[Lhunbelethiel]

Thank you for your feed back, you all made interesting points. I think I agree that Gollum did not "redeem" himself as such. I believe, as someone mentioned, that he simply played out his part in the story-- helping to complete the task of taking the ring back to Mt. Doom. Though he had his moments of clarity and near kindness, his greed at the end is typical of his Gollum self and does not make up for his occasional acts of normalcy. I like the idea of him being part of a larger story and simply being a player rather than one who coudl determine his own fate. (though he could have, he didn't) Also, the aforementioned idea that he is meant to show the weakness of people is a provocative thought...

As for Frodo's compassion, I think he is admirable for his selflessness in taking on the task of being the ring bearer. There was not much for him to gain in the beginning, but as the heft of his task grew, he came to understand the sheer necessity of taking the ring back to Mordor. His interaction with Gollum still fascinates me, and I am glad some of you pointed out the fact I had forgotten-- that Gandalf had warned Frodo against being cruel to him as he had a distinct and important part to play in his quest. Like many people in our real lives, though they may seem unimportant or even a nuissance, they all are in our lives for a reason. They all contribte something to our own quests and affect the choices we make. An interesting thought...

Thanks again for your insights. I love the Barrow Downs for allowing these kinds of discussions about something so trivial, yet so very important to us all. More ideas and discussion on this topic would be most welcome.