Gollum or Golem

[Brinniel]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

But I don't know if 'monster' is a good word for describing Gollum.

Well, whether Gollum is a monster or not can indeed be arguable. It all depends on how one defines the word. While one definition of monster can mean "an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts," the word can also mean "freak: a person or animal that is markedly unusual or deformed." (as found on this site)

Yes, I know this is a stretch. I'm not saying Gollum is just like a golem, after all, the two have many difference, very obvious differences in fact. Searching through the internet, I noticed this topic has been discussed many times before - and I am most certainly not the first to wonder this. I cannot find any solid evidence on whether or not Tolkien actually intended connection between the two, so I suppose this must remain pure speculation.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

I would say Gollum certainly does have a free will...though he was under strong influence of the Ring, his redemption was still possible...and he was almost redeemed.

Indeed redemption was possible. But I was always under the impression that it was only because of Smeagol.

Gollum was a split personality. The Smeagol side of him certainly did have plenty of free will, and it is what kept him from becoming entirely enslaved to the One Ring.

Completely severing Smeagol from the picture, I am strictly examining the Gollum side to this character. If you look at Gollum, not Smeagol, but just Gollum, does he really have free will of his own? It seems to me that all his actions, as well as his words, are done through the influence of the Ring. After all, it was the Ring that created Gollum, and if Smeagol had never found it, Gollum would not exist. While I do agree that there are other creatures in LotR that probably better represent the golem, such as the orcs and the trolls, I still think a connection is still possible between Gollum and the golem, however slight it may be.

Originally Posted by ninja91

By the way, where is this course you are taking? It sounds fun.

Originally Posted by The Might

Making Monsters?
Do you by any chance study at Hogwarts?

Hehe..if only I were studying at Hogwarts.
My course is officially called Making Monsters: The Manifestation of Fear- a class I'm taking this semester at my school Emerson College (one of the many schools in Boston). In this class, we basically study the origins of monsters and fear by watching monster films and reading monster literature...as well as doing our own projects. Some of the monsters we study are Gilgamesh, Beowulf (we even read an essay by Tolkien), werewolves, and vampires. Of course, right now we're learning about golems and Frankenstein. Quite a fun course really. Who knew you could watch zombie films for educational purposes?