I found Gollum to be one of the most intriguing character in LotR. More than any other, he personifies the clash between the two forces which affect each of the main characters to some degree: the desire for power, opposed by the desire for freedom. Over five centuries, the Ring has corrupted and ruined Gollum both physically and morally, and he has become a treacherous, murderous creature. He is so obsessed by the Ring that he is willing to stalk, kill and betray for it. However, it seems that deep down, he has conserved some of his hobbit nature, and longs to be free of the Ring and its influence.
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