I think the reason this thread has gone on for so long is that in a way what Frodo does or does not do at the Sammath Naur is the biggest event in the book. But the question is simple. Does he, in any way, claim the Ring for himself, & if so, What exactly does he think he is claiming? The other question follows from that: when Eru intervenes, is he intervening to save the world, or to save Frodo? If Frodo is claiming the Ring, & the power that goes with it, for himself then Eru's intervention could be said to be as much, or more, to do with saving Frodo, in response to the mercy he showed to Gollum, as it is to do with saving the world. If Frodo did not claim the Ring, if his mind had been overthrown, then Eru is intervening not to save Frodo from his 'sin', but to save the world in general, but not Frodo in particular, as he would be 'without sin'. But this makes Frodo 'sinless', & is that what Tolkien intended? Has Tolkien given us a world inhabited by a number of 'sinless' beings, who are not in need of being 'saved'? This would mean that at least some beings, perfect in their essential nature - ie 'unfallen' - are without need of salvation. But then, why the struggle, why would a perfect being like Frodo need to undergo the Quest? If he was perfect he would have nothing to learn, & be incapable of moral growth - yet Sarauman tells him that he has grown. He has moved from a less, to a more, perfect state. But if Frodo does need to be 'saved' then he needs to be saved from something. He must have commited some kind of 'sin', & if so, what was that 'sin', if not the claiming of the Ring? I cannot think of any other 'offence' that he has committed.
As for Eru 'murdering' Gollum - hyperbole, I admit, said for effect. Someone once pointed out to me that when Gandalf agrees with Frodo that Gollum 'deserves' death, he may have meant it differently to Frodo - intending 'death' as a release from centuries of torment, & peace at last. He could no longer live without the Ring, so only death could end his torment, & Eru, in bringing about his death at the Sammath Naur is finally forgiving Smeagol & allowing him to rest.
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