Gollum
Gollum is one of the pivotal characters in The Lord of the Rings. Gollum’s original name was Sméagol. He murdered his friend, Déagol, in order to gain possession of the One Ring.
Déagol found the One Ring while fishing:
| …Déagol sat in the boat and fished. Suddenly a great fish took his hook, and before he knew where he was, he was dragged out and down into the water, to the bottom. Then he let go of his line, for he thought he saw something shining in the river-bed; and holding his breath he grabbed at it.
Then up he came spluttering, with weeds in his hair and a handful of mud; and he swam to the bank. And behold! when he washed the mud away, there in his hand lay a beautiful golden ring; and it shone and glittered in the sun, so that his heart was glad. |
Gollum then murdered his friend, in order to gain possession of the ring:
| But Sméagol had been watching him from behind a tree, and as Déagol gloated over the ring, Sméagol came softly up behind. “Give us that, Déagol, my love,” said Sméagol, over his friend’s shoulder.
“Why?” said Déagol. “Because it’s my birthday, my love, and I wants it,” said Sméagol. “I don’t care,” said Déagol. “…I found this, and I’m going to keep it.” “Oh, are you indeed, my love,” said Sméagol; and he caught Déagol by the throat and strangled him, because the gold looked so bright and beautiful. Then he put the ring on his finger. |
Because Gollum gained possession of the One Ring in a diabolical manner, the ring is able to eat into his mind. Gollum becomes paranoid, murderous and self-pitying.