The Ring's corruption forms

[Raynor]

Originally Posted by Legate

the idea of "Gollum the Great", I believe, took shape only as a response to the humiliation and wrong treatment he suffered from everyone since he once again came to the "outside world"

In my opinion, this came much earlier:

Originally Posted by Letter #246

It was part of the essential deceit of the Ring to fill minds with imaginations of supreme power.

Also, as quoted already in this thread, even Sam fell to this, although he had the ring for a far lesser period of time than Gollum did. Insofar as what Gollum's induced temptation would actually imply for him, I believe it is evident from the context that it is by and large not related to ruling others, but limited to procuring/eating fresh fish three times a day.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Raynor

In my opinion, this came much earlier:

Yup, as I said, maybe when he got possession of the Ring and came back to the Stoor village. But he did not succumb to this, because he did not have such ambitions - he wanted to hide and not to make himself a master.

Originally Posted by Shadows of the Past

[The Ring] could make no further use of [Gollum]: he was too small and mean; and as long as it stayed with him he would never leave his deep pool again.

However if he ever succumbed to this idea, I believe what he means here by "Lord Sméagol" is not just about eating fish three times a day, I imagine it the way that he (in his simple imagination of that, he probably could not think of politics or being a ruler, if it ever happened, some viceregent would probably rule instead of him) imagined himself sitting let's say in the Barad-Dur (or more probably Barad-Pool) and servants bring him fresh fish three times a day.

Perhaps we grows very strong, stronger than Wraiths. Lord Smeagol? Gollum the Great?

This does not seem to be as "simple" image of power as you said in your last sentence. "Stronger than wraiths" implies some basic assumption of becoming THE master.

[Raynor]

Originally Posted by Legate

This does not seem to be as "simple" image of power as you said in your last sentence. "Stronger than wraiths" implies some basic assumption of becoming THE master.

Given his highly reclusive and anti-social behavior, I personally doubt that. Considering what he likely went through while imprisoned in Mordor, I believe he simply desires to be in a position where he is no longer feeling threatened by powerful foes. If I may be allowed this comparison, he would be, to a certain degree, a sort of Master of his his own limited environment that Bombadil is, although neither have, arguably, any servants.

[Boromir88]

I like Raynor's comparison to Gollum's 'temptation' and Bombadil being the Master of his own environment. As Gollum's image of being 'Lord Smeagol' is different than that of Boromir, Sam's, and everyone else.

Boromir desires to use the Ring as a weapon, to overthrow Sauron. Sam's vision is using the Ring to defeat Sauron so he could make a beautiful garden out of the Gorgoroth. The three Elven ring bearers also contemplated using the Ring in the same way as Boromir.

To all those I've mentioned, Sauron was their big Enemy. They all wanted Sauron defeated, and so the Ring uses that to it's advantage. Kind of like 'put me on you can defeat nasty Sauron, plus you will achieve your greatest aims,' (for Boromir it was his own glory for Sam it was a fruitful and vast garden).

Gollum is a bit different though, as far as I remember he never wishes to destroy Sauron. Yes, Gollum hates Sauron, but I don't think he ever sees Sauron in the same regard that Sauron's enemies do. They want Sauron defeated, Gollum only goes so far to say that Sauron must not get the Ring back. So, the Ring doesn't tempt Gollum with the same vision as rallying a grand army to overthrow Sauron (and therefor getting lots and lots of fish), but to set up his own Bombadil-like environment; where Gollum is his own master and has an apparently unlimitted supply of fish.

The difference being Gollum's idea is one of hiding and simply keeping the Ring from Sauron (as well as everyone else). Where Boromir, Sam,...etc all want Sauron defeated and so the Ring's attempt to corrupt them is different.

The constant struggle between hating and being attached to the ring was taking its toll.~Raynor

Also reminds me of Isildur's words regarding the Ring:

'It was hot when I first took it, hot as a glede, and my hand was scorched, so that I doubt if ever again I shall be free of the pain of it...and maybe were the gold made hot again, the writing would be refreshed. But for my part I will risk no hurt to this thing: of all the words of Sauron the only fair. It is precious to me, though I buy it with great pain.'~The Council of Elrond

There are two seperate 'pains' that Isildur mentions in his scroll. The first being the pain of touching a hot ring that scorched his hand. But, the latter pain, is a different pain. The pain of bearing something that is yet, 'precious' to him. When Isildur departs Gondor, it's interesting that he plans a pit stop in Rivendell:

"Alas, it is not, senya. I cannot use it. I dread the pain of touching it. And I have not yet found the strength to bend it to my will. It needs one greater than I now know myself to be. My pride has fallen. It should go to the Keepers of the Three."~Unfinished Tales: Disaster of the Gladden Fields

What a coincidence that Isildur is then 'betrayed' by the Ring and killed...hmm that evil evil thing.