The Addictive Ring

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Mithadan

Symptomatically, Gollum's cravings for the Ring resemble addiction and withdrawal. However, I agree with Inziladun, that the Ring's attraction is far greater than any narcotic addiction.

Tolkien spent extended time in a military hospital at the end of World War I. It is likely that he was exposed there to others suffering from morphine addiction and withdrawal. I wonder if that experience colored his descriptions of Gollum?

But as the link in my post first indicates, the findings are now that a chemical "hook" is not necessary for addiction. It is, as Galadriel reminds us, emotional/psychological.

"So the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is human connection."

The Ring effectively cuts off human connection; yes, it has the Dark Lord's taint on it that makes it all the things that the Ring is, but the destruction of human connection is a powerful attribute and speaks to the Ring as an effective symbol of addiction.