[Elenya]

Yes, but do you really think Smeagol would've managed to dominate Gollum at the very end when he would see the ring about to be thrown into the fire? I personally don't think so and Sam was able to see through it all, through the ups and downs of the Smeagol-Gollum struggle for domination. He knew that in the end Gollum would always be stronger than Smeagol. He knew that Smeagol was doomed. At least, that's the way I understood it.

[carton253]

The genius of Tolkien is that his characters remain true to the nature and circumstances...

Sam did not have the foresight to realize that Gollum would overtake Smeagol at Mt. Doom. I don't think he understood that true nature of the battle within Smeagol. I think he saw the manifestation of it... hence, the Slinker/Stinker names. But, to Sam, it wasn't a matter of Smeagol/Gollum redemption (possible or not). He didn't trust Gollum from the first and nothing Gollum/Smeagol ever said and did or didn't do made Sam change his mind.

[My back yard]

I am thinking about the ending speech from Sam, in TTT, as it relates to your question about Smeagol/Gollum, and I think that yes, he might. Smeagol was greatly moved by the speech I think. Even all the hideousness of what he had become over the long years with the ring -- and maybe because he becomes more Smeaglish than Gollumish the longer they are not in possession of prreecciouss -- Smeagol is possibly able to be more powerful. I love questions like that. 8^) And the character Sam in the books has always been a favorite of mine too.