What happened at Mount Doom?

[The Saucepan Man]

And with that, even as his eyes were lifted up to gloat on his prize, he stepped too far, toppled, wavered for a moment on the brink, and then with a shriek he fell.

On the basis of the "facts" as presented to us, the only thing that we can say for certain is that Gollum slipped. There is certainly material to suggest that Eru gave him a little nudge, but the reader is by no means bound to accept that. Indeed, having no knowledge of Eru when I first read the tale, it would have been impossible for me to draw such a conclusion. Option B is therefore dependent upon the individual reader.

Option C is most certainly out of the question as it runs contrary to the stated "facts" and, as for option D, well I can imagine that an alternative scenario, which retained the essence of the story, would have been possible.

Option A it is then.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

as for option D, well I can imagine that an alternative scenario, which retained the essence of the story, would have been possible.

Option A it is then.

Just out of curiosity, could you provide us with a brief outline of what you can imagine? Or are you speaking just of logical probability?

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Or are you speaking just of logical probability?

But of course.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

On the basis of the "facts" as presented to us, the only thing that we can say for certain is that Gollum slipped... Option A it is then.

I agree and have logged my vote accordingly.

[Lalwendë]

I'm with SpM on this one too. Though I can see that option D, that it was the only 'right' way for the story to end, is also quite a decent choice. I do happen to think that having Gollum trip and fall with the Ring was quite perfect. Gollum could not have functioned without the Ring; as shown in his pursuit of Frodo, he had become virtaully single minded on getting it. What if he had not got the Ring but had seen Frodo chuck it in? I'm sure Gollum would have either jumped in after it or else murdered Frodo there and then in anger.

As I've said so many times before, I love Gollum, he's one of my favourite characters in any book, but he simply could not go on after the Ring was unmade. What's more, he gains a kind of redemption by acting as he did.

He would never have jumped in with the Ring wilfully; he'd have put it on and the Nazgul would have been after him and all hell would have been let loose.

[Gothmog]

Also I agree with previous posters: Gollum tripped and fell. Wether the crucial false step was provoked by some unknown power or not can be discussed, but it's a pure hypothetical question. Only Eru knows But it seems as if it was Gollum's fate to destroy the ring, as Frodo couldn't, not just luck or the chance. To much depended on this event.

This was one of the scenes that I reacted strongest against in the movies. Would Frodo be responsible for Gollums death? The wrestling-to-death idea feels so wrong here. But that belongs to an other thread.

[davem]

The problem with A is that it is too 'coincidental'. It reduces the end of Sauron to a fluke. For an 'accident' to save the whole world from disaster seems beyond belief. There must have been a purpose behind it, or it kind of makes all the struggles up to that point 'pointless'.

The problem with B is that it makes Eru a murderer.

The problem with C is that he didn't jump.

The problem with D is that it doesn't actually make sense

I go for option n....

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by davem

The problem with A is that it is too 'coincidental'. It reduces the end of Sauron to a fluke. For an 'accident' to save the whole world from disaster seems beyond belief. There must have been a purpose behind it, or it kind of makes all the struggles up to that point 'pointless'.

The problem with B is that it makes Eru a murderer.

Ah, but Sauron was NOT killed, merely reduced to an impotent spirit. Therefore, to call Eru a murderer is not necessarily incorrect.

Of course, there is the whole issue that there is no reason why Gollum's slip can't both be a completely natural slip AND a fulfillment of the Divine Will...

[davem]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Ah, but Sauron was NOT killed, merely reduced to an impotent spirit. Therefore, to call Eru a murderer is not necessarily incorrect.

I meant Gollum - if Eru was responsible for him 'tripping'...

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by davem

The problem with A is that it is too 'coincidental'. It reduces the end of Sauron to a fluke. For an 'accident' to save the whole world from disaster seems beyond belief. There must have been a purpose behind it, or it kind of makes all the struggles up to that point 'pointless'.

At the risk of my morning tea 'n' toast, I have to disagree.

The 'point' to me is that the whole quest was the true battle, the true heroism. it was the getting there that was the difficult part. That Frodo then could not destroy the Ring and that it was destroyed by accident is beside the point - and in any case, having the Ring destroyed in this way would avoid making a kind of uber-hero, the all-conquering-Ring-destroyer (or something along the lines of grand hyperbole usually found in fantasy). to have that would only replace the Dark Lord with his opposite, an unbearably perfect hero.

If it was a fluke that Sauron ended this way then that is just perfect, as it proves that despite having as much power as anyone could hope for, a simple accident can quite literally bring it all crashing down. It could be a lesson in pride?

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by davem

I meant Gollum - if Eru was responsible for him 'tripping'...

That begs the question then, of whether Eru is to be considered a murderer for killing off his own creatures- made by Him, and Him alone, and subject to his will. If one thinks of the fate of Ar-Pharazon and his men as "murder", then he's guilty.

For that matter, if the very fact that he made Men (and Hobbits) mortal- thus killing even the healthiest of them in the end, is murder, then we have a major killer here...

But I would contend that IF Eru "fated" Gollum to trip, that does not mean that he killed him. As far as fate goes, if Gollum was fated to trip, then Frodo was fated to go to Valinor, Isildur was fated to lose the Ring and die, and Turin was fated to kill himself.

I don't personally think that Eru "pushed" Gollum (ie. Murdered him), but I do sense His hand in it...