So, I found myself thinking about Master Samwise Gamgee on my way to school the other day.
I have no idea why I was thinking about him.
But, I did have some very interesting thoughts while thinking about him.
Sam is a Hobbit of duty. He sees it as his duty to go with Frodo wherever he goes. Even Mordor. But, he doesn't do so begrudgingly. He's very happy to do so.
However, I don't really think Sam is aware of the exact scale of Frodo's quest until he looks into the Mirror of Galadriel.
Up until then, Sam goes on the quest as Frodo's companion, his buddy, someone to talk to when the journey gets boring, someone to keep Frodo from forgetting anything or put on the Ring. He's aware that the Frodo must leave the Shire to destroy the Ring to save the world. But, the world is so overwhelmingly big to Sam, and maps convey nothing to his mind. At the beginning of the quest, he's on the quest for Frodo's company and protection. "Here we go, off to save the world."
But, somehow, I don't think the quest actually meant more to him than that up until the Mirror of Galadriel episode.
In the Mirror of Galadriel, Sam is shown a vision of The Shire being burned and overrun by orcs.
The Shire. Untouched by time or war or upheaval. Destroyed.
This is no longer some very large quest for a very large world. I think in that moment, in seeing that vision, the quest suddenly became personal to Sam.
Sam has family back in the Shire. He's got friends. He's got a mega-crush on a pretty Hobbit named Rosie. Up until then, he assumed that if the Ring was returned to Sauron, the world would end, but the Shire would go on as usual.
Upon seeing the vision of the Shire being destroyed, I think Sam finally becomes aware that even the Shire can be destroyed. That the fate of the Shire, his family, friends, and especially Rosie is also tied up with the fate of the Ring.
If Frodo fails, not just Rohan, Gondor, and the other places like that will be taken over and all their people enslaved or killed. The Shire will fall too. The Hobbits will be enslaved too. These are Sam's family and friends we're talking about now. Suddenly, Sam becomes aware of exactly how imperative it is for Frodo to succeed on the quest to destroy the Ring.
And now, Sam isn't just on willing to follow Frodo to Mount Doom out of duty and friendship. He's willing to do so in the hopes of saving his loved ones from impending doom.
This is Sam's growing up moment. Technically, he's only 36. He's spent his life hanging with Hobbits his age, learning to read from Bilbo, and gardening with his father (and in his father's stead when his father gets too old to do so anymore). Sam's had a rather sheltered life. He's heard of Mordor, of course, but Mordor is so far away that it doesn't really bother him.
Now, he realizes that everything he's every known or cared about is just as dependent on the destruction of the Ring as everyone else in Middle Earth. And, he is more than willing to go with Frodo, to encourage him, to keep him company, and to make sure he gets that Ring in the fire.
I don't think Sam's being particularly selfish by insisting on going with Frodo to Mordor. He definitely cares about his dad and Rosie, and everyone else in the Shire. But, he could just say, "Okay, you're going to Mordor, I'm going home. Good luck!"
He could have said, "You know what, Mordor is too dangerous. If I go there, I'll never see my Dad or Rosie again. So, so long, Frodo!"
But, he doesn't.
He knows his purpose. He's there to help the Ring Bearer (Frodo) in fulfilling his quest. Even when Frodo tries to sneak off on his own, Sam insists on going with him (nearly drowning himself in an attempt to follow Frodo's boat). Not because he's hoping to get anything out of it. But, because;
1. he's willing to go off on a deadly quest, from which he may never return, if he knows that Rosie and his Dad might be spared enslavement and death, even if Sam himself never makes it home, and
2. he really does care about Frodo. After all, Frodo is one of his friends, although he is also Sam's employer. If Frodo goes off on his own, it's ten to one whether or not the Ring will actually get destroyed or will be retaken by the enemy. If Sam goes with him, Frodo's got a fighting chance.
Those were the thoughts going through my mind that morning on my way to school.
