Gollum has been lurking on the edges of the story for many pages, and he emerges here in all his slimy, hissing, backbiting nastiness. While the Ringwraiths and Sauron are a terrifying evil — large, dark, and intimidating — Gollum is a small evil, a "Slinker," as Sam dubs him, who will not attack directly but sneaks and betrays. Gollum is also a more complex character than the Dark Lord; he is evil, corrupted, and eaten away by the gnawing hunger for the Ring, yet still capable of sympathy and even kindness, as with the rabbits. The hints of goodness that Frodo draws out of Sméagol are very fragile, however, and the perceived betrayal at Henneth Annûn gives Gollum's evil side an excuse to resurface.
Faramir is the man that Boromir should have been. Even though he promises not to take the Ring before he knows Frodo has it, he honors his word. Although not as powerful as an elf-lord or wizard, Faramir has some of their wisdom, and understands the danger in wielding such a terrible weapon, regardless of his desire to do good.
