Part 6/8:
Gollum is not unique in his experience; other Ring bearers share similar yet varied trajectories depending on their character and circumstances. For instance, Boromir, who bore the Ring for a shorter period, exhibited signs of aging almost instantly after relinquishing it, suggesting that the Ring's influence is as insidious as it is deep. The Nazgûl, once great kings, became shadows of their former selves, utterly consumed by their servitude to Sauron. However, Gollum never fully succumbed to such a state, maintaining a flicker of his Hobbit essence throughout his long life.