[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by davem

Whoever compiled the Tale of Years is referring to the incident, but how the compiler (Tolkien, Findegil or whoever) knows what was going through Gollum's mind at that point is beyond me.

Well, I always took it that this is supposed to be "objective summary" (Tolkien's, since no one else can be objective at that point), so I take it that when we are presented it, it is what happened at that point (what Tolkien thought Gollum thought when he wrote it).

So, I also agree that Gollum "almost repented" at that point, he possibly (almost) felt pity for his deeds. This also implies, that he still had some conscience. And there are more examples. And even if he suppressed his guilt, this does not mean he didn't feel it in the first place. So - even if "Gollum" wasn't to be judged for extenuating circumstances - his insanity, then still Sméagol would, for his crimes. Sméagol could repent, he didn't; that he suppressed the guilt was his choice, even if later he was denied the opportunity to choose, even by circumstances he couldn't control, the first choice was his alone, when he was still sane. For this, he is to be considered guilty.

Originally Posted by Raynor

While Tolkien does not assume the moral and ultimate authority of God, and what He actually does to sinners, a matter in which humans or Men have arguably no insight, he has no problem in recognising the moral fault of Gollum.

Surely, Tolkien recognizes this as the moral fault. As, from above, do I. But the problem is, how can we judge Gollum for this. Cf. my post above. I think, if I sum it all up, this is what comes out:

1. Gollum was guilty (of many things). He knew about that what he did was wrong.
2. We don't know whether Tolkien had his Christian belief in mind when thinking about Gollum, or if he thought just about ME system without being influenced anyhow by his belief. From Christian point of view: Gollum deserved death, as everyone does. And he dies, as everyone does (not by anyone's hands, mind you - this is left to God). There was no Messiah in Middle-Earth, so we can only speculate if one was to come to pay for Gollum's sins instead of him and save him from eternal death (this is somewhat limping a bit, because death represented ultimately something different in the light of all Silmarillions&co., and the most, Athrabeth). In Middle-Earth w. Silmarillion&co. point of view: Gollum deserves death, as everyone does. I don't see that far into it, since Tolkien's opinions change on that quite much. But, still I think here comes the idea of the death coming by itself. But concerning the question if he was doomed to die, why, of course he was. He would have to be an immortal Elf not to face death - totally different rules apply to the Elves, not taking physical (natural) death into account at all.
3. BUT, in both the views the important thing is, that we cannot make hasty judgements and draw the sword and kill Gollum. As even Gandalf says. In Christian point of view, we are to show mercy because we were shown mercy. In ME point of view, even if death was to be a gift, we are not to shorten someone's life wilfully (which goes with the first case as well, this is just the actual meaning of the Old Testament commandment), because the time is given to Gollum, and when it ends, it ends. If we are given our own choice, we should let him live.