If Frodo had thrown the Ring in right away

[mormegil]

I think that my idea of it destroying Gollum immediately is possible but a bit far fetched. However something that I'm more certain of is that the destruction of the ring would have overthrown Gollum mind entirely. I'm not sure how his greater insanity would have changed him but the ring had such a hold on him that I don't see how it would be possible for him to stay sane (I realize that Gollum had little if any sanity anyway). So without the ring there is little if any hope for him.

The ring was Gollum's only point in living (except perhaps the occasional fish ). The ring had only a stronger hold on one person and that was Sauron, and we know that it destroyed him. Gollum would have nothing left to live for, if his existence can be called life.

I think that there was some good in him left, and Gollum came close to embracing that part of him but he couldn't Similarly Sauron came close to repenting of his evil but didn't and resigned himself wholly to evil. If Gollum had found some redemption than I think that the destruction of the ring could have possibly given some curative effect on him. However, it is my opinion that Gollum, like Sauron, gave in and wholly resigned himself to evil. Gollum killed the remaining shred of Smeagol when he went back on his promise and attempted to kill Frodo. So instead of helping him it would have completely overthrown him due to the actions he took.

[Celebuial]

After they lost he ring, both Bilbo and Frodo aged quicker. Isn't it likely that Gollum, after having lived on the ring for over 500 years, would age very fast and die within a very short time after the distruction of the ring?

Why didn't I think of that?

Gollum killed the remaining shred of Smeagol when he went back on his promise and attempted to kill Frodo. So instead of helping him it would have completely overthrown him due to the actions he took.

That does make an awfull lot of sense. I never thought to compare Sauron and Gollum in that way. But waht about the part that was left? Would 'Gollum' try to take his life for loss of The Ring or would he continue to sulk around in anguish? I suppose he may not have much time after the destruction of the ring to do anything, but...

[Arwen Imladris]

Just look at Frodo. The Ring was destroyed but he wasn't cured, was he? Nope.

True, but he did feel a great sense of relief directly after the ring was destroyed, did he not? And there are many possible reasons why Frodo did not recover. For one, he completly isolated himself when he returned to the Shire. He didn't really try very hard to let other people help him bear his burden, instead he chose to hide his pain. Perhaps Gollum would have also recieved a sense of relief, a lightening of his burden. I think that if Gollum was prevented from jumping in after the ring, either by an inability to move because of his loss, or because of being physically held down by Frodo or Sam, he might have had a chance. We know that Hobbits are incredibly resiliant, and I think that even at this part of the story, Gollum still had some good in him. It was buried deep, but I think that if he was shown love and forgiveness, he might still be able to live a productive life. Remember, Gollum had never (to my knowledge) been stabbed by a deadly Morgul-blade.

After they lost he ring, both Bilbo and Frodo aged quicker. Isn't it likely that Gollum, after having lived on the ring for over 500 years, would age very fast and die within a very short time after the distruction of the ring?

True, but Bilbo, who had the ring the longer than Frodo and used it still lived to be quite old. He left it when he was 111, and he lived for another twenty years after that. If it took that long for Gollum's age to catch up to him, then he would still have a new shot at life.