Gamer’s next foray into Middle-earth will come in the form of Lord of the Rings: Gollum. The developers, Daedalic Entertainment, aim to make this action adventure game complete with a strong narrative about one of Middle-earth’s least understood creatures, Gollum. The player will likely control Gollum from the time he received the ring until his demise at Mount Doom, and will bear witness to new, never before told stories about Gollum’s adventure. Given that Daedalic Entertainment’s upcoming game will not be based off of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film adaptation, it is possible that Gollum’s story may be characterized in a different way and could even make a bold statement about the way society views mental health.
For those unaware, Daedalic Entertainment announced Lord of the Rings: Gollum midway through last year, and it will be partnering with Middle-earth Enterprises to get the job done. The developers have shared that they want to reimagine Gollum as a more relatable, aesthetically pleasing, and nuanced character than how he was portrayed in the films. Given that players will be with him for the duration of the game, this is likely for the best. Some could be wondering, though, whether this could mean that Gollum’s descent into madness at the hands of the One Ring may be contextualized as a narrative on mental health.
The way Gollum is portrayed in Jackson’s film adaptations is interesting, because aside from Gandalf, most view him as a monster, nothing more than an obstacle or a tool. Gandalf explains to Frodo that Gollum’s story is a tragic one, and seems to be one of the few who know his origins, revealing that in actuality, Gollum is more a victim than a monster. Twisted by the One Ring, the state viewers see Gollum in during the trilogy makes it easy to forget that he once was a Hobbit like Frodo. Daedalic Entertainment has the opportunity to make a truly powerful message by allowing players to see the full story and experience the full spectrum of Gollum’s instability.
Gollum’s physical changes and extended life span bestowed by the One Ring are mostly fantastical in nature (although certain physical changes, like his eyes growing in size from centuries living underground, are based in science). Gollum’s behaviors and actions are also representative of real-life mental disorders which real people also struggle with. Although Gollum’s driving motive tends to be finding and keeping the One Ring, his true struggle seems to be with its effect on his mind.
Perhaps the most obvious disorder Gollum suffers from is Dissociative Identity Disorder, a disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personalities in one person. This can be seen most prominently in the final book of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Gollum can be seen talking to himself frequently, but here it is made clear that he is not speaking to himself, but to Smeagol. Before Gollum found the ring, he was a Hobbit named Smeagol, and it wasn’t until after the ring corrupted and deformed him that people began referring to him as Gollum.
Gollum’s Dissociative Identity Disorder is obviously an extreme case, but given the timeframe of Lord of the Rings: Gollum, it could play out very realistically. Gollum’s corruption by the ring does not occur instantly, and although it did very swiftly drive him to kill his cousin Deagol, its effect on his mind is more gradual. Those that struggle with Dissociative Identity Disorder sometimes report not remembering anything that occurred while a different personality was in control, and the same could be true for Gollum.
It is possible, even, that there will actually be two playable characters, Smeagol and Gollum. It would be interesting to see how Smeagol copes with the things he does as Gollum. The earliest example of this would be killing his cousin, but there are likely to be many more terrible things Gollum does in which Smeagol must deal with the consequences.
Dissociative Identity Disorder is also related to a number of other disorders which Gollum exhibits symptoms of. Those that suffer from Dissociative Identity Disorder also tend to struggle with depression, self harm, anxiety, and the like. Smeagol clearly portrays all of these at various points in his appearances, and this can only be accentuated by an extension of his story. Regarding depression, Smeagol is shown feeling intense guilt for the murder of his cousin, proving that he still feels the consequences of the actions of Gollum. When scolded by Frodo, Smeagol bashes his head against a rock, showing his lack of care for his own health.
Although it is not explicitly stated, Gollum appears to suffer from extreme anxiety as well, likely in the form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. OCD is characterized by an obsession, in this case the One Ring, and numerous compulsions done to lessen the burden of anxiety caused by that obsession. Gollum’s many physical and verbal ticks are common examples of compulsions that some with OCD might exhibit, and like OCD, it is clear that these compulsions do little to alleviate the anxiety.
In media portraying Gollum thus far, he is seen as a depraved monster, but is shown pity on a few occasions, namely by Bilbo, Gandalf, and Frodo. It would surely be a compelling story to watch as Smeagol slowly loses himself to the One Ring, but rather than receiving help from those around him, is treated only with disdain, even by his own family. The perception of mental health disorders tends to exacerbate the issue, and this is true both in Middle-earth and in the real world.
Daedalic Entertainment may be able to combine one of literature’s most recognizable franchises with one of its most misunderstood characters to make a bold statement about mental health while also providing players with a captivating and meaningful experience. It remains to be seen whether this aspect of Gollum’s journey will be a focus or not, but it is unlikely that it will be completely forgotten as it is a vital part of the character. Fans of the series will have to wait until next year to find out.
Lord of the Rings: Gollum will be available in 2021 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
