Perhaps the most pivotal yet unsung hero of The Lord of the Rings is a little fellow by the name of Samwise Gamgee. He is the fast friend, follower, and supporter of Frodo Baggins, aiding him in the vocation of the Ring’s destruction.
Upon deeper examination of the characters and their functions in the Tolkien saga, it quickly becomes apparent that the inevitable outcome could not be reached without Sam’s actions. The virtuous Sam, going from humble gardener of the Shire to brave Orc-slayer of Middle-earth, was the Hobbit who managed to overcome the evil of the One Ring.
Throughout The Hobbit and the LOTR, we learn of how determined and persistent the little folk of the Shire can be. But Sam, perhaps more than most Hobbits, displays a stick-to-it attitude. He is not prone to forsaking his friends or relinquishing their quest. Instead, he is quick to refuse to take “No” for an answer. Courageously, he plods forward toward whatever end the road might bring.
Sam remains steadfast in all he does – his friendships, his mission, everything. One of the most beloved virtues he possesses is his loyal quality. In Understanding Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, writer William Ready points out just how far Sam is willing to go to follow Master Baggins:
“Frodo alone, save for faithful Sam, struggles on and spares the life of Gollum…” (55).
And, more melodramatically, Ready illustrates the redeeming aspect of the combined efforts of the two Hobbits:
“Frodo falls; Sam, common, comical, loving Sam, as common as Tommy, carries on alone into the pit of Hell on earth, Mordor. There, while the Company of the Ring wages a battle with all its might against Sauron as a diversion, Frodo redivivus proceeds with Sam to the fiery pinnacle to cast in the Ring” (55-56).
To some degree, Frodo can be viewed as a Christ figure in practically everything but his succumbing to his final temptation. Frodo gives into sin – the Ring, in this case. Christ, who carried the sins of humanity up to Golgotha on the Cross, can be seen as the archetype after which Frodo’s saving action is modeled. For Frodo too must climb Mount Doom, carrying with him the heavy burden of evil.
If then Frodo can act as one of the Christ figures in the glorious LOTR tale (others include Gandalf, Aragorn, etc.), then who is Sam? In the story, Sam’s chief purpose is to serve as both helper and friend to his master.
Sam helped carry Frodo when he was on his last legs and helped to carry the terrific foreboding weight of the Ring. Perhaps his greatest feat is in the function of Sam the Cyrenian, helping to bear the Cross to Mordor and up the fiery mountain.
But, through the lens of camaraderie, Sam might be a better representation of the spirit of John the Evangelist, who was loyal to Christ to the very end. Sam’s relationship with Frodo and his mindset in the face of adversity reflects the personality of John the Apostle. John was a man beloved of Jesus as Scripture tells us, and it was ultimately John who was the only apostle to brave the foot of the Cross. He was there in the thick of it. Similarly, Sam was ever at the side of Frodo.
Sam also displays the virtue of courage in vibrant and inspiring ways. Both in the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien and the film adaptations of Peter Jackson, one of Sam’s boldest moments of bravery gleams forth in rescuing Frodo from the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Fear spiked through his spine, his little hairy feet moving by some miraculous force, Sam manages to enter that fell place and retrieve his dear friend.
Beyond that, it doubtlessly took a good deal of courage to support Frodo in his various wanderings and skirmishes, finally leading him up the side of an active volcano and challenging all that he holds dear in Middle-earth: life, love, and justice.
How is Sam applicable to our lives in regular-old-earth? Sam teaches us how to be a true friend. By his example, he calls us to be humble. He calls us to grow, budding like a flower in due season, and reach beyond our immediate knowledge and our comfort zones. His example is an endearing testament to fellowship and loyalty. And, conquering the stereotype of size, Sam offers a picture of what authentic courage looks like.
If it weren’t for Sam, Frodo would not have gotten very far in his journey. Just like the Hobbits, the Christian is called to fellowship with others. The struggles of life are not meant to be carried alone but with one another, though sometimes it takes the humility of a Hobbit to recognize it.
*Dedicated to Juliana Vowels
John Tuttle
John Tuttle is a Catholic journalist, blogger, and photographer. He has written for Prehistoric Times, Culture Wars Magazine, Those Catholic Men, Catholic Insight, Inside Over, Ancient Origins, Love They Nerd, We Got This Covered, Cultured Vultures, and elsewhere. He can be reached at jptuttleb9@gmail.com.