What if Gollum had lived?

[Moonraker]

Once the One Ring was destroyed in the Cracks of Mount Doom, if we imagine that Gollum did somehow survive and was brought to safety (either by himself or though the help of the eagles), to what fate would Gandalf have sentenced Gollum to? Is it conceivable that Gollum would be allowed to live freely but under the watchful guard of the Wood Elves again? Or even a guest further down the line at Bag End? Could Gollum have been ordered to be sent over the sea at the end with Frodo & Company, given that Gollum was also a Ring Bearer? I am assuming Gollum would have committed suicide once he saw the Ring was gone, but still, you just never know.

[IxnaY AintsaY]

Gandalf: Oops, almost forgot Gollum. Quick Gwaihir, fly up to Sammath Naur and see if you can fish the little guy out.

Gwaihir: HWEEEKAHHHH

Gandalf: Hey, watch the robes! These white ones singe remarkably easily.

Gwaihir: @##@@***!

Gandalf: Ewww, he's pretty crispy. Let's see, feed a fever, starve a...no...Music should strike fire from the heart of man...no...Stinker Stinker burning bright... Oh, confound it! some cold water should do the trick, just drop him in the Anduin, I say!

Gollum: Yessss, bless us and splash us! With all possible speed, we might add.

[Many months pass]

Gandalf: Other than a lingering smell of tater-tots, looks like your all patched up, old chap!

Gollum: What’s taters, precious, eh, what’s taters?

And they all lived somewhat happily for a while after

HERE ENDS THE TALE OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND SOME MISCELLANEOUS HOBBITS, EXCEPT FOR ALL THESE APPENDICES, HAHAHAHAHAA

That's how I see it happening, anyway.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Moonraker

Once the One Ring was destroyed in the Cracks of Mount Doom, if we imagine that Gollum did somehow survive and was brought to safety (either by himself or though the help of the eagles), to what fate would Gandalf have sentenced Gollum to?

By "somehow survive" do you mean didn't fall into the Fire? Because as soon as the Ring was unmade he would have in all likelihood almost immediately died of extreme old age, regardless of what anyone else might have thought a suitable sentence for him. He had, after all, lived a little over five times a Hobbit's natural lifespan and the Ring was the only thing keeping him alive.

"Let us live, yes, live just a little longer. Lost lost! We're lost. And when Precious goes we'll die, yes, die into the dust."

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

By "somehow survive" do you mean didn't fall into the Fire? Because as soon as the Ring was unmade he would have in all likelihood almost immediately died of extreme old age, regardless of what anyone else might have thought a suitable sentence for him. He had, after all, lived a little over five times a Hobbit's natural lifespan and the Ring was the only thing keeping him alive.

I don't know that Gollum would have died instantly following the Ring's destruction, but he probably wouldn't have lived very long. One can see the quick change in Bilbo from the time Frodo last saw him in Rivendell to the return from the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen, and multiply that many times.

[Moonraker]

Did Gandalf or anyone else have a duty of care to Gollum in the event he did survive? He did commit some serious crimes, such as murdering Deagol, and biting off the finger of Frodo, as well as the attempted murder of Frodo and Sam. But the influence of the Ring was obviously what Gandalf would have thought was the reason Gollum behaved as he did, and was therefore not guilty on grounds of diminished responsibility. Maybe a short retirement in the woodland realm under the care of the Wood Elves would be more realistic that getting Bed & Breakfast at Bag End.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Moonraker

Did Gandalf or anyone else have a duty of care to Gollum in the event he did survive? He did commit some serious crimes, such as murdering Deagol, and biting off the finger of Frodo, as well as the attempted murder of Frodo and Sam. But the influence of the Ring was obviously what Gandalf would have thought was the reason Gollum behaved as he did, and was therefore not guilty on grounds of diminished responsibility. Maybe a short retirement in the woodland realm under the care of the Wood Elves would be more realistic that getting Bed & Breakfast at Bag End.

The fact that the Ring was a heavy influence on Gollum's deeds was a factor in meriting forgiveness from Frodo and Sam, but it did not entitle him to retirement care. It should be remembered that Gollum's mean and malicious nature allowed the Ring to more easily affect him to such a degree.

[Moonraker]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

The fact that the Ring was a heavy influence on Gollum's deeds was a factor in meriting forgiveness from Frodo and Sam, but it did not entitle him to retirement care. It should be remembered that Gollum's mean and malicious nature allowed the Ring to more easily affect him to such a degree.

Gandalf certainly could not have allowed Gollum to walk freely in Middle Earth on the premise that he was a deranged, twisted and tormented murderer. He would have had to come under the care of some folk until he died. I was hoping the end of the Ring would have broken the evil spell bestalled on Gollum, so that he may begin to recover. But old age would soon cripple him to death even still.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

And yet but for Sam's clumsiness and protectiveness towards Frodo Gollum might have repented.

Letters #96

...For myself, I was prob. most moved by Sam's disquisition on the seamless web of story,
and by the scene when Frodo goes to sleep on his breast, and the tragedy of Gollum who at that moment
came within a hair of repentence-but for one rough word from Sam.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

The fact that the Ring was a heavy influence on Gollum's deeds was a factor in meriting forgiveness from Frodo and Sam, but it did not entitle him to retirement care. It should be remembered that Gollum's mean and malicious nature allowed the Ring to more easily affect him to such a degree.

Seconded.

It's been explained many times that the Ring enhances what is already there enroute to corruption. He was a rodentile muck-snipe who (...ahem...) commited murder the very moment he laid eyes on the Ring.

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Zig�0‹4r

By "somehow survive" do you mean didn't fall into the Fire? Because as soon as the Ring was unmade he would have in all likelihood almost immediately died of extreme old age, regardless of what anyone else might have thought a suitable sentence for him. He had, after all, lived a little over five times a Hobbit's natural lifespan and the Ring was the only thing keeping him alive.

"Let us live, yes, live just a little longer. Lost lost! We're lost. And when Precious goes we'll die, yes, die into the dust."

If Gollum hadn't fallen into the Fire what was the other way to destroy the Ring? Probably Frodo would have jumped himself and that'd have saved the day. And only then Gollum could be saved. I also feel Gollum was too fragile to be sentenced and neither of the good people, especially Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel would have wanted to punish him. They'd probably focus on his healing rather than punishing him.

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by Moonraker

to what fate would Gandalf have sentenced Gollum to? ... I am assuming Gollum would have committed suicide once he saw the Ring was gone, but still, you just never know.

He wouldn't have sentenced him to anything, he was not and didn't see himself as Judge. He would have governed himself by the same counsel he gave to his friends - mercy and pity.

"Deserves death? I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too hasty to deal out death in judgement fearing for your own safety. Not even the Wise can see all ends."

and

"I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured ere he dies, but there is a chance of it."

Remember that it is said of Gandalf/Olorin "He dwelt in Lorien [the dwelling of Irmo, master of visions, in Aman, not the forest near Moria] but his ways took him often to the house of Nienna, and of her he learned pity and patience."

Pity and patience would have ruled Gandalf's dealings with Gollum had he, somehow, survived the destruction of the Ring.