Mount Doom

Summary

As they near Mount Doom, FrodoÂ’s burden becomes so fierce he can hardly go on. While they struggle to sustain one another, Sam and Frodo are suddenly attacked by none other than a very desperate Gollum, who is trying in vain to get the Ring. He is in a frenzy, clearly possessed by an evil fOrce driving him to get the ring.

There is a struggle and Sam and Gollum are locked in battle. Gollum begs for his life, and Sam relents. This is a mistake, however, because Gollum is still lusting after the Ring.

Sam sees Frodo inside the mouth of Orodruin, struggling against himself. It seems the Ring has again taken control of Frodo. He cannot bring himself to toss it into the pit, which is the only way to destroy Sauron. Frodo claims the Ring for himself and puts it on his finger. Before Sam can protest he is thrown forward. He hits his head on the stony floor and blacks out.

As Frodo claims the Ring, he becomes invisible. The Dark Lord notices him, having been distracted by the wars in Gondor. He summons the remaining Nazguls, who abandon all and fly toward Mount Doom.

Sam wakes and sees Gollum fighting with the invisible Frodo. Sam watches in horror as Gollum snaps his teeth. One minute he holds in his mouth a finger with the Ring attached; the next minute, Frodo reappears, fingerless. Gollum, shrieking with delight at having found his "precious," takes a step too far and falls into the abyss, taking with him the Ring. The Crack of Doom is filled with the Ring, at last.

The mountain shakes and its fires blaze. Sam picks up Frodo and carries him away from Orodruin. Mordor shakes, its towers fall and mountains slide. The earth shakes and the skies burst forth with black rain, and the Nazguls come shooting out of the sky like flaming bolts, withering away into nothingness.

Frodo is once more himself and Sam is overjoyed. Frodo asks Sam to forgive Gollum because, after all, he has had a very important role in delivering the Ring into the Crack of Doom

This chapter reveals the theme of Fate. Even Gollum, who had struggled with his good identity as Smeagol, plays a part in the restoration of order. He is possessed by evil, but even so, he takes that one step that fulfills FrodoÂ’s quest. Wise as he is, Frodo tells Sam not to condemn Gollum. Rather, he wants his companion to recognize that each person plays a part in the battle between good and evil; sometimes the role is not easily categorized or understood.

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