Did Gollum deserve death?

[The Might]

I very much agree with Squatter on this on, he definitely brought up an important point in the second part of the post.
Lalwende, you seem to have missed my point.
I never questioned that the Ring didn't influence Gollum, all that I questioned is if this actually matters.
As I already said, if someone who is drunk comits a crime, is he innocent just because he wasn't clear in mind at that time? I doubt it.
Macalaure you say the traditional justice doesn't work in his case...but why?

[davem]

Originally Posted by The Might

As I already said, if someone who is drunk comits a crime, is he innocent just because he wasn't clear in mind at that time? I doubt it.
Macalaure you say the traditional justice doesn't work in his case...but why?

But what if his drink was spiked & didn't realise?

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by The Might

Lalwende, you seem to have missed my point.
I never questioned that the Ring didn't influence Gollum, all that I questioned is if this actually matters.
As I already said, if someone who is drunk comits a crime, is he innocent just because he wasn't clear in mind at that time? I doubt it.

It does matter because the Ring is an incredible influence, to the degree that there wouldn't be the story without it! All that effort that Frodo and Sam (and others, but these two especially) go through in order to destroy it was about as extreme as it gets, and there has to be a very good reason for sacrificing people to that extent. The quest is anything but trivial, and seeing what happened to Gollum serves to underline the importance of what is given up in order to fulfill the quest.

Someone committing crimes due to drink is not a good analogy as a couple of beers are far less dangerous than a Ring of Power, and the effects of a beer or two last a few hours, but the effects of wearing/bearing a Ring last forever.