This passage vividly captures the essence of despair and existential emptiness through Gollum's words. The repetitive declaration of being lost emphasizes a profound sense of disorientation and spiritual desolation. Gollum's references to losing his name, his business (or purpose), and his most treasured possession, the 'Precious,' highlight how identity and purpose are intertwined with possessions and pursuits. When these are stripped away, what remains is an overwhelming sense of void and vulnerability.

The imagery of hunger extends beyond physical deprivation, hinting at a deeper craving for meaning, belonging, or redemption that feels just out of reach. His description of catching "nasty bony little fishes" underscores the meagerness and bitterness of his current existence, symbolizing life's harsh reality when stripped of hope. The phrase about death reflects the despair that pervades his consciousness—a poignant acknowledgment of mortality's inevitability and perhaps, the fragility of hope.

This quote resonates with the universal human experience of loss, whether it entails material goods, relationships, or the very essence of self-identity. It speaks to the overwhelming feeling of being adrift and the harsh judgments we sometimes impose upon ourselves or face from others, which seem as unchangeable and just as Gollum perceives the world's brutal truths. The tone is mournful yet laced with a bitter irony—critiquing the world's callous sense of justice. Overall, the excerpt invites reflection on what truly defines us, what we cling to when everything else falls away, and how despair can turn even the simplest moments into profound existential crises.