The White Council

Re: Heroism...

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: The ring lures people (and members of lost Stoor tribes) even if : they have never used it. Boromir is the obvious example. Though : even Bilbo's actions in Gollum's lair indicate a strange pull on : him. No doubt Smeagol lived in a very rustic tribal community, : and even apart from its power, the ring would have been very : pretty and valued by such simple folk. The ring lured Smeagol : right away.

: True, his murder of Deagol determines the course of Smeagol's : association with the ring (or at least sets him on a certain : path), but the ring was already taking its toll on the two : stoors. (Who knows, maybe Deagol would have killed Smeagol given : the opportunity, for simply covetting the ring... remember, : Gandalf only got vague story outlines. Between the finding and : the murder could have been several days...) We can hardly say for : certain that if Deagol had simply found an ordinary gold ring : that Smeagol would have killed him just the same. So as a : consequence, that means that Smeagol was already caoght in the : influence of some power far greater th

I'll grant you the ring lures people, but I do not think it controls them (at first). It may cause a type of magnification of personality, drawing forth the lower passions with it's various temptations. In Boromirs case his intent was good, and it was the instant gratification of victory the power of the ring held that gripped him, but the character flaw was in his bullheaded unwillingness to see or believe reason. With Smeagol, Gandalfs account is very clear (page 78 FotR), and leaves no room for your "several day" theory without misleading the reader. It appears Smeagol, from the beginning, had a character flaw which was drawn out perhaps, by the lure of the ring. With each example of temptation there seems to be a chance to refuse--ex. Galadriel, who had a moment of weakness which was overridden by her better passions, showing the quality of her character.

If my theory holds any truth to it, Smeagols character flaw leads one to believe his overall character had a leaning toward evil and evil intent to begin with.