By Jackson Greer
Among the numerous moments of beauty throughout The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien’s often come in the small and quiet. Chief among these is the change that takes place in the Ring-bearer, Frodo Baggins. Tolkien develops Frodo’s compassion throughout The Lord of the Rings, revealing a heart and mind that has been deeply changed. Transformation does not occur in lavish halls or grand councils; it happens during ordinary conversations and while wandering in the wilds of Middle-earth.
Frodo’s heart change begins in the comfortable rooms of Bag End, as Gandalf the Grey reveals to Frodo the secrets of the magic ring that he inherited from his adoptive Uncle Bilbo Baggins. As Gandalf recounts the history of Middle Earth and the One Ring, hxe comes to the part involving Smeagol. Smeagol’s story is one of murder and jealousy for possession of the One Ring. He subsequently loses his family and falls into despair and loneliness, eventually evolving into the creature known as Gollum. This recounting of Smeagol/Gollum’s story provokes anger in Frodo. It is easy to side with his reaction, Bilbo narrowly escaped death by Gollum’s hands. What is most striking is Gandalf’s remark after Frodo’s outcry. “I think it is a sad story,” said the wizard.
Why this statement from Gandalf? What wisdom does the wizard offer with this remark? It is this short line of dialogue that dares to catch the reader. An expression of sorrow and compassion counters Frodo’s anger. The guilty Gollum is worthy of punishment, not sadness and compassion. When we greatly love something, we are fierce in its protection and justly so. Frodo loves his uncle Bilbo; of course, he is protective. Yet Tolkien is asking us to wrestle with our own natures. Perhaps this is a moment to evaluate our own short-sighted preferences of justice?
In Matthew 9:36, Christ is moved with compassion as He looks out over the crowds gathering to hear Him teach and receive healing. His heart aches as He sees them, “distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd” (CSB). The Good Shepherd shares this heartache with His disciples. He points to the crowds, saying the harvest is abundant. We are to share in the work. But not just the work; we are to share in His heart and compassion. It is dangerous to read Christ’s teaching on the harvest without seeing the fullness of His vision. Jesus sees differently. He sees deeper. And as His disciples, we are called to see others as Christ saw us.
Frodo and Sam eventually meet Gollum on their way to Mordor to destroy the ring. Upon meeting Gollum, Frodo goes against his own judgment expressed in Bag End. Now he sees Gollum differently. Frodo recalls his harsh words, and now, looking fully on the wretched creature, instead of rage Frodo feels pity. He extends mercy and spares Gollum. With his new sight, Frodo reveals a deep change occurring within himself by how he addresses their new companion. It is no longer Gollum, but Smeagol. He begins to see Smeagol in his true state, harassed and helpless.
Throughout Book IV in The Two Towers, Smeagol serves as guide to Mordor, helping Frodo and Sam find a way into the Land of Shadow to destroy the Dark Lord’s One Ring. Before their descent into a tunnel on Smeagol advice, we see the glimpse of what Gandalf saw in his wisdom. Frodo and Sam are fast asleep as Gollum sneaks back from his visit to Shelob, the great spider, setting his trap for her to kill the hobbits thus allowing him to achieve his desire of being master of the Ring again. As Gollum gazes at the two sleeping hobbits, something stirs within him and reaches to touch Frodo’s knee in a tender way.
Here perhaps is the small chance of hope for Smeagol of which Gandalf spoke. There is not complete ruin, there is a chance, small but a chance. Tolkien writes that if Frodo and Sam awoke and beheld Gollum at this moment, they would have seen something far different. They would have seen something very similar to themselves, a very old and weary hobbit. One that was “shrunken by the years that had carried him far beyond his time, beyond friends and kin, and the fields and streams of youth, an old starved pitiable thing.”
Unfortunately, Sam wakes up and misinterprets this gesture, and speaks roughly to Smeagol. In an instant, the Smeagol from long ago is gone, leaving a hard coldness as he is confronted by Sam in this vulnerable moment. Only the reader sees a shadow of Smeagol pass, “beyond recall.” Gollum’s heart is now set for his plan of action. A life void of compassion slips into malice and utter ruin.
It is a heartbreaking view of Gollum’s soul. A soul whose story is full of sorrow. It is indeed a sad story. Tolkien subtly reveals understanding and compassion like Gandalf’s has been withheld from Gollum. What would it have looked like for Gollum to experience an overflow of compassion? We will never know – yet for a moment the reader sees a glimmer of hope. Hope brought by compassion. Smeagol was seen in the eyes and heart of Frodo. As for you and me, do we truly see our fellow image bearers? Surrounded by people, we have numerous chances to echo the compassion of Christ. It does not have to be a lavish or grand opportunity; like Frodo’s chances, they come in the quiet and ordinary.
Humans want redemption. I long and wish for Gollum’s repentance each time I read this section, but alas, it doesn’t happen. However, does that longing translate into similar compassion elsewhere? There are interactions every day that need such compassion and sight. It is easy to be the prophet Jonah who sulked with eyes pointed inward. But the Lord does see. Hagar exclaims this beautiful truth in Genesis 16, “In this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me? (CSB).”
In The Return of the King, the growth of Frodo’s compassion is revealed. When Saruman, the broken but still evil wizard, is discovered trying to take over the Shire. Frodo attempts to persuade the crowd of vengeful hobbits to not kill Saruman despite the great harm he has done. Frodo seeks healing and peace in the final conflict of the War of the Ring.
“He was great once, of a noble kind that we should not dare to raise our hands against,” Frodo says. “He is fallen, and his cure is beyond us; but I would still spare him, in the hope that he may find it.”
There is beauty in the mercy shown by Frodo. The path of restoration is one of healing, not one of war. Anger and rash words are easy to find within the heart. It takes courage and honesty to find compassion. Frodo’s journey is a slow and difficult one. Grace is difficult. Compassion is difficult. The sanctification of the flesh is not an easy road, but it is the right, true, and good road as our pilgriming hearts prepare for their home.
_________
Jackson Greer teaches history at New Covenant Christian Academy. He writes at Reading Jack with Jack, a substack dedicated to the writings of C.S. Lewis. He and his wife live in western Kentucky with their three active boys. He can be found appreciating the treasures found in local coffee shops and bookshops.