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Symbolic Expression in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings
Gollum
9/7/2K6
"Even Gollum was not wholly ruined."
-- Gandalf (Fellowship, p. 64)
In Middle-earth, evil is a corruption of something good. Gollum was once a hobbit. Just like nine of the Rings of Power turned men into wraiths, so the One Ring turned a hobbit into Gollum.
Evil is a corruption, and Gollum had been corrupted. However, Gollum had not become 100% evil: "Even Gollum was not wholly ruined" (Fellowship, p. 64).
Symbolic expression does not occur in these words. However, the words are evidence of the idea.
In order to understand the expression, it is necessary to understand the idea. You don't have to agree with the idea.
Examples of the expression of the idea occur later.