Gandalf's Knowledge of Gollum: A Deeper Dive

Throughout J.R.R. Tolkien's epic work, The Lord of the Rings, readers might wonder about Gandalf's understanding of Gollum. Specifically, when did Gandalf realize that Gollum was originally a hobbit, and how did he come to this conclusion?

Understanding Gandalf's Realization

Gandalf's insight into Gollum's nature came gradually, culminating in his interrogation of the creature, which occurred almost 77 years after his interaction with Bilbo Baggins. In The Shadow of the Past, one of the chapters from The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf discusses how he pieced together Gollum's background.

Insight Through Interrogation

During the interrogation, Gandalf delved deep into Gollum's memories, a process that required significant time and attention from the wizard. Gollum, being a creature with a repressed psyche, held many traumatic and significant memories. Gandalf's understanding of Gollum's past was not immediate but developed over the course of their interaction.

Early Knowledge and Bilbo's Description

Initially, Gandalf's knowledge of Gollum was limited to what he knew from Bilbo's descriptions. Bilbo had no idea that Gollum was a hobbit or resembled one in any way. Gollum was described as having 'six teeth,' a detail that would not evince any hobbit-like qualities.

Only through his extended interrogation and the pieces of information dropped by Gollum, such as his familiarity with the same riddles as Bilbo, did Gandalf begin to connect the dots. This realization likely came to Gandalf gradually, as he pieced together the various clues during their prolonged conversations.

Research and Further Discovery

The full extent of Gollum's backstory did not become clear until later events in the story of The Lord of the Rings. In The Hobbit, published prior to The Lord of the Rings, Gollum is simply described as an independent creature, known as Gollum, without any hint of his hobbit origins. It was in The Lord of the Rings that Gandalf learned Gollum's true identity - he was originally a hobbit named Sméagol who had come into possession of the One Ring and was significantly corrupted by its power.

Over the course of his travels and research, Gandalf likely gathered more details about Gollum's past and his connection to the Ring. However, the specifics of how he first discovered the truth about Gollum's hobbit origins are not explicitly detailed in the texts.

Capturing Gollum for the Greater Good

No matter when Gandalf learned about Gollum's past, he recognized the strategic importance of capturing and interrogating the creature. Gollum's own actions ultimately led to his downfall, and his knowledge of the Ring was crucial to its eventual destruction. Gandalf's decision to capture Gollum may have been one of the most pivotal moments in the overarching narrative of the story.

Conclusion

In summary, while Gandalf's realization that Gollum was originally a hobbit came late in the story, it was not a matter of sudden insight. Rather, it was a result of gradual discovery through prolonged interrogation and the piecing together of various clues. Gandalf's actions in capturing and interrogating Gollum proved to be essential to the story's progression, and the awareness of Gollum's true identity greatly influenced the narrative's outcome.