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jallanite · 07-10-2013, 07:28 PM

Gollum still finds pleasure in matters other than food, at least in Gandalf’s thought. In the chapter “The Shadow of the Past” in The Fellowship of the Ring Gandalf says:

There was a little corner of his mind that was still his own, and light came through it, as through a chink in the dark; light out of the past. It was actually pleasant, I think, to hear a kindly voice again, bringing up memories of wind, and trees, and sun on the grass, and such forgotten things.

Gandalf’s suspicions are borne out by the pleasure Gollum takes in serving Frodo, until Sam ruins it through his suspicions of Gollum’s behaviour.

Then there is the passage from the beginning of “The Passage of the Marshes” in The Two Towers:

Gollum turned to the right, southward more or less, and splashed along with his feet in the shallow stony stream. He seemed greatly delighted to feel the water; and chuckled to himself, sometimes even croaking in a sort of song.
The cold hard lands
they bites our hands,
               they gnaws our feet.
The rocks and stones
are like old bones
               all bare of meat.
But stream and pool
is wet and cool:
               so nice for feet!
And now we wish — — —

‘Ha! ha! What does we wish?’ he said, looking sidelong at the hobbits. ‘We’ll tell you,’ he croaked. ‘He guessed it long ago, Baggins guessed it.’ A glint came into his eyes, and Sam catching the gleam in the darkness thought it far from pleasant.
Alive without breath;
as cold as death;
never thirsting, ever drinking;
clad in mail, never clinking.
Drowns on dry land,
thinks an island
is a mountain;
thinks a fountain
is a puff of air.
So sleek, so fair!
               What a joy to meet!
We only wish
to catch a fish
               so juicy-sweet!

Gollum turns his experiences of wandering and guiding the hobbits into excellent poetry. He recalls his riddle to Bilbo and playfully adds lines about the fish meeting an island and what the fish might think of a fountain. Eating is part of this verse but only part of it. There is surely also joy in the making and reciting of the verse for its own sake.

Here Gollum has just accepted Frodo as his master and we see him at his best.

07-10-2013, 07:28 PM	#18
jallanite Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 479	Gollum still finds pleasure in matters other than food, at least in Gandalf’s thought. In the chapter “The Shadow of the Past” in The Fellowship of the Ring Gandalf says: There was a little corner of his mind that was still his own, and light came through it, as through a chink in the dark; light out of the past. It was actually pleasant, I think, to hear a kindly voice again, bringing up memories of wind, and trees, and sun on the grass, and such forgotten things. Gandalf’s suspicions are borne out by the pleasure Gollum takes in serving Frodo, until Sam ruins it through his suspicions of Gollum’s behaviour. Then there is the passage from the beginning of “The Passage of the Marshes” in The Two Towers: Gollum turned to the right, southward more or less, and splashed along with his feet in the shallow stony stream. He seemed greatly delighted to feel the water; and chuckled to himself, sometimes even croaking in a sort of song. The cold hard lands they bites our hands,                they gnaws our feet. The rocks and stones are like old bones                all bare of meat. But stream and pool is wet and cool:                so nice for feet! And now we wish — — — ‘Ha! ha! What does we wish?’ he said, looking sidelong at the hobbits. ‘We’ll tell you,’ he croaked. ‘He guessed it long ago, Baggins guessed it.’ A glint came into his eyes, and Sam catching the gleam in the darkness thought it far from pleasant. Alive without breath; as cold as death; never thirsting, ever drinking; clad in mail, never clinking. Drowns on dry land, thinks an island is a mountain; thinks a fountain is a puff of air. So sleek, so fair!                What a joy to meet! We only wish to catch a fish                so juicy-sweet! Gollum turns his experiences of wandering and guiding the hobbits into excellent poetry. He recalls his riddle to Bilbo and playfully adds lines about the fish meeting an island and what the fish might think of a fountain. Eating is part of this verse but only part of it. There is surely also joy in the making and reciting of the verse for its own sake. Here Gollum has just accepted Frodo as his master and we see him at his best.