No, I didn't get it from Pullman, I got it from Tolkien, who may, or may not, have got it from Charles Williams.
Of course, Frodo does 'curse' Gollum before entering the Sammath Naur - "Begone, and trouble me no more! If you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom."
So it may not have been The Authority who caused Gollum to fall, but Frodo, using the power of the Ring to pass a death sentence on Gollum, which would be another 'sin'. Frodo condemns Gollum to be cast into the fire if he ever comes near him again, which action, I suppose, is a precursor to his claiming it, as it shows he clearly believes he has a right to use it to sit in judgement & pass sentence on any who dare to 'offend' against him. It is a terrible thing to say, especially knowing, as he does, that it will happen, & goes against Gandalf's injunction not to deal out death in judgement. I think we're seeing Frodo moving closer & closer to making his final claim on the Ring, at this moment, (earlier still in the Tower of Cirith Ungol) so that the idea that the claim is not a conscious act, not really Frodo, but the Ring or Sauron speaking through him, is difficult to sustain. Using it to curse Gollum to death is to claim it as his own in deed, if not yet in words.
|