January 24, 2004

The Choices of Master Samwise
dwian

Sam with his simple practical nature, cheerful optimism and loyalty was the perfect companion for Frodo. Perfect except for one thing; he did not understand the corrupting effect of the Ring. So he couldnt comprehend Frodos pain and fear at the knowledge that what happened to gollum could happen to him. Neither could he understand Frodos kindness and sympathy towards gollum. I think Sam was jealous of gollum(they both called him "Master"). Whatever the case, Sams dislike of gollum was obvious and, contrary to the film version, it was Sam's not Frodos behaviour that led gollum to betray them.

Sam suffered greatly for this mistake when he returned to find his beloved master apparently dead. I must say I love this scene in the film, it had me in tears. 'dont go where i cant follow' etc. However the Sam who returns to Frodo is a wiser hobbit. Even though he wore the Ring for only a short time, it was long enough for him to realise its great and terrible power. This new understanding led Sam to spare gollums life when he would have been totally justified in killing him. Sams pity enabled gollum to do what no-one else could do.