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What Is The Meaning Behind Smeagol'S 'Precious' Monologue?

2026-04-18 21:38:48

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Knox

One of the most haunting things in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is the way Smeagol is obsessed with the ‘precious’. It isn’t just the Ring, it is the way in which addiction can change a person’s identity. When Smeagol first appears he is a sort of hobbit-like creature, full of curiosity and a bit of mischief. But as the centuries pass under the Ring’s influence he begins to change. He talks to himself in the second person and constantly refers to himself in the third person as ‘Smeagol’ and ‘Gollum’. This split personality is a result of the Ring’s influence and the ‘precious’ is the thing that gives him purpose, even though it is ruining his life. And the worst thing is that Smeagol knows he has fallen this far, and he can’t get back.

It’s also very relatable to me, even though it’s been magnified for the story. I think we all have things in our lives that we are unwilling to let go of, whether it be a bad habit, an unhealthy relationship, a comfort object that’s not very good for us. Tolkien was so good at using myth to reflect reality, and this is one of the most relatable parts of the book. Smeagol’s inner monologues are like watching someone bargain with the worst part of themselves. Andy Serkis brings so much heart to this character that you almost find yourself hoping against hope that he’ll manage to find a way to break free from the Ring’s power.

2026-04-20

Rebecca

First of all, it’s quite creepy and also very sad at the same time. Poor Smeagol has been alone in that cave for 500 years, with nothing but that Golden Ring and his lies about it for company. So, his long rambling monologues to himself, about his precious, are just the idle chatter of a lonely mind starving for any sort of human company, relieving itself by talking to this thing. Tolkien was a Catholic, and it’s interesting to see in this the twisted form of idolatry, where a personworships an false god, which will devour him. And in a way, the Ring even speaks to Smeagol. The Ring is a powerful symbol of temptation to power, but here it’s shown to be a foul and insidious parasite that gradually destroys it’s host’s mind, and takes over their personality. Eventually it leaves nothing but a pathetic, empty shell, as is shown by the fate of poor Gollum in this story: he was completely consumed by his one terrible addiction.

2026-04-22

Lila

The “precious” dialogues between Tolkien and himself always seemed rather sick and twisted, but also a rather dark parody of “love languages”. The “precious” Ring, cooed at like a child or a lover, can’t of course love Smeagol back, only consume him. He’s given his all to a very corrosive object. (Tolkien was after all a WWI veteran. I wonder if in writing this scene he’d translated to this the hollow promises of vast (and terrible) power that nations and leaders since time remembered have inspired from the willingly loyal and blameless.)

And it is also wonderful how the Ring changes its voice to the need of its bearers. It calls for isolating Smeagol and grants Boromir promises of deeds, Galadriel promises of power. And thus “precious” is the only word the Ring uses towards Smeagol because it has hit on the weak point of his isolation, his need to possess and be possessed by something. The Ring doesn’t corrupt, it personalizes.

2026-04-22

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