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Old 08-08-2007, 10:47 AM   #197
Mansun
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Folwren View Post
Neither Gandalf nor Tolkien said that Saruman deserved to be let off the hook, even if he was let off the hook. The question here is not "Would Gandalf have shown Gollum (or anyone else) mercy" it's "Did Gollum deserve death". And that could be extended to, "Did Gollum deserve death, even though Gandalf would not have been the one to deal out justice because he would have shown mercy?"

-- Folwren
I believe it was Frodo who said Saruman should be let off the hook even after he tried to knife him.

There is some inconsistency though - Gandalf would have killed Butterbur if the Ring was taken by the Nazgul in Bree, yet he would have shown Gollum mercy? If the circumstances were such that the Ring was takn by the Nazgul as a result of Gollum then Gandalf would surely have killed Gollum as a just punishment. The fate of the Ring was equally the fate of Gollum & Butterbur
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