LotR -- Book 4 - Chapter 08 - The Stairs of Cirith Ungol

[littlemanpoet]

This quote reminds the reader of Gollum's origin. That in the end he is just a hobbit who has lived far beyond his years.Actually this part in the book really made me pity Gollum. I'm sure that if Gollum had a choice he would never have taken the ring. He has gone through so much misery and any joy he had in life is long gone.

From Letter # 181:

The domination of the Ring was much too strong for the mean soul of Sméagol. But he would have never had to endure it if he had not become a mean sort of thief before it crossed his path.

Maybe you did not mean to suggest that Gollum never had a choice. It seems to me that Tolkien is saying, here, that Sméagol had made a series of small choices, day in and day out, that led to his fall to the temptation of murdering to claim the Ring. He chose to commit the crime.