Would Frodo have turned out Like Gollum

[HCIsland]

If Bilbo had decided to leave the Shire, and Gandalf never finding out about the ring, would Bilbo or Frodo have ended up like Gollum?

No because Gollum was captured and Sauron knew of the existence of the Ring and had some pretty good clues to it's where abouts. If Gandalf hadn't shown up, Bilbo and/or Frodo would be dead. Then again, if Gandalf didn't have a relationship with Bilbo, he would never have stumbled upon the Ring in the first place.

Minus all of that, would Frodo or Bilbo have eventually become like Gollum? I think so, it just would have taken longer.

Editted to add: Here's a related question. What if Gandalf never had Bilbo travel with the dwarfs and so Bilbo never had obtained the Ring in the first place? What do you think would have been the likely fate of the Ring and Gollum?

H.C.

[ February 07, 2003: Message edited by: HCIsland ]