"Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit" - Jacob's Thoughts

I don't have nearly as much insight to provide into this chapter, in no small part because the chapter doesn't provide me much to reflect upon.  It is primarily a table-setting chapter, one that sets us up the chess-board for the next round of chapters.  We can sense that the tension is starting to brew warmer between Sam and Gollum, what with Sam's casual abuse of the poor creature he still doesn't trust, as well as Sam's blithe disregard for Gollum's warning that starting a cooking fire will draw unwanted attention--which of course is exactly what Sam does.  Goodness, Sam, you don't have to like Gollum, but could you at least listen to him once in awhile?!  He hasn't made nearly as many unforced errors as you ridiculous Hobbits have.

Really, Sam is incredibly lucky that it was Men whom his cooking-fire attracted to their position--it could have easily been orcs, and then it's game-over for our heroes.  So, Sam and Frodo are OK for now, but they have now been cut off from their guide Gollum, and though my memories of Book IV are hazy, I can already tell that this apparent abandonment and betrayal of the poor wretch, however unintentional, will have serious ramifications for their relationship, and sets up a fiercer showdown to come between Sam and Gollum.

But again, this is all in the future; for now, all that really happens of note is Frodo and Sam have been put in the path of Faramir, which also portends bigger things--as is shown (a little on the nose, if you ask me), by Sam's much-wished-for Oliphaunt rampaging through the forest right by them.

One final note on Frodo's sudden embrace of honesty-is-the-best-policy when he gives his full biographical data to Faramir: is this a sign of Frodo's growing maturity (the whole "Mr. Underhill" schtick went over so poorly at the Prancing Pony that he figured the truth would be less clumsy this time 'round), or a sign of his growing pessimism and resignation in this quest, such that he scarcely bothers to disguise himself anymore, for what does it matter?

"The Passage of the Marshes" - Eric's Thoughts

This chapter is about Gollum, and it's about the terrain. As the hobbits approach their goal, they cross through the land of the dead. As The Hobbit explains, out of the frying pan, into the fire. As they exit the land of the dead, they cross into poisonous pits--and eventually at the gates of Mordor itself.

Similarly, as the terrain grows more treacherous, so does their host Gollum. The reader learns that Gollum intends to serve the precious, but also will not allow it to fall into His hands again. Gollum is experiencing what literary critics call "internal conflict." That means, by the way, that Gollum feels conflicting emotions.

So, our little helpful guide through the marshes turns out to not necessarily be a reformed angel at all. Not that the reader is surprised by this. Tolkien ups the suspense by making it ambiguous whom Gollum serves. Does Gollum serve Frodo? Hardly likely. But at the same time,  the conflict itself makes Gollum sympathetic, because the reader understands that part of Gollum wants to help Frodo. The reader wants Gollum to triumph over his lust, and even hoping, knows that tragedy is the only outcome.

As Jacob right points out, the characters of Sam and Frodo tease out this internal tension within Gollum. Just as Gollum is evil, so he is good. For now, the good in Gollum has sway over the evil. Just by a hair. Frodo sees the good within Gollum. Sam sees only the bad.

Sam is right, of course. But Frodo's mercy is what allows evil to undo itself. Gollum is the product of the Ring--and is ultimately what destroys the Ring.