Part 6/7:
The climax of Gollum's journey culminates in a dramatic incident at Mount Doom. Contrary to the cinematic portrayal that presents Gollum in a fight with Frodo where he loses the ring, Tolkien’s narrative positions Gollum differently. Gollum, driven by impulse and instinct, ultimately retrieves the Ring, only to slip and fall into the volcanic fire, leading to the Ring’s destruction. This chain of events clearly illustrates the significant impact of Gollum’s release; it set into motion a series of events culminating in a twist that even Sauron could not have anticipated.