My Precious? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 11-25-2004, 11:32 AM

I am not convinced that it is more complex than that. I don't think Gollum put too much thought into how to properly use the word precious. He just bandied it about rather carelessly, which is precisely the kind of thing that you do if you're having quite tremendous personal and psychological problems as Gollum clearly was.

ninlaith · 11-28-2004, 09:53 AM

Ok here's what I think...even if it is a little mixed up. Isildur called the ring precious. Or it was precious truly more like it. I think when Gollum acquired the ring the essence of Isildur sort of stuck to the ring and Gollum started calling the ring his precious. Then as the ring started to consume his mind, the precious started consuming him and becoming a part of him. The part of him that he called my precious when he was talking to himself. If you remeber Smeagol used pet names while he was still a Hobbit. Give that to us Deagol my love. So i guess Gollum just really likes pet names. I don't really know. That's just always been the way I've percieved it.

burrahobbit · 11-28-2004, 02:19 PM

It didn't have anything to do with Isildur.

Sapphire_Flame · 11-29-2004, 10:34 AM

Ah, the return of the scarily short responses. o.O Way to go, Eomer and burra.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

I don't think Gollum put too much thought into how to properly use the word precious. He just bandied it about rather carelessly, which is precisely the kind of thing that you do if you're having quite tremendous personal and psychological problems as Gollum clearly was.

That's a very good point. I think it could have become just something he said, with little significance behind it. It could be rather like some people will habitually say "I love you" when terminating a phone call with someone close to them. It becomes a habit; so whether they consciously decide to say it or not, it still comes out.

I do think there may be a difference between "precious" and "The Precious", however. The Precious does seem to be in reference to the Ring. "precious", uncapitalized, seems to just be the habitual term Gollum/Smeagol uses when talking to others or himself. Perhaps it's like an "affectionate" (heh) moniker, such as "dear" or something to that effect. And, as I stated above, Gollum's use of it could be purely subconscious.

~ Saphy ~

11-25-2004, 11:32 AM	#1
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	I am not convinced that it is more complex than that. I don't think Gollum put too much thought into how to properly use the word precious. He just bandied it about rather carelessly, which is precisely the kind of thing that you do if you're having quite tremendous personal and psychological problems as Gollum clearly was. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

11-28-2004, 09:53 AM	#2
ninlaith Wight Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: in my hobbit hole Posts: 204	Ok here's what I think...even if it is a little mixed up. Isildur called the ring precious. Or it was precious truly more like it. I think when Gollum acquired the ring the essence of Isildur sort of stuck to the ring and Gollum started calling the ring his precious. Then as the ring started to consume his mind, the precious started consuming him and becoming a part of him. The part of him that he called my precious when he was talking to himself. If you remeber Smeagol used pet names while he was still a Hobbit. Give that to us Deagol my love. So i guess Gollum just really likes pet names. I don't really know. That's just always been the way I've percieved it. __________________ "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve!"-Bilbo Baggins

11-28-2004, 02:19 PM	#3
burrahobbit Hidden Spirit Join Date: May 2000 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,424	It didn't have anything to do with Isildur. __________________ What's a burrahobbit got to do with my pocket, anyways?