Quote:
Originally Posted by Bęthberry
Um, not a lack of hope so much as a sombre, sobre recognition of just how much hope it would take.  Gollem would certainly need his road to Damascus. Gandalf certainly shows mercy to Gollem and pity. But I don't think that Gandalf specifically believes there is hope for the possibility of repentance for Gollem. He counsels against serving death out of judgement. His faith is that he senses Gollem may be connected with the destruction of the Ring--and that Gollem's "premature" death, if you will, would harm that. There's a difference. |
Yes, I know that, but still, I think still there is this possibility hanging somewhere in the air that it would have been possible for him to recover.
As for what you said, now Gollum's road to Damascus, now that would be something impressive indeed
(Though one wonders how much his meeting with Frodo might not have been *almost* something of that sort for him.)