Why couldn't Gollum tolerate the Elven things?





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In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Sam binds Gollum's legs with Elven ropes and then Gollum starts to scream like he was being tortured. Also when he was given lembas to eat he didn't eat it and it seemed to taste horrible to him.



Why did it happen? He doesn't seem to be a total dark villain like Sauron and his minions. Gollum just has some serious lust for The One Ring.



Why couldn't he tolerate Elven things?










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  • 3




    He had the Ring for half a millenia. Certainly he’s not a dark villain like Sauron, but he was heavily influenced by the Ring (in an evil, selfish and possessive way), which was, made by Sauron.
    – Mat Cauthon
    Nov 23 at 16:02










  • He also can't stand the sun. That's why he goes to live in a cave.
    – Amarth
    Nov 24 at 15:42

















up vote
14
down vote

favorite












In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Sam binds Gollum's legs with Elven ropes and then Gollum starts to scream like he was being tortured. Also when he was given lembas to eat he didn't eat it and it seemed to taste horrible to him.



Why did it happen? He doesn't seem to be a total dark villain like Sauron and his minions. Gollum just has some serious lust for The One Ring.



Why couldn't he tolerate Elven things?










share|improve this question




















  • 3




    He had the Ring for half a millenia. Certainly he’s not a dark villain like Sauron, but he was heavily influenced by the Ring (in an evil, selfish and possessive way), which was, made by Sauron.
    – Mat Cauthon
    Nov 23 at 16:02










  • He also can't stand the sun. That's why he goes to live in a cave.
    – Amarth
    Nov 24 at 15:42













up vote
14
down vote

favorite









up vote
14
down vote

favorite











In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Sam binds Gollum's legs with Elven ropes and then Gollum starts to scream like he was being tortured. Also when he was given lembas to eat he didn't eat it and it seemed to taste horrible to him.



Why did it happen? He doesn't seem to be a total dark villain like Sauron and his minions. Gollum just has some serious lust for The One Ring.



Why couldn't he tolerate Elven things?










share|improve this question















In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Sam binds Gollum's legs with Elven ropes and then Gollum starts to scream like he was being tortured. Also when he was given lembas to eat he didn't eat it and it seemed to taste horrible to him.



Why did it happen? He doesn't seem to be a total dark villain like Sauron and his minions. Gollum just has some serious lust for The One Ring.



Why couldn't he tolerate Elven things?







tolkiens-legendarium the-lord-of-the-rings gollum






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share|improve this question













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edited Nov 23 at 16:03









Mat Cauthon

15.5k474129




15.5k474129










asked Nov 23 at 15:19









the-profile-that-was-promised

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  • 3




    He had the Ring for half a millenia. Certainly he’s not a dark villain like Sauron, but he was heavily influenced by the Ring (in an evil, selfish and possessive way), which was, made by Sauron.
    – Mat Cauthon
    Nov 23 at 16:02










  • He also can't stand the sun. That's why he goes to live in a cave.
    – Amarth
    Nov 24 at 15:42














  • 3




    He had the Ring for half a millenia. Certainly he’s not a dark villain like Sauron, but he was heavily influenced by the Ring (in an evil, selfish and possessive way), which was, made by Sauron.
    – Mat Cauthon
    Nov 23 at 16:02










  • He also can't stand the sun. That's why he goes to live in a cave.
    – Amarth
    Nov 24 at 15:42








3




3




He had the Ring for half a millenia. Certainly he’s not a dark villain like Sauron, but he was heavily influenced by the Ring (in an evil, selfish and possessive way), which was, made by Sauron.
– Mat Cauthon
Nov 23 at 16:02




He had the Ring for half a millenia. Certainly he’s not a dark villain like Sauron, but he was heavily influenced by the Ring (in an evil, selfish and possessive way), which was, made by Sauron.
– Mat Cauthon
Nov 23 at 16:02












He also can't stand the sun. That's why he goes to live in a cave.
– Amarth
Nov 24 at 15:42




He also can't stand the sun. That's why he goes to live in a cave.
– Amarth
Nov 24 at 15:42










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

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up vote
22
down vote



accepted










Aragorn (as Strider) speaking of the Black Riders




For the black horses can see, and the Riders can use men and other
creatures as spies, as we found at Bree. They themselves do not see
the world of light as we do, but our shapes cast shadows in their
minds, which only the noon sun destroys; and in the dark they perceive
many signs and forms that are hidden from us: then they are most to be
feared. And at all times they smell the blood of living things,
desiring and hating it. Senses, too, there are other than sight or
smell. We can feel their presence – It troubled our hearts, as soon as
we came here, and before we saw them; they feel ours more keenly




Middle-earth seems to have an extra dimension/astral plane/plane of existence, which is referenced a couple of times.



On this other plane, which overlays the "normal" reality, good and evil are physically manifest, you are light or you are dark, or of varying degrees of grey between.



The Ring has brought Gollum too far into the dark side of that realm, as it was doing to Frodo (emphasis mine) . . .




Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside, and took a good look at Frodo.
The colour had come back to his face, and his eyes were clear, and
fully awake and aware. He was smiling, and there seemed to be little
wrong with him. But to the wizard's eye there was a faint change just
a hint as it were of transparency, about him, and especially about the
left hand that lay outside upon the coverlet.
'Still that must be
expected,' said Gandalf to himself. 'He is not half through yet, and
to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to
evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light
for eyes to see that can




Here we see that the ring is also bringing Frodo into that other realm, if he had been captured by the Wraiths he would have become a thing like them (I can't find a quote for that at the minute), but now Gandalf thinks he will go to the light, but that the ring will have its effect on him "He may become like a glass filled with a clear light"



Some can see the other realm for eyes to see that can (such as the Elves that came from Valinor, the Maia and other spirits and/or beings of power), he would have become invisible to everyone else.



How does the ring do this? The "invisibility" the ring provides is done by it bringing the wearer into the other realm, the more you use it the less of you comes back from there, and more you are in it, and of it.



Gollum can't abide the touch of Elven things because he has been partially drawn into the dark side of that realm.






share|improve this answer



















  • 3




    "Elves, and some others, can see the other realm for eyes to see that can, he would have become invisible to everyone else." The way I understood it, that's not all Elves. In fact its rather few Elves by the time of Lord of Rings, specifically just those who had previously lived in Valinor.
    – suchiuomizu
    Nov 25 at 19:43










  • @suchiuomizu: Good point thanks, I'll try and work that into the answer :)
    – Binary Worrier
    2 days ago


















up vote
11
down vote













One of the footnotes in LotR (I think it's in Return of the King) states that Gollum's long association with the ring made him unable to bear the touch or feel of things that were Elvish and/or unfallen Valar craftwork.



As you will recall from reading the narrative, he also could not bear the light of the Yellow Face (his term for the Sun) and he was not terribly fond of the White Face (the moon) either. As we read in the Silmarillion, these were made by the Valar and contained the last remnants of the Two Trees.



Other things did not bother him; but as we read in other works, the matter of the world was diffused with Morgoth's essence, making it much more agreeable to someone whose spirit has been corrupted by the Ring.






share|improve this answer



















  • 5




    +1 Neat connection between the Sun and the Moon with the Two Trees in Valinor. It now makes much more sense why he disliked the former so much.
    – Mat Cauthon
    Nov 25 at 14:28











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2 Answers
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active

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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

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active

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active

oldest

votes








up vote
22
down vote



accepted










Aragorn (as Strider) speaking of the Black Riders




For the black horses can see, and the Riders can use men and other
creatures as spies, as we found at Bree. They themselves do not see
the world of light as we do, but our shapes cast shadows in their
minds, which only the noon sun destroys; and in the dark they perceive
many signs and forms that are hidden from us: then they are most to be
feared. And at all times they smell the blood of living things,
desiring and hating it. Senses, too, there are other than sight or
smell. We can feel their presence – It troubled our hearts, as soon as
we came here, and before we saw them; they feel ours more keenly




Middle-earth seems to have an extra dimension/astral plane/plane of existence, which is referenced a couple of times.



On this other plane, which overlays the "normal" reality, good and evil are physically manifest, you are light or you are dark, or of varying degrees of grey between.



The Ring has brought Gollum too far into the dark side of that realm, as it was doing to Frodo (emphasis mine) . . .




Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside, and took a good look at Frodo.
The colour had come back to his face, and his eyes were clear, and
fully awake and aware. He was smiling, and there seemed to be little
wrong with him. But to the wizard's eye there was a faint change just
a hint as it were of transparency, about him, and especially about the
left hand that lay outside upon the coverlet.
'Still that must be
expected,' said Gandalf to himself. 'He is not half through yet, and
to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to
evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light
for eyes to see that can




Here we see that the ring is also bringing Frodo into that other realm, if he had been captured by the Wraiths he would have become a thing like them (I can't find a quote for that at the minute), but now Gandalf thinks he will go to the light, but that the ring will have its effect on him "He may become like a glass filled with a clear light"



Some can see the other realm for eyes to see that can (such as the Elves that came from Valinor, the Maia and other spirits and/or beings of power), he would have become invisible to everyone else.



How does the ring do this? The "invisibility" the ring provides is done by it bringing the wearer into the other realm, the more you use it the less of you comes back from there, and more you are in it, and of it.



Gollum can't abide the touch of Elven things because he has been partially drawn into the dark side of that realm.






share|improve this answer



















  • 3




    "Elves, and some others, can see the other realm for eyes to see that can, he would have become invisible to everyone else." The way I understood it, that's not all Elves. In fact its rather few Elves by the time of Lord of Rings, specifically just those who had previously lived in Valinor.
    – suchiuomizu
    Nov 25 at 19:43










  • @suchiuomizu: Good point thanks, I'll try and work that into the answer :)
    – Binary Worrier
    2 days ago















up vote
22
down vote



accepted










Aragorn (as Strider) speaking of the Black Riders




For the black horses can see, and the Riders can use men and other
creatures as spies, as we found at Bree. They themselves do not see
the world of light as we do, but our shapes cast shadows in their
minds, which only the noon sun destroys; and in the dark they perceive
many signs and forms that are hidden from us: then they are most to be
feared. And at all times they smell the blood of living things,
desiring and hating it. Senses, too, there are other than sight or
smell. We can feel their presence – It troubled our hearts, as soon as
we came here, and before we saw them; they feel ours more keenly




Middle-earth seems to have an extra dimension/astral plane/plane of existence, which is referenced a couple of times.



On this other plane, which overlays the "normal" reality, good and evil are physically manifest, you are light or you are dark, or of varying degrees of grey between.



The Ring has brought Gollum too far into the dark side of that realm, as it was doing to Frodo (emphasis mine) . . .




Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside, and took a good look at Frodo.
The colour had come back to his face, and his eyes were clear, and
fully awake and aware. He was smiling, and there seemed to be little
wrong with him. But to the wizard's eye there was a faint change just
a hint as it were of transparency, about him, and especially about the
left hand that lay outside upon the coverlet.
'Still that must be
expected,' said Gandalf to himself. 'He is not half through yet, and
to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to
evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light
for eyes to see that can




Here we see that the ring is also bringing Frodo into that other realm, if he had been captured by the Wraiths he would have become a thing like them (I can't find a quote for that at the minute), but now Gandalf thinks he will go to the light, but that the ring will have its effect on him "He may become like a glass filled with a clear light"



Some can see the other realm for eyes to see that can (such as the Elves that came from Valinor, the Maia and other spirits and/or beings of power), he would have become invisible to everyone else.



How does the ring do this? The "invisibility" the ring provides is done by it bringing the wearer into the other realm, the more you use it the less of you comes back from there, and more you are in it, and of it.



Gollum can't abide the touch of Elven things because he has been partially drawn into the dark side of that realm.






share|improve this answer



















  • 3




    "Elves, and some others, can see the other realm for eyes to see that can, he would have become invisible to everyone else." The way I understood it, that's not all Elves. In fact its rather few Elves by the time of Lord of Rings, specifically just those who had previously lived in Valinor.
    – suchiuomizu
    Nov 25 at 19:43










  • @suchiuomizu: Good point thanks, I'll try and work that into the answer :)
    – Binary Worrier
    2 days ago













up vote
22
down vote



accepted







up vote
22
down vote



accepted






Aragorn (as Strider) speaking of the Black Riders




For the black horses can see, and the Riders can use men and other
creatures as spies, as we found at Bree. They themselves do not see
the world of light as we do, but our shapes cast shadows in their
minds, which only the noon sun destroys; and in the dark they perceive
many signs and forms that are hidden from us: then they are most to be
feared. And at all times they smell the blood of living things,
desiring and hating it. Senses, too, there are other than sight or
smell. We can feel their presence – It troubled our hearts, as soon as
we came here, and before we saw them; they feel ours more keenly




Middle-earth seems to have an extra dimension/astral plane/plane of existence, which is referenced a couple of times.



On this other plane, which overlays the "normal" reality, good and evil are physically manifest, you are light or you are dark, or of varying degrees of grey between.



The Ring has brought Gollum too far into the dark side of that realm, as it was doing to Frodo (emphasis mine) . . .




Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside, and took a good look at Frodo.
The colour had come back to his face, and his eyes were clear, and
fully awake and aware. He was smiling, and there seemed to be little
wrong with him. But to the wizard's eye there was a faint change just
a hint as it were of transparency, about him, and especially about the
left hand that lay outside upon the coverlet.
'Still that must be
expected,' said Gandalf to himself. 'He is not half through yet, and
to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to
evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light
for eyes to see that can




Here we see that the ring is also bringing Frodo into that other realm, if he had been captured by the Wraiths he would have become a thing like them (I can't find a quote for that at the minute), but now Gandalf thinks he will go to the light, but that the ring will have its effect on him "He may become like a glass filled with a clear light"



Some can see the other realm for eyes to see that can (such as the Elves that came from Valinor, the Maia and other spirits and/or beings of power), he would have become invisible to everyone else.



How does the ring do this? The "invisibility" the ring provides is done by it bringing the wearer into the other realm, the more you use it the less of you comes back from there, and more you are in it, and of it.



Gollum can't abide the touch of Elven things because he has been partially drawn into the dark side of that realm.






share|improve this answer














Aragorn (as Strider) speaking of the Black Riders




For the black horses can see, and the Riders can use men and other
creatures as spies, as we found at Bree. They themselves do not see
the world of light as we do, but our shapes cast shadows in their
minds, which only the noon sun destroys; and in the dark they perceive
many signs and forms that are hidden from us: then they are most to be
feared. And at all times they smell the blood of living things,
desiring and hating it. Senses, too, there are other than sight or
smell. We can feel their presence – It troubled our hearts, as soon as
we came here, and before we saw them; they feel ours more keenly




Middle-earth seems to have an extra dimension/astral plane/plane of existence, which is referenced a couple of times.



On this other plane, which overlays the "normal" reality, good and evil are physically manifest, you are light or you are dark, or of varying degrees of grey between.



The Ring has brought Gollum too far into the dark side of that realm, as it was doing to Frodo (emphasis mine) . . .




Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside, and took a good look at Frodo.
The colour had come back to his face, and his eyes were clear, and
fully awake and aware. He was smiling, and there seemed to be little
wrong with him. But to the wizard's eye there was a faint change just
a hint as it were of transparency, about him, and especially about the
left hand that lay outside upon the coverlet.
'Still that must be
expected,' said Gandalf to himself. 'He is not half through yet, and
to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to
evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light
for eyes to see that can




Here we see that the ring is also bringing Frodo into that other realm, if he had been captured by the Wraiths he would have become a thing like them (I can't find a quote for that at the minute), but now Gandalf thinks he will go to the light, but that the ring will have its effect on him "He may become like a glass filled with a clear light"



Some can see the other realm for eyes to see that can (such as the Elves that came from Valinor, the Maia and other spirits and/or beings of power), he would have become invisible to everyone else.



How does the ring do this? The "invisibility" the ring provides is done by it bringing the wearer into the other realm, the more you use it the less of you comes back from there, and more you are in it, and of it.



Gollum can't abide the touch of Elven things because he has been partially drawn into the dark side of that realm.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 2 days ago

























answered Nov 23 at 16:27









Binary Worrier

8,27933852




8,27933852








  • 3




    "Elves, and some others, can see the other realm for eyes to see that can, he would have become invisible to everyone else." The way I understood it, that's not all Elves. In fact its rather few Elves by the time of Lord of Rings, specifically just those who had previously lived in Valinor.
    – suchiuomizu
    Nov 25 at 19:43










  • @suchiuomizu: Good point thanks, I'll try and work that into the answer :)
    – Binary Worrier
    2 days ago














  • 3




    "Elves, and some others, can see the other realm for eyes to see that can, he would have become invisible to everyone else." The way I understood it, that's not all Elves. In fact its rather few Elves by the time of Lord of Rings, specifically just those who had previously lived in Valinor.
    – suchiuomizu
    Nov 25 at 19:43










  • @suchiuomizu: Good point thanks, I'll try and work that into the answer :)
    – Binary Worrier
    2 days ago








3




3




"Elves, and some others, can see the other realm for eyes to see that can, he would have become invisible to everyone else." The way I understood it, that's not all Elves. In fact its rather few Elves by the time of Lord of Rings, specifically just those who had previously lived in Valinor.
– suchiuomizu
Nov 25 at 19:43




"Elves, and some others, can see the other realm for eyes to see that can, he would have become invisible to everyone else." The way I understood it, that's not all Elves. In fact its rather few Elves by the time of Lord of Rings, specifically just those who had previously lived in Valinor.
– suchiuomizu
Nov 25 at 19:43












@suchiuomizu: Good point thanks, I'll try and work that into the answer :)
– Binary Worrier
2 days ago




@suchiuomizu: Good point thanks, I'll try and work that into the answer :)
– Binary Worrier
2 days ago












up vote
11
down vote













One of the footnotes in LotR (I think it's in Return of the King) states that Gollum's long association with the ring made him unable to bear the touch or feel of things that were Elvish and/or unfallen Valar craftwork.



As you will recall from reading the narrative, he also could not bear the light of the Yellow Face (his term for the Sun) and he was not terribly fond of the White Face (the moon) either. As we read in the Silmarillion, these were made by the Valar and contained the last remnants of the Two Trees.



Other things did not bother him; but as we read in other works, the matter of the world was diffused with Morgoth's essence, making it much more agreeable to someone whose spirit has been corrupted by the Ring.






share|improve this answer



















  • 5




    +1 Neat connection between the Sun and the Moon with the Two Trees in Valinor. It now makes much more sense why he disliked the former so much.
    – Mat Cauthon
    Nov 25 at 14:28















up vote
11
down vote













One of the footnotes in LotR (I think it's in Return of the King) states that Gollum's long association with the ring made him unable to bear the touch or feel of things that were Elvish and/or unfallen Valar craftwork.



As you will recall from reading the narrative, he also could not bear the light of the Yellow Face (his term for the Sun) and he was not terribly fond of the White Face (the moon) either. As we read in the Silmarillion, these were made by the Valar and contained the last remnants of the Two Trees.



Other things did not bother him; but as we read in other works, the matter of the world was diffused with Morgoth's essence, making it much more agreeable to someone whose spirit has been corrupted by the Ring.






share|improve this answer



















  • 5




    +1 Neat connection between the Sun and the Moon with the Two Trees in Valinor. It now makes much more sense why he disliked the former so much.
    – Mat Cauthon
    Nov 25 at 14:28













up vote
11
down vote










up vote
11
down vote









One of the footnotes in LotR (I think it's in Return of the King) states that Gollum's long association with the ring made him unable to bear the touch or feel of things that were Elvish and/or unfallen Valar craftwork.



As you will recall from reading the narrative, he also could not bear the light of the Yellow Face (his term for the Sun) and he was not terribly fond of the White Face (the moon) either. As we read in the Silmarillion, these were made by the Valar and contained the last remnants of the Two Trees.



Other things did not bother him; but as we read in other works, the matter of the world was diffused with Morgoth's essence, making it much more agreeable to someone whose spirit has been corrupted by the Ring.






share|improve this answer














One of the footnotes in LotR (I think it's in Return of the King) states that Gollum's long association with the ring made him unable to bear the touch or feel of things that were Elvish and/or unfallen Valar craftwork.



As you will recall from reading the narrative, he also could not bear the light of the Yellow Face (his term for the Sun) and he was not terribly fond of the White Face (the moon) either. As we read in the Silmarillion, these were made by the Valar and contained the last remnants of the Two Trees.



Other things did not bother him; but as we read in other works, the matter of the world was diffused with Morgoth's essence, making it much more agreeable to someone whose spirit has been corrupted by the Ring.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Nov 25 at 21:46

























answered Nov 24 at 2:53









EvilSnack

1,85268




1,85268








  • 5




    +1 Neat connection between the Sun and the Moon with the Two Trees in Valinor. It now makes much more sense why he disliked the former so much.
    – Mat Cauthon
    Nov 25 at 14:28














  • 5




    +1 Neat connection between the Sun and the Moon with the Two Trees in Valinor. It now makes much more sense why he disliked the former so much.
    – Mat Cauthon
    Nov 25 at 14:28








5




5




+1 Neat connection between the Sun and the Moon with the Two Trees in Valinor. It now makes much more sense why he disliked the former so much.
– Mat Cauthon
Nov 25 at 14:28




+1 Neat connection between the Sun and the Moon with the Two Trees in Valinor. It now makes much more sense why he disliked the former so much.
– Mat Cauthon
Nov 25 at 14:28


















 

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