September 27, 2003

The True Hero
Glaurung

In my opinion, Sam is the true hero of the Lord of the Rings. Without Sam's strength of will and devotion to Frodo, the Fellowship's quest would not have succeeded. Frodo certainly would never have made it to Mount Doom alone.

Quoted from Tolkien's letter 93 -

“Sam is the most closely drawn character, the successor to Bilbo of the first book, the genuine hobbit”

Bilbo is undeniably the hero of The Hobbit. Therefore if Sam is his successor he is, in Tolkien's eyes, the true hero of The Lord of the Rings.