LOTR: What Does Sam's Vision On The Edge Of Mount Doom Foretell?

gamerant.com:

The lands of Mordor have long been tainted by the evil that dwells there, and is a treacherous place to travel through for the Ringbearer, not only because of the dozens of orcs and Sauron’s servants who reside there, but also because of the actual atmosphere itself. Boromir even says at the Council of Elrond “The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume.” So it comes as little surprise that by the time Sam and Frodo reach the edges of Mount Doom, they are exhausted beyond recall, and delirious with the sickening intoxication of the place.

Earlier on in the journey, the two hobbits managed to shake off Gollum, after he led them into a trap at Shelob’s lair, and Sam had to rescue Frodo from the tower guarded by the Silent Watchers. But as they get close to their goal, Gollum reappears from nowhere, leaping onto Sam and sending him sprawling, before gauging at Frodo’s eyes and throat to try to get to the One Ring. A struggle ensues, in which Frodo and Gollum fight bitterly. In a daze, Sam struggles to his feet, and as he turns to try and help Frodo, he is confronted with a vision. Dreams and visions are common throughout the trilogy, and often come to the characters as warnings or guidance for the dangerous times ahead, such as the vision that came to Faramir about the Ring, or the dreams that came to the Hobbits in the house of Tom Bombadil.

Did Gollum Escape Mordor, Or Was He Released As Part Of A Cunning Plan By The Enemy?

It is unclear if the vision presented to Sam is this same magical variety that is trying to warn him or steer him during the quest, or if it is instead a sort of fever-dream, wrought from the weakened state of his body and mind from their weeks of hardship. Either way, when watching Frodo and Gollum