These Three Things I Lost: 80 Years, my Desire and One Ring

[CSteefel]

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

As for your theory with Gollum, could it be that Gollum was confused? It is said that Sauron and the Ring were one, could it be that Sauron's pull was similar to the Ring's? Just one of those random thoughts I just thought I'd throw out there.

I think this makes sense as well, although I am not sure that the pull of the Ring is at quite the same level as the force Sauron exerts himself. If the Ring itself was so strong, one would have expected one of Sauron's servants (especially the Nazgul) to have detected the presence of Gollum in the Misty Mountains over the 500 year period he was there, or later, have detected the presence of the Ring in the Shire.

I suspect that it was not the case of Gollum answering a clear call from Sauron that he understood, but a case in which he is subjected to a continuous, low level "pull" towards Mordor, similar in kind (if not quite in magnitude) to what Frodo feels when he is near Minas Morgul (he has to be dragged away). The random walk idea, coupled to an almost subliminal pull from Mordor, seems the best explanation.