I don't think Gollum was really a bad guy. The ring itself was what was diteriorating his judgment. The very first time he looked at the ring it took him. When Smeagol would feel guilty for Deagol's murder, the ring would make it seem ok.
"It was my birthday-present. It should have been mine. My precious."
But really, I believe Smeagol could have been cured from the rings effects. There was still a "cornor of his mind" that was still Smeagol. But 500 years is a long time. Even after 60 years of not having the ring, no change came over Gollum. The time it would take to cure Gollum, he would have died of old age or pass into shadow.
I think death for Gollum was the best thing for him. As it is said in the book, he hated the sun and the moom. He even hated his precious.
But I do feel that chance (or fate) was too cruel to Smeagol. It seems that everything we have ever known about him was misery. Gollum is a very sad creature.
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I'm so hungry, I could eat at Arby's.
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