[rutslegolas]

i think gollum would die instantly after the ring is destroyed ,he would be old and then die . something like what happened to bilbo i guess

[ainur]

First, I agree that the portrayal in the film was sad and just wrong. They aged him far too much.

In the book, I think that Bilbo aged after he gave up the Ring just as he would have going forward from when he acquired it and Gollum did not. I think that has to do with how they got rid of it. Bilbo gave it up willingly, where-as Gollum simply "lost" it (or it lost him!) The ring continued to work on Gollum because he never gave it up, while Bilbo "felt better immediately" as Gandalf said. The Ring controlled Gollum, but Bilbo was in control of the Ring (or at least it's effect on him). An important difference, I think.

[Roa_Aoife]

The idea of Gollum is something like the Nazgul- he's been under the influence of the ring for so long, that he's inextricably tied to it. Bilbo, who had for far less time, and indeed gave it freely, was not so tied in. And Frodo aged while wearing the ring, from the constant drag on his spirit when the ring was no longer dormant.
Also, the idea that Frodo attempted to get rid of the ring, and that Bilbo gives it up on his own, speaks very highly of the hobbits. Isildur had it for five minutes and couldn't let go. Boromir never touched it and look what happened to him. Even Galadriel had problems refusing the ring. I think the naturally humble and simple life of the Hobbit aided the cause greatly. Even Gollum showed remarkable hardiness as he lasted as long as he did with out losing his own ideas.