Gollum

Gollum is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, appearing in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He is the mutated remnant of a Stoor Hobbit named Sméagol who, after coming into possession of the One Ring, is driven to isolation, deceit, and violence. The name Gollum arises from the choking, gurgling sound he habitually makes.

Sméagol's life changes on his birthday when he and his cousin Déagol encounter the Ring. Sméagol murders Déagol to obtain it, and is subsequently exiled by his people. The Ring's centuries-long possession extends his life while corrupting his body and mind, transforming him into a pale, lean, and fish-eyed creature who dwells in darkness.

In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins encounters Gollum in the shadows beneath the Misty Mountains, where they engage in a game of riddles that balances their fates. Bilbo wins and escapes with the Ring, while Gollum's obsession with it grows.

During The Lord of the Rings, Gollum follows Frodo and Sam to Mordor as their reluctant guide. He exhibits a split personality: Sméagol's remnants of pity and curiosity struggle with Gollum's compulsive desire for the Ring, often speaking to himself. He betrays them briefly, regains the Ring from Frodo, and finally falls into the Cracks of Doom with the Ring, causing its destruction. Gollum dies, and with him the Ring's influence over him ends.