J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is one of the most critically acclaimed novel series of all time, and the subsequent movie franchise did a pretty wonderful job of bringing the books to the big screen. Young hero Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is chosen to make a long and dangerous journey into the deadly wasteland of Mordor, where he must destroy the One Ring and restore balance to his world. Along the way, he gains some of the most memorable allies and enemies in cinema, Gollum (Andy Serkis, who went Method for the role) being a prominent example.
Upon first glance, the films make it clear that Gollum is supposed to be a villain — he’s a cunning, greedy creature, obsessed with stealing the ring from Frodo. He ultimately offers to guide Frodo and his companion Sam (Sean Astin) into Mordor, but we see often see him fighting with himself over being an ally to the hobbits. As time passes, we see a piece of his backstory and learn that he wasn’t always the twisted monster we see today. In fact, it’s suggested in the books and the films that Gollum was once a hobbit named Sméagol. Is this the case, or are there other factors at play in his existence? Here’s our take on whether Gollum qualifies as a hobbit.
What Makes a Hobbit?
According to the novels, hobbits (also known as halflings) are an ancient race of mortals that came from the valley of Anduin. Some time later, the hobbits migrated and founded the Shire, which nearly all of them call home. There are three types of hobbit in the Lord of the Rings: Harfoots, Stoors and Fallohides. One’s hobbit type depends on their preferred dwelling; Harfoots are highland dwellers, Stoors live in flatlands near water and Fallohides are forest-dwellers.
One of the most defining features of a hobbit is short stature. Most hobbits are between two and four feet long, and Aragorn suggests that they would be, “…children to [your] eyes,” to Éomer in The Two Towers. They are considered a jovial people, preferring peace and camaraderie with each other rather than the company of men. Other common features among hobbits are big, hairy feet and pointed ears. Most lore refers to hobbits as being shy, joyful, and surprisingly skilled at whatever they put their minds to.
What’s Gollum’s Story?
We learn in the opening scene of The Return of the King that Gollum once lived a far different life before the hollow existence he succumbed to. His name was originally Sméagol, and he bore a gentle human form and was close to his best friend, Déagol. In this scene, the two companions are fishing in a river and accidentally find the One Ring in the muddy bank. Though Déagol finds it first, they both become instantly infatuated with the ring, and Sméagol asks to have the ring for his birthday. When Déagol refuses, the two fight, and Sméagol ultimately strangles his best friend to death. Shortly after, we’re treated to a montage of his hasty downward spiral into Gollum.
Before his descent into madness, we’re given plenty of clues to show who and what he was. The novels clearly define that Sméagol and Déagol were both Stoor hobbits that lived near the Gladden Fields, and their outward appearance matches up — they appear to be short in stature, have large, hairy feet and slightly pointed ears. Furthermore, they’re dressed similarly to Frodo and the other hobbits of the fellowship, and their scene takes place on a peaceful riverside fishing trip.
All of this information checks out; there isn’t much debate on whether Sméagol was a hobbit — the real question is whether Gollum qualifies as a hobbit. Technically, he was Sméagol, but the corruption of the One Ring changed his existence entirely. His personality saw a major shift, and you probably wouldn’t mistake him for a hobbit upon first glance. Has he changed so much that he no longer meets the criteria to be called a hobbit? Going a little deeper into the topic, do Sméagol and Gollum count as the same person? They share the same physical existence, but both characters are treated as multiple personalities fighting for control of a single body. There are times when Sméagol is in control, and we see more hobbit-like behavior during these times; Sméagol is more enthusiastic and helpful toward Frodo, and his bodily movements seem far bouncier and happier. Once Gollum regains control, he reverts to his dark ways. If Sméagol and Gollum are two separate entities in a single vessel, is Sméagol the only real hobbit?
The Verdict
While Gollum’s personality has changed drastically, his physical form and personality started as that of Sméagol. Moreover, Sméagol is still inside of Gollum’s hollow existence, and he occasionally gains the upper hand and can act on his own accord. Gollum is a bit like a monster that possessed Sméagol’s body when the One Ring corrupted him; he may have suppressed Sméagol’s soul, but it isn’t gone. He’s buried under centuries’ worth of greed and darkness, but he’s still in there. The fact that he can emerge despite Gollum's twisted influence means he's alive and well, even if he is a little different from who he was as a young man. He’s still a hobbit somewhere deep down, and his warped physical appearance makes no impact on this. In fact, he still vaguely resembles a hobbit — his big, glassy eyes and occasional sincere smile give him an almost childlike quality, and his large hobbit feet are nearly unmistakable.
Regardless, Gollum is certainly one of the film's most fascinating characters. While Tolkien doesn't give a clear answer on Gollum's qualifications as a hobbit, we can always hope to gain more insight with future. Who knows? Someday we may see a new adaptation of his story from a fresh perspective. Until then, we can regard the lore of Gollum just as we do the lore of the whole series: as something incredibly precious.