How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph).
Quote #10
"The creature is wretched and hungry," said Frodo, "and unaware of his danger. And Gandalf, your Mithrandir, he would have bidden you not to slay him for that reason, and for others. He forbade the Elves to do so. I do not know clearly why, and of what I guess I cannot speak openly out here. But this creature is in some way bound up in my errand. Until you found us, and took us, he was my guide."
"Your guide!" said Faramir. "The matter becomes ever stranger. I would do much for you, Frodo, but this I cannot grant: to let this sly wanderer go free at his own will from here, to join you later if it please him, or to be caught by orcs and tell all he knows under threat of pain. He must be slain or taken. Slain, if he be not taken very swiftly." (4.6.30-1)
Frodo has now been given multiple opportunities to kill Gollum, but this is probably the most important one of all, morally speaking. He could have killed Gollum with his own sword when Gollum first leapt on Sam in Book 4, Chapter 1. He could have let Sam kill him any number of times—Sam has certainly seemed positively eager to do it. Now, he is being given the opportunity to have Gollum killed, from a distance, with no need for either Sam or Frodo to do the actual dirty work. What is more, Faramir (a wise man) is actively counseling Frodo to just let Gollum be slain, since Gollum is such a "sly wanderer." But Frodo still stands up for his guide—a creature for whom Frodo feels a horrible sense of responsibility. Frodo's humble willingness to follow Gandalf's example, against all the advice of his nearest and dearest, proves what a generous and wise hobbit he is. His reprieve of Gollum here plays a huge part in the moral lesson of the end of The Return of the King.