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But was he really evil as a hobbit? I think the Ring had a lot to do with it.
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But he was driven to murder his best friend by the very sight of the Ring. The Ring seems to have been unable to achieve anything approaching this with anyone else save Boromir, who had a few months exposure to it (and understandable, if misguided, reasons as to why it might be in his, and more importantly his people's, interests to gain it).
I don't believe that Smeagol was evil from the outset. But he was secretive and somewhat of an outsider (his name suggests as much). And he was clearly unusually (especially for Hobbit-kind) susceptible to the Ring.
Clearly, he is a tragic character, to be pitied. Had Deagol never found the Ring, he would probably have led an unremarkable life. But, once Deagol found it, his fate was, I believe, sealed. Much as he tried to resist it in response to Frodo's kindness, I do not think that he would ever have escaped its influence, regardless of Sam's involvement.