The Addictive Ring

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

To be purist about the things of Middle Earth being Middle Earthish, and not having a modern context, contradicts Tolkien's own dictum that his story has many applications. The addictiveness of the Ring is one such.

However, Tolkien also disliked 'scientification' of LOTR, as his displeasure at lembas being called a 'food concentrate' showed.
Taking that route, Gollum would seem to be less an addict than a victim of Dissociative identity disorder, with his Slinker/Stinker personas.

I maintain that lust for the One Ring, since it derives from the spiritual power of an incarnate divine being has no real-world counterpart.