Sam and Smeagol

[The Saucepan Man]

But 'possession' satisfied, I think he would then have sacrificed himself for Frodo's sake and have voluntarily cast himself into the fiery abyss.

Dang! I must read those Letters some time. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Well, I suppose if the Professor himself thought that, then it has to be a pretty likely scenario. But it does not, for me, sit easily with my impression of Gollum's character and motivations. Nor does it seem consistent with the idea that no person could, having possession of it, voluntarily destroy the Ring.