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Instead of just being his own inner darkness turning on him and causing chaos across Middle-earth, Smeagol was broken by an outside force and truly turned into a monster following his murder of Déagol at the One Ring's behest. It's a fun idea and one that adds to the tragedy of Gollum as a character. This would explain why Bilbo also refers to the One Ring as his "Precious," a term used primarily by the Gollum personality but not as much by the Smeagol personality. However, the Gollum personality hadn't had time to fully become a part of him because he hadn't spent centuries with the One Ring as Smeagol had. This could be the remnants of the "Gollum" spirit that transferred from the One Ring into Bilbo during his decades of ownership. It would also explain why others who were exposed to the Ring would speak like Gollum when caught in the throes of corruption, such as Bilbo, who briefly becomes monstrous when he sees the One Ring in Rivendell. This could explain the differences in word choices between Smeagol and Gollum while describing the One Ring, as well as giving Smeagol's arguments with Gollum more weight. The Gollum personality was never a part of Smeagol but the result of extended possession by Sauron through the One Ring. After centuries together, it's possible that Sauron's influence became a permanent part of Smeagol's mind. Taking the identity of Gollum, the One Ring's spirit could then command Smeagol as its living vessel. The theory argues that during the centuries where Smeagol possessed the Ring, the presence in the One Ring truly "poisoned Smeagol's mind." But instead of just imbuing Smeagol with a splintered personality, it actually was able to effectively spread some of its being into the former Hobbit. RELATED: How Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings Universe Influenced Heavy Metal But while other characters feel the temptation, only Smeagol develops an entirely separate personality. It is this aspect that corrupts people into desiring the One Ring, turning them against themselves and their allies. Frequently throughout the trilogy, the One Ring is said to be alive in some supernatural sense, with shreds of the dark lord Sauron hidden within it. The theory argues that the Gollum personality never originated within Smeagol but was a personification of the One Ring's motivations and inner darkness - essentially the spirit of the One Ring itself. But a fan theory from Reddit user HenceFourth suggests the blame should be more affixed to the One Ring. While the actions of Gollum and Smeagol ultimately resulted in victory for the heroes, Smeagol committed some truly terrible acts as Gollum. But by the end of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Smeagol was once again fully consumed by Gollum, resulting in his betrayal of the Hobbits and his eventual death on Mount Doom.
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While Gollum was able to bully Smeagol into acting upon his wishes, Smeagol could still actively argue against his other half, even sometimes forcing him into silence. The experience also splintered his mind, resulting in two distinct personalities: the pathetic Smeagol and the harsh Gollum. While he survived far longer than his natural lifespan should have allowed, the Ring kept Smeagol alive in an emaciated form, forcing him to survive on a diet of raw fish and scraps from across Middle-earth. After claiming the One Ring, Smeagol went through a drastic transformation in body and spirit.