I always thought that the LOTR was a dream that Sam had. He was the shy romantic dreamer who didn't want to be in the limelight, so in his dream, he had a key but less dramatic role. Would you please share/explain your theory of Sam being the protagonist?
Actually, I learned later that Tolkien himself has said the same.
Let me think of a few ...
Sam made the journey there and back again and his life was made richer for the trip. He was never tarnished by any of the evil that he had to wade through. He not only bore the ring but used it and still remained good.
The novels hold nature in great reverence. Sam is a gardener. He used the gift of earth from Galdriel to better the whole world around him.
Frodo inherited the ring from Bilbo and began the quest with some urging on by Gandalf but Sam willingly made the journey out of love and loyalty for his friend. His participation was out of choice rather than obligation or duty.
His story is the story of how extraordinary an ordinary life can be. He illustrates all the values that make even a simple life worth living.
Sam is a wonder, and his goodness is deeply moving to me. (Doesn't everyone well up a bit about Sam?) He is ordinary, and his ordinary approach to the world saves the day. I've heard him called the "chief hero" and that makes sense. I also found an analysis of his heroic journey in the terms of Joseph Campbell:
But, while that starts to get clinical I also think about another moving message in LOTR, and that is the friendship between Frodo and Samwise Gamgee. It is almost the friendship between them that is the hero, and takes the the hero's journey.
Comments 5
Reply
Actually, I learned later that Tolkien himself has said the same.
Let me think of a few ...
Sam made the journey there and back again and his life was made richer for the trip. He was never tarnished by any of the evil that he had to wade through. He not only bore the ring but used it and still remained good.
The novels hold nature in great reverence. Sam is a gardener. He used the gift of earth from Galdriel to better the whole world around him.
Frodo inherited the ring from Bilbo and began the quest with some urging on by Gandalf but Sam willingly made the journey out of love and loyalty for his friend. His participation was out of choice rather than obligation or duty.
His story is the story of how extraordinary an ordinary life can be. He illustrates all the values that make even a simple life worth living.
Reply
Reply
http://www.theheroconstructioncompany.com/main/Heroes/Entries/2010/2/1_Samwise_Gamgee_-_Hero%E2%80%99s_Journey.html
But, while that starts to get clinical I also think about another moving message in LOTR, and that is the friendship between Frodo and Samwise Gamgee. It is almost the friendship between them that is the hero, and takes the the hero's journey.
Reply
Leave a comment