Who Is Smeagle? The Character and Origins of Gollum

The character known as Gollum in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings was first named Sméagol. While newcomers may misspell his name as “Smeagle,” the correct form is Sméagol. He is a complex figure, serving as a source of both pity and fear. His tragic journey is defined by loss and an all-consuming obsession that places him in a position to influence the fate of Middle-earth.

The Origin of Sméagol

Before his transformation, Sméagol was a member of the Stoor branch of early Hobbits, a river-folk community near the Gladden Fields. He lived a relatively normal life with his extended family, which was led by his grandmother. This peace was shattered on his birthday.

He went on a fishing trip with his cousin, Déagol, who was pulled into the river by a large fish. While underwater, Déagol discovered a golden ring resting on the riverbed. The moment Sméagol saw the Ring, its corrupting influence took hold, and he demanded it as a birthday present.

Déagol refused, which ignited a rage in Sméagol, driven by the Ring’s immediate effect on his desires. In a violent act, Sméagol murdered his cousin to claim the Ring for himself, marking the beginning of his descent.

The Transformation into Gollum

After seizing the One Ring, Sméagol used its power of invisibility for malicious purposes like spying and theft. His behavior grew corrupt, and he began making a peculiar swallowing noise in his throat. This sound led his relatives to nickname him “Gollum,” and his grandmother eventually cast him out of the community.

Driven from his home, Gollum wandered alone for years as the Ring’s influence twisted his mind and body. His form shriveled and became gaunt. Seeking refuge from the sun, which he came to despise, he journeyed deep into the dark caverns beneath the Misty Mountains, his home for nearly five hundred years.

In the isolation of his cave, the Ring unnaturally extended his life at the cost of his sanity and physical form. He survived on cave fish and stray goblins, and his eyes adapted to the gloom, developing a pale luminescence. He became a creature consumed by his obsession with the Ring, which he called his “Precious.”

The Duality of Sméagol and Gollum

Centuries of isolation and the Ring’s influence caused a deep psychological fracture, creating two distinct personalities. The original persona, Sméagol, still existed as a fragmented echo of the Hobbit he once was. This “tame” side could be brought to the surface by kindness, retaining a faint memory of friendship and a desire for peace.

In contrast was the “Gollum” persona, a cruel identity forged by murder and long possession of the Ring. This “stinker” side was consumed by the need to possess his “Precious,” driving him to deceit and violence. The Gollum personality was dominant, constantly berating the weaker Sméagol for any perceived sentimentality.

This internal conflict is apparent in the character’s frequent and audible arguments with himself. The Sméagol side might express a desire to help Frodo, while the Gollum side would plot to betray him and reclaim the Ring. This struggle makes his behavior erratic and dangerously unpredictable.

Role in the Quest for the Ring

Gollum re-enters the wider world when captured by Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee. Frodo, seeing the creature’s state, takes pity on him and attempts to “tame” the Sméagol personality. For a time, this approach seems to work, and Gollum agrees to guide them toward Mordor, where the Ring was forged.

He leads the Hobbits through treacherous landscapes, including the Dead Marshes and the secret pass of Cirith Ungol. His knowledge of these hidden paths is indispensable to the journey. During this period, the internal battle between Sméagol and Gollum rages, with Sméagol showing flickers of loyalty to his new “master.”

Ultimately, the corrupting Gollum persona wins the internal struggle. He betrays Frodo and Sam, leading them into the lair of the giant spider Shelob in an attempt to recover the Ring. His final act, however, proves to be the quest’s unlikely salvation.

At the very edge of the Crack of Doom, as Frodo claims the Ring for himself, Gollum attacks him. He bites off Frodo’s finger to seize the Ring and, in his triumphant celebration, accidentally tumbles into the fires of Mount Doom, destroying both himself and the artifact.