This is the first difference between the published edition I've always read and the early draft that I would consider major, and I'm completely intrigued by it. Gollum was originally honorable, actually more honorable than Bilbo, and led Bilbo out of the underground tunnels when he lost the riddle contest. This section and the commentary on the riddles were incredibly interesting.
#HobbitHistory #YearofTolkien
eanderson 🤯 I read that and wondered what it would have been like if it stayed the way he originally wrote it. 5y
JazzFeathers I couldn't wait to come on this part after reading the hints in the previous chapters. It is really so interesting. 5y
Daisey @eanderson @JazzFeathers It is so interesting, but really it changes nothing else in the story of The Hobbit. Even if it had been left after writing LotR, I could see the argument that over time the loss of the ring ate at Gollum causing him to venture out to search and try to get it back. Then everything else could stem from that choice. The only real catch to me is that he would ever consider giving it away at all. 5y
JazzFeathers @Daisey Mhm, l think you are now thinking at Gollum as he is in LotR, but as the commentary printed out, Gollum in actually a different character in this version. While l agree that the revision didn't change much in The Hobbit, l'm not surprised that Tolkien decided to revise che chapter. The two Gollums were a discrepancy in the story. I bet it made him suffer, knowing how he worked 😉 5y
Daisey @JazzFeathers Yes, I am thinking of the Gollum of LotR and considering whether I think I could reconcile that one with the one in The Hobbit without revision. I think I could, although the revision works much better. I can‘t imagine the struggle of revising decisions once published. 5y
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