Is Samwise Gamgee The Real Hero of The Lord of the Rings?

Is Samwise Gamgee The Real Hero of The Lord of the Rings? | Middle-Earth Lore

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2 жыл бұрын

Today we come to you with a bonus video for Tolkien Reading Days subject of 'Love and Friendship' - Is Samwise Gamgee the True Hero of The Lord of the Rings?
We have joined together with several other Tolkien related KZfaq channels to collaborate on a playlist, so please check it out here:
• Tolkien Reading Day 2022
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#LordoftheRingsLore #IsSamTheTrueHero #SamwiseGamgee

Пікірлер: 307

@TheBrokenSword 2 жыл бұрын

Don’t forget to check out the other videos on the Tolkien Reading Day playlist!! (Hosted by Timbo Took) - kzfaq.info/sun/PL5YrvTuA6inSlv1WMd5uvu7d7Zh1FWIqu

@LowellLucasJr. 2 жыл бұрын

Sam is an oddity. He was afraid of being turned into anything unnatural yet will treat others badly if he feels their beneath him. I refer to Gollum from this, as Frodo even called him out for it, with Sam relying " He's got nothing left." This wasn't a trait from him I particularly liked( as it did caused Gollum to turn on them forever) but I do appreciate he did reflect on his actions; and later, would overcome greats odds to be a great friend. So again, Sam is an oddity...but he's one HELL of a great friend!

@DieGlobalists 2 жыл бұрын

Thx for the dozen Tolkien channels. The true hero is the head of the Eagles, they kicked ass.

@LowellLucasJr. 2 жыл бұрын

@@DieGlobalists they truly do!

@19mindmechanic55 10 ай бұрын

@@LowellLucasJr. "...it did caused (sic) Gollum to turn on them forever"??? To blame Sam and his attitude for Gollum's perhaps inevitable change back to being driven to recapture the ring above all else makes little sense. Was it more than Frodo "betraying" Gollum at the forbidden pool at Henneth Annun by drawing him up to be captured by Faramir's men? When Sam pretended sleep and heard Gollum arguing with himself, noting his evil plans, that was not due to Sam's attitude. Sam may not have had Frodo's pity for Gollum, but in addition to his talks with Gandalf, Frodo also felt a shared identity with Smeagol as a ring-bearer. And in fact Sam did have times when he felt genuine pity for Gollum. Finally, in concrete or pure linear fashion, Sam's logic was more correct - Smeagol/Gollum was ultimately not to be trusted. Sam was not the cause of Gollum's attitudes or actions.

@normanberg9940 22 күн бұрын

Sam is a simple gardener. Christ was a simple carpenter. Both are honest hard working men. Both are the only ones to resist temptation. Both encourage others that are faltering. Both carry those that are broken. Both face doom with determination. It's not hard to see why Tolkien saw Sam as the true hero of the tale. Clearly, being Tolkien, he planned it that way.

@NotMyRealName6 2 жыл бұрын

Frodo and Sam are a perfect example of how you can have two characters who are completely devoted to one another, _without_ them having any blood relation or romantic interest in one another.

@futuresonex 2 жыл бұрын

Well said.

@hrmpug1092 2 жыл бұрын

Nowadays if they remade the films they probably would be gay…

@venmarobinson2424 Жыл бұрын

Couldn’t help but clap at this masterpiece, had to rewatch this movie series with awe and praise at how Tolkien created such a beautiful craft ahead of its time.

@jek__ Жыл бұрын

I mean they do have some blood relation, relative to the rest of the fellowship. Theyre both hobbits. A race is just a bigger version of a family

@papabird4425 8 ай бұрын

They were fkng

@artsohc 2 жыл бұрын

“There and back again.” Sam at the end of LOTR: “well, I’m back.”

@NerdoftheRings 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Reading Day, guys!! Sam is such an MVP of Middle-earth. Great topic choice!

@TheBrokenSword 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Reading Day! Thank you! Appreciate you stopping by 😁

@voiceofdistortedreason5998 2 жыл бұрын

Personally, Sam is my favorite character. He was so unwaveringly loyal. He was crapped on so many times and he never gave up, never lost hope and was never corrupted. Frodo would have never made it without Sam and that's a fact. Friends like Sam are so rare and should be treasured.

@Elchupanibres 4 ай бұрын

True, but also Sam saw what he could be missing out on, IF he gave up on the quest, so he kept going, cuz he wanted what he got in the end, and only way to achieve this was by helping frodo, in the end it wasnt Sam OR Frodo that destroyed the ring, it was Gollum, but there in lies the truth why Gandalfs comment about death, and its too know when too spare a life, that can be just as important to take a life, wich is very apparent in the scene with faramir, when frodo could just as easly have gollum killed, wich would have lead too frodo getting away with the ring, and it not been destroyed,

@netronet1383 2 жыл бұрын

I see Frodo and Sam as equally heroic. Frodo carries the ring but Sam is carrying both Frodo and the Ring psychologically and on occasion, physically. When Frodo is lost, Sam carries on the mission as if it was his own. He is not merely a sidekick to the hero.

@TheBrokenSword 2 жыл бұрын

Well said 👏

@muddywaters1472 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenSword thank you so much for this...... Taking nothing away from Frodo...... but Sam was the true hero of this story...... Ultimate Wing Man!!!!!👍👍👍

@RyanKeane9 Жыл бұрын

I’m sorry to disagree but Frodo wanted to keep the ring. In fact, as far as I know, Sam is the only creature to give the ring freely in the whole saga.

@camwyn256 9 ай бұрын

But both Frodo and Sam failed at the end. It was Gollum that ultimately destroyed the One Ring

@Nat1videos 2 жыл бұрын

Sam is the friend that everyone needs but few attempt to be. He's a personification of goodness

@anonymous-uq7cs 6 ай бұрын

Which is totally unrealistic because such people don't exist in reality. I mean Sam is slavishly devoted, to the point where it becomes almost creepy sometimes, to Frodo without having any sort of self-awareness or questioning anything Frodo says. Sure, Sam is a good person, but he is so in an unrealistic way...

@nathanthaxton7492 2 жыл бұрын

There's a reason why Sam is my favorite literary character of all time. He's the perfect example of what a true friend should be.

@MenoftheWest 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Reading Day brothers! Through sheer love and friendship, Sam can certainly be considered the real hero in my opinion. "Frodo wouldn't have gotten far without Sam...". Cheers guys!

@TheBrokenSword 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Reading Day! Nice to see the OG himself stopping by 😂😂

@kaynesylvar8277 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien reading day! In my opinion, Frodo is the hero, as he exhibited the greatest virtue of all, self-sacrifice in defense of the good. He was willing to answer the call, when no one else would.

@darthsilversith667 2 жыл бұрын

@@kaynesylvar8277 There were plenty that were willing to do it. The council, in fact, fought over who would get that honor. However, Frodo did indeed end up taking it.. he would’ve failed a 1,000 times over were it not for Sam.. Sam even gets Frodo all the way to the end, never giving up on Frodo despite Frodo betraying him over Golem a couple times.. and Frodo would’ve betrayed him for the ring right at the end if it weren’t for Golem showing up to try and steal it and then Sam stepping up again to save the day again. Sam was without a doubt the unsung hero of LOTR.

@futuresonex 2 жыл бұрын

I disagree. Sam wasn't THE real hero, but he was certainly one of the real heroes. The argument that Sam and not Frodo was the real hero is wrong. They were both the real heroes of the story. Sam couldn't have played his part without Frodo, and Frodo couldn't have succeeded in his without Sam. Sam wouldn't have done any better against the power of the ring than Frodo did, and he likely wouldn't have done as well. The reason Sam managed to stay so strong throughout the mission was due to his great love and loyalty to his Master. That's the one thing the power of The One Ring couldn't overcome, but take that away and Sam would've done no better than Frodo and probably worse. His role was to support Frodo, and he played that role perfectly.

@rickythe2nd63 2 жыл бұрын

It was watching a previous video of yours that I became persuaded the same about Sam. What incredibly inspiring stories to draw from, and expert expounding upon them by you and this community!

@marcusfridh8489 2 жыл бұрын

the only hesitation he had of giving up the one ring was of concern of frodo and not of his own desire. sam is the friend everybody wishes they would have, and everyone should aspire to become.

@TolkienLorePodcast 2 жыл бұрын

Not only the pity of Bilbo, but also the loyalty and friendship of Samwise Gamgee ruled the fate of many! Happy Tolkien Reading Day!

@sadiyarabia2496 2 жыл бұрын

“I have something to do before the end and it lies ahead, not in the Shire. I must see it through …” Beautiful quote.

@XxiheartsupermanXx 2 жыл бұрын

Sam is truly heroic! However, he is a bit overhyped in the sense that some fans undervalue or even hate Frodo because they end up seeing Frodo's actions as pointless just because he needed Sam's help. Frodo is a true hero too. He sacrificed so much and didn't even get a happy ending like Sam did.

@theenderdestruction2362 Жыл бұрын

@ZengroW Tom wasn't :)

@lonnieeastin6401 11 ай бұрын

"happy ending"??? Well, there are only so many Rosie Cottons in the Shire. And I think Samwise was well rewarded. I do wish Frodo had had a better ending. But I think Frodo is probably happy in Valinor. His wounds have probably healed.

@19mindmechanic55 10 ай бұрын

I would not say that Frodo didn't get a happy ending - it was not an ending like Sam's, but it was more appropriate to Frodo's character. Sam's heart belonged to Rosie from the beginning, throughout the entire story, eventually starting and raising a family with her that become one of the most important families in the Hobbit world. Sam also single-handedly (with a little help from Galadriel) brought back the vegetation in the Shire after Sauruman nearly destroyed it, and became perpetual Mayor of the Shire, until he chose to retire (in his 90s) because he could not continue. Frodo, on the other hand, had no apparent love interest. He was different from nearly all the other Hobbits, and to sail off with Gandalf, Galadriel (!), Elrond, and the others on their way to the land of eternal life, where his wounds would indeed have (finally) been healed, and very possibly like Gimli, Frodo may have been granted permission to live there. He had lost the Shire, but he gained a residence no less impressive(!). And, of course, it was rumored by some that Sam, too, as one of the ring-bearers, was allowed to sail into the West, and rejoin his beloved Frodo and live amongst the Elves, in which case Sam got Frodo's happy ending.

@bradleybourgeois4710 10 ай бұрын

Frodo and Sam are both the heroes of Middle-Earth, but in different ways. Frodo is the matyric chosen one who was given the task to carry the ring and took it even greater than his original task, but was sadly broken from his journey and needed to leave Middle-Earth to find peace. However, Samwise is the unchosen hero of Middle-Earth. He merely stumbled upon Frodo's plans and joined in the journey. Yet, had he not joined Frodo would have never of made it to Mt. Doom. They are both vital to the salvation of the land, just in different ways, just like Gandalf and Aragorn.

@lonnieeastin6401 10 ай бұрын

@@bradleybourgeois4710 "unchosen hero" Isn't the reluctant hero considered to be better than the chosen one? I think they're both heroes. That's why it had to be hobbits to carry the ring. They don't desire or want power. I guess, let's call it a tie.

@John-dp3lo 2 жыл бұрын

I think he was equally as important as Frodo. Neither one could have done it alone.

@krakentacos 2 жыл бұрын

I see Samwise similar to Sancho Panza (Don Quixote) It's their common sense and humble wholesome determination that saves the main characters.

@Darrow1991 2 жыл бұрын

I am rereading the books for the umpteenth time, and I just noticed that Sam’s heroism was on display right from the beginning. When going to the bucklebury ferry with farmer Maggot, they thought at first that Merry was a Nazgûl. It was Sam that ordered Frodo to hide and it was Sam that was willing to, and actually did confront what he thought was a Nazgûl. Epic!

@crestfallenknight6599 2 жыл бұрын

To me it's a parallel of the idealised working class hero, who is central to the noble higher status protagonist's success but at the same time wouldn't even had embarked in the journey if not for the latter. I see in Sam and Frodo the intricate bond of partnership,elan, the camaraderie between the lower class private and the nc officer of the British army in ww1. Having read first hand accounts of the battles of Some and Ypres, the last journey to the mountain of doom is spectacularly similar to the experience of the fighting men. Ever since I learned that our esteemed professor was a veteran himself, I have read parts of his work under this light.(don't take my word as a solid thesis, it is just my viewpoint)

@Aurora-qn2dx 2 жыл бұрын

Well said. I acually think the whole main plot is based on his experiences with the war..i see it like one big metaphore..the ring symbolising burdens and the evil of this world..Frodo symbolising duty..how life doesnt go your way..and and courage.. what most young soldiers felt. Sam and Frodo partnership and at war together.

@martinkunz7155 2 жыл бұрын

Sam was always special to me. Easily my favorite hobbit and right up there among my favorite lotr characters. He's not particularly smart or skillful, but he's the most loyal and also one of the bravest characters in the story. And one of the very few people in the whole lotr universe to willingly give up the one ring.

@kylelewis7053 2 жыл бұрын

Everyone had a major role to play even pipin. If it weren’t for his foolishness when he took the palantir a diversion would not have been possible as Sauron thought they had the ring. Mary saved eowyn let’s not even start with legolas gimli and aragorn etc throwing themselves into the face of evil countless times but Sam….. Sam in my opinion was undoubtedly the true hero of this story.

@Elendil513 2 жыл бұрын

And without pippin the balrog still occupies khazadum and gandalf the white never happens

@radrose4864 2 жыл бұрын

Reading Tolkien for the first time. Finished the The Hobbit today and immediately started in on fellowship. I don’t know what possessed me to wait this long! I think I worried Tolkien’s writing would be stuffy and plodding, but it’s not at all!

@martinkunz7155 2 жыл бұрын

Enjoy it! There's only one first time reading and it's something special. You can still discover some new stuff when you re-read it later, but it's not the same almost magic experience you have the first time around.

@radrose4864 2 жыл бұрын

@@martinkunz7155 I am already 150 pages in and loving every sentence. book Sam owns my heart in ways movie Sam never did, As wonderful as he is. Every time sam says or does something loyal & wholesome my heart explodes. And the elves are so interesting. Much more feral and alien than they seemed in the movies. Simultaneously playful lighthearted and mischievous & sad. There’s a real sense of mourning in them, like they all feel the sunset of their race. Mythic.

@evenstar1608 2 жыл бұрын

If you love it. Then you should read the Simarillion too. It's the beginning of everything. You could understand what happened to the LotR before.

@thychozwart2451 11 ай бұрын

Sam.just has such a presence over me, anything he says is either going to make me tear up, laugh out loud, feel happy about life, or just straight up makes me sob

@MADSAHAD 2 жыл бұрын

We all how grew up reading the the books know that Sam is the true heroic force. Without him, Frodo would have never made it, in fact, an argument can be made on if Middle Earth would have been able to withstand and win against the Dark Lord at all. Sam is a prime example showing us all that the little things matter and add up. A person can be seemingly powerless but in truth is a bastion of power that changes the world. All hail Sam Wise the Brave Sam Wise the Strong, the true Hero of the Ring!

@archibaldfencepost7696 2 жыл бұрын

TRU

@TheBrokenSword 2 жыл бұрын

👏👏👏

@kaynesylvar8277 2 жыл бұрын

I disagree, as a book reader. Frodo was the one who chose to take up the burden, and carried it for the whole year of the quest (discounting the time before the journey). Sam would never have left the shire if it weren’t for Frodo… Frodo never even got to have a happy ending, with his soul battered and mind riven by trauma. Can we not at least give him the glory?

@MADSAHAD 2 жыл бұрын

@@kaynesylvar8277 True, but remember, even Frodo faulted when it came to throw the ring into the fire, that hesitation cost him his finger but it also was another time Frodo realized he was giving in to the power of the Ring. Where as Sam, yes he was tempted but only wanted a simple life and was immune to the powers of the Ring. Physically Frodo needed Sam to carry him and watch over him and even at times rescue him from himself. If Frodo had gone by himself, the Ring would have never been destroyed, my opinion.

@kaynesylvar8277 2 жыл бұрын

@@MADSAHAD That’s why in my opinion the premise of ranking best hero is flawed. Since we are ranking I rank Frodo highest, due to his courage and self sacrifice, but each member of the fellowship was critical to its success and deserves an equal share in the glory. Even Merry and Pippen, who receive less screen time, or Boromir, who is best known for his spectacular failing and equally spectacular redemption.

@annaroselarsen4218 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien reading day ! Sam is definitely the hero!

@Fnelrbnef 2 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't say so. I'd say he's also the hero of Lord Of The Rings. Frodo carried it, he took the burden upon himself. He fought it's power. He's a true hero for that. Fortunately he had the best friend one can have in Sam. And he'd fail without him. Both are heroes.

@grantconnell760 Жыл бұрын

I recall from another channel ‘In Deep Geek’ that Bombadil was seemingly completely unaffected by the ring (he didn’t even disappear when he wore it) so Sam was not only one of two to give it up of his own free will

@cozzy4447 2 жыл бұрын

Yes without question Samwise the brave is the true underappreciated hero of LOTR without Sam being basically frodo,s support and guide he would of never made it anywhere near Mordor and he certainly wouldn't of destroyed the ring he would of been corrupted or killed.

@karenhall4645 2 жыл бұрын

Sam is absolutely my favorite character in LOTR. Even though Frodo ultimately failed, the fact that he even made it to Mt. Doom is due to Sam's loyalty and courage. More videos seem to be made on Sam's role in the story than anyone else.

@FellowshipofFans 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video lads and always enjoy doing these collaborations!

@TheBrokenSword 2 жыл бұрын

We need to do more 😁

@rangerofthenorth1970 2 жыл бұрын

Samwise is the most selfless character, but, at least in my opinnion, Frodo is the ONE who said "I will take the Ring to Mordor", Sam really showed his quallity through out all of trilogy but I think that Frodo is far underatted, I mean Frodo literally gave his life for the ring, he was never same again after all the horrors that he saw! Sam is a fantastic form of hero, but Frodo is far too much underratted! And I would also like to mentioned that Aragorn is just Aragorn, a true hero who led his armies at the black gate, I mean they werent even sure that Frodo was alive, all they had was faith and they went to challenge Mordor! Once again I really love Sam, but I think that sometimes he is overrated... James, another great video, happy Tolkiens reading day to all of Middleearth!!!!!

@koldfyre4505 2 жыл бұрын

Shite!!!

@darthsilversith667 2 жыл бұрын

I disagree. You call Frodo the real hero and discard Sam as being overrated. Frodo did indeed say that he would take the ring.. but so did everyone else at that council pretty much.. they were literally arguing over who would get to take it. For whatever reason, they let Frodo take it. However, if it weren’t for Sam saving Frodo a hundred times, Frodo and the mission would’ve failed. Frodo even betrays Sam not once, but at least twice! First when Frodo picks Golem over Sam and then at the very end when Frodo refuses to destroy the ring after everything they and Sam had done to get them to that point. If it wasn’t for Golem and Sam at the end, Frodo would’ve betrayed them all. Frodo is still a hero in his own way but he doesn’t really compare to Sam. Sam was never unwavering in his dedication to Frodo and the mission while Frodo let himself be turned from Sam by Golem. Sam is the true hero of LOTR.

@Deano_ 2 жыл бұрын

Loving the recent videos lads! Really like the question format

@desy1871 2 жыл бұрын

man.. that sam's speech never fail me to cry😢😢😢

@JEBossTon92 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Reading Day! Thank you for another great video and cheers for taking the initiative to include the fundraiser link! Just donated what little I can afford to, but something is better than nothing! For Gondor! 🙌🏼

@Wooderz245 Жыл бұрын

I love the imagery in the films that even Bilbo never gave up the ring. He could only turn his hand over and have it fall from his grasp rather than consciously handing it over, and then is immediately corrupted upon seeing it again and even asks about it again at the very end. Sam really was the only one who ever handled the ring who never allowed himself to be corrupted by the power it offered. He knows who he is and what he wants out of life, a decent life with a wife and a family, and that isn't anything the ring can offer him.

@minissa2009 2 жыл бұрын

I just finished my 30-somethingth (I lost count somewhere in the mid-20s) read-through of the books, and it took me till around my 20th readthrough to realize Sam was the real hero. He's overshadowed by the characters you've mentioned---a king, a Maia in disguise, the actual Ring-bearer---and at times seems like he's only there for comic relief, or to be a counterpoint to Gollum in their relationship to Frodo. (In fact, I've wondered if a good topic might be, would it have changed the story if Sam had been nicer to Gollum?). Real world heroes tend to be those who put themselves forward (like politicians) or who do very public things (like movie stars and rock stars). The quietly selfless usually get overlooked, although a fairy tale trope is certainly that beings like fairy godmothers and virtuous gods reward the humble good. But aside from Frodo falling to the lure of the Ring at the last moment, he never would have made it to the Cracks of Doom without Sam. Gollum would have overcome Frodo in the Emyn Muil, Faramir would not have understood enough to help them, Shelob would have eaten him, the orce might have killed him out of hand, the Ring would have been taken, Frodo would likely have died of dehydration (Sam's the one who finds them water all through Mordor, and of course, Sam physically carries Frodo up Mt. Doom and then keeps Gollum at bay till the last second while Frodo climbs to the Sammath Naur. The lure of the Ring and the exertion and everything Frodo endures after he's stung by Shelob have left him so he barely has the energy to move, let alone think about food and water and how to ration it and where to look for more, let alone plot their course for Mt. Doom. Will anyone ever know? Probably not. I think that's part of the point. Nice piece, and I loved the range of art work. Just---will people quit portraying Frodo as a teenager? He's 50 in the books when he leaves the Shire!

@thebrotherskrynn 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Day! Love the focus on the Hobbits and upon Sam, Merry, Pippin & Frodo! This was such a great video!

@bronze4871 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome clip man!

@jeremybrimmer1990 2 жыл бұрын

This was great. Thanks!

@uncletomalex 2 жыл бұрын

I like keeping Frodo as the hero because of his failure and his humanity. He tried, he did his best, and no one could have done better, that's the moral of the story. Sam is also better as an helper and not a central figure. At the end of the day, the whole fellowship is heroic with their own kind of heroism.

@TrainsFilmedByRussellBynum 2 жыл бұрын

I’m nearly done with The Two Towers reading by Andy Serkis. OMG you have to give his reading a whirl; his Gollum voice with the book character is worth it alone; and he does an outstanding job throughout. I will forever have a special place in my heart for the Rob Inglis readings; but it is worth adding Andy’s readings to your audiobook collection also.

@TapCat 2 жыл бұрын

I just finished the trilogy. Hearing Andy read this has been my introduction to audiobooks, literally never listened to one before. WOW! He did such an amazing job that I'm afraid to try any other audiobooks now because he has spoiled me for life.

@TrainsFilmedByRussellBynum 2 жыл бұрын

@@TapCat Not all audiobooks are created equal, but there are many just as good and some even better (and yes, some worse). Often, there will be several audio versions of more popular and older books to chose from.

@flappyturtlesnatch Жыл бұрын

Definitely late to this but as good as Serkis and Inglis are, nothing touches Phil Dragash's reading of the trilogy. Truly a labor of love

@lordofthehouseofstormcrows8615 2 жыл бұрын

Well met! You guys always do a great job! It's funny because 1 of you makes 15-30 min videos, and the other'n always makes 8 min videos lol. Both are great. Ecthelion!!!

@etcharb6611 2 жыл бұрын

I believe he is the true hero of these books. Aside from all the points you raised (most relatable, showed the most growth, remained positive, literally carried the burden of the ring and bearer, defeats the monster) what always struck me is that Sam succeeded where Golum had previously failed. Envy had gotten the best of Golum, while Sam remained true to himself. There were many heros, but I believe that Sam was the greatest (not combat wise) of them all. He accompanied Frodo for a long time and seemed indifferent to the effects of the ring.

@jeffreykindred9569 Жыл бұрын

Sams quote still get me in tears He’s the Real MVP We need a Sam as a friend

@jacobv3396 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Reading Day! The arguments made have convinced me that Samwise is the real hero. Also, I happily donated to the fundraiser! It cheers me to see this channel and day do some good in this world.

@Cynfulbrew82 9 ай бұрын

I believe both Sam and Frodo are both heroes of the story. Frodo especially in the book carried the burden so far and Sam helped him to keep going.

@waynepurcell6058 2 жыл бұрын

It really burns me up when people call Frodo a failed hero (including Tolkien saying it). How can you fail at an impossible task? Tolkien HIMSELF stated that it's impossible to willingly harm the One Ring. No one in Middle Earth has enough willpower to do it. Tolkien himself also stated that NO ONE (that includes Sam) could have carried the ring as far as Frodo Baggins did. Again, how can one "fail" at an IMPOSSIBLE task? Sam IS the real hero of the story but referring to Frodo as a "failure" is quite a bit foolish IMO. Sam also didn't carry the ring for long and the the ring initially temped Sam with nothing but visions of grandeur and power. What made Sam a little reluctant to give the ring back to Frodo is because the ring subtly made him feel like he could protect Frodo from the burden of having to carry the thing. What if the ring had STARTED OFF with "oh your poor master Frodo, look at how much of a burden I am for him to carry, you could change all that and relieve your master from all this agony" INSTEAD of visions of grandeur and power. How well would Sam have held up to those thoughts constantly running through his mind and heart? It wasn't that Sam was impervious to the ring, it was more like the ring tempted Sam with the wrong things. When the thought "protect my master Frodo" went through his head, Sam momentarily wavered, and that thought just lasted just a few seconds. Imagine those thoughts working on his head for a couple of DAYS.

@emanueltorres894 2 жыл бұрын

I believe Sam would've given the Ring back either way, at the request of Frodo that is, it would have to be Frodo not the ring telling Sam to relieve him of the burden.

@evenstar1608 2 жыл бұрын

Perhaps, for Tolkien, Gollum also a hero bec he was the reason why the ring was destroyed. Perhaps it is the saving grace of Gollum, If Frodo is a failed hero. Interesting.

@florpodesta561 Жыл бұрын

i agree with you. He didnt fail. He carried to ring to Mount Doom to be destroyed.... and he didnt killl Gollum before so this allowed that he was at the end "saved" by Gollum. So in the end, it was Frodo's good heart that did the job.

@TheCylrin 9 ай бұрын

Yes I have always thought that...from single combat killing three orcs to defeating Shelob helping Frodo with mental and physical needs never mind he did everything with a heavy pack on his back as well as Frodo ROFL His timeless character leading from a serving roll is absolutely priceless

@WasabiSniffer 2 жыл бұрын

Samwise the brave, such a stouthearted and lovable character

@icehockeylover189 2 жыл бұрын

I believe Sam was the co-hero with Frodo. I see it very much like a marriage; where neither party is meant to be solely responsible for the success of the family. It is a joint effort, to raise each other up, especially when one falls but they face the challenge of life together, as one.

@laicarkaninmiliel7777 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Reading Day! 💚

@Shikamaru815 2 жыл бұрын

He's definitely the true hero, I've mostly always felt that. Definitely my favourite Hobbit. He has unweaving loyalty and bravery, he pushed through things that plenty skilled soldiers and warriors would have failed to do. Ending it on him was the most fitting character to end on for sure.

@MrGarwood420 2 жыл бұрын

If it wasn't for Frodo sam would kill Golem hence the ring would not be destroyed. The true hero is Gandalf he fought the toughest enemies brought the fellowship together and was the reason Frodo let Golem live. Nobody else could have done what he did. He accomplished the most tasks necessary for the ring to be destroyed.

@AlastairBrowne Жыл бұрын

They were all heroes in their own way. Each character had a vital part to play on fighting the enemy, and each came through. Some did it with great nobility, some by accident, all rose to the occasion.

@broznar1019 2 жыл бұрын

I identified with sam when reading the lord of the rings, noble and humble, he was my favorite

@mellonheads 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Day guys! Great video and I've always believed that Gollum called Sam one thing but Smeagol would have called him "Intelligent, perfectly-toned Hobbit!"

@emmapeel8163 2 жыл бұрын

thank you!

@LovebeesOrSakhet Жыл бұрын

I have raved on and on for years, at any of my friends that would stand still long enough to listen, about how Samwise is my favorite character in the entire saga because of his understated courage and bravery, and how he exemplifies what loyalty and REAL friendship truly look like. I've always maintained that the quest's goal would not have been fulfilled if it weren't for Sam. He is, literally, the person we ALL want to have in our lives! But I never considered that he was the TRUE HERO of the story! Brilliant! 💯 So imagine my giddy surprise when I stumble across a few videos, like this one, and have all of my internalized feelings and passions for this character 100% vindicated. Thank you Broken Sword. 💗😌🙏💓

@shuacliff_7029 2 жыл бұрын

I will never forget when I was 11 years old and reading the account of Sam and Shelob for the first time. It was the final part of The Two Towers book. I had the third book but I couldn't start it for at least a week. Thinking about this lowly gardener, servant from the shire facing down and shouting in elvin at this spawn of ungoliant giant spider, utterly blew me away. I was ecstatic for a week telling everyone I could about it. I even ended up performing that scene at my 7th grade talent show. Pretty sure no knew what to think as I shouted in a weird language.

@adventuresofavalon2477 2 жыл бұрын

Before watching: it's true

@elvellon30 Жыл бұрын

Morally I would say both of them are roughly the same, just inspire different things. They are hobbits who are fundamentally equal in dignity. yes - they have a class difference, which I think a lot of people kind of exaggerate saying that Sam was this lowly servant who upstaged Frodo and became the hero, but really he had quite a bit going on even before LOTR. Sam was taught the languages and such from Bilbo. And don't we see Frodo and Sam sort of fantasizing about the Elves and such in the beginning? I'd say during the Ring stuff, Sam inspires hope and courage while Frodo inspires wisdom and understanding. I think it also depends on what you're considering the true hero of Middle-earth vs lotr. If you're saying Middle-earth then maybe you'd get a bunch of different answers, including Sam, depending on the age and time period. In LOTR I would say that while there are many important and wonderful characters - and they all have heroic traits, in literary terms, it's Frodo because he's the main character and the protagonist, the story is fundamentally about him, he's the one who has grown and changed the most within LOTR to the point that Middle-earth wasn't for him anymore. Sam is a very important character tho, it seems within the context of LOTR he was mainly there for Frodo much like the rest of the fellowship, he was the chief among them. He is the deuteragonist. I know some may say that Sam is the main character because it "ends with him," and he does go to the Undying Lands as well, but from what I remember that story is kind of "relegated" to the appendices because it was probably too late (far into the Fourth Age) or Tolkien probably had plans to end it after the Third Age before another story with Sam as the main character.

@futuresonex 2 жыл бұрын

Sam is a major hero if the story. There's no doubt about that, but to say that Frodo is any less of a hero is, I think, rather unfair. It's a lot like when people say that Sam should've been the ring bearer and not Frodo. Sam is perfect in his role. His love and loyalty to his Mr. Frodo -- or his "Master" as he often calls him in the books -- overpowers everything else; exhaustion, fear, and even the lure of the ring, but had he been the one who had to carry that ring for months as its power & weight continually increased, as evil creatures were repeatedly drawn to him because of it, and as it preyed on his mind and ground down his body every minute of every day we would have likely seen a very different Samwise Gamgee than the one we got to know. Sam was one of the greatest heroes of the story, but that doesn't mean that Frodo was any less of a hero. Frodo volunteered to carry that ring into the very fires of Mordor even after having already experienced its power and knowing exactly what would happen to him if any of the monsters hunting him were to actually catch him again. He had already experienced that on his way to Rivendell when the Witchking stabbed him with a Morgul blade on Weathertop and he had to spend the next two and a half weeks in agony fighting the poison and the dark magic trying to turn him into a wraith, and yet he still volunteered to take it because he knew it was the right thing to do. Then through fear, exhaustion, starvation, dehydration, being stung by Shelob, being captured by orcs, and just being continually ground down over time by the power of the ring itself he still managed to fight the ring's power long enough to carry it into the very heart of Mordor, the one place in Middle Earth where the ring was the most powerful, and yet he still made it all the way into the Cracks of Doom, the one place it could be destroyed before it finally managed to overtake him. Maybe Sam could've done that and maybe not, but either way, it doesn't change the fact that Frodo accomplished the impossible, something that few if any others could've done. The fact that at the very end his mind was finally broken by the ring -- something that would've also happened to you, me, Samwise, Sauron himself, or literally anyone else who was in that position (assuming they were strong enough to make it that far to begin with) -- doesn't change that, nor does the fact that without Sam's help he wouldn't have made it. Frodo was not a failed hero. He did everything that could have been expected of him and more, and Sam was right where he needed to be.

@minissa2009 2 жыл бұрын

I had never heard anyone say Sam should have been the Ringbearer, interesting. But I agree. Frodo has his most heroic moments in Fellowship, when he volunteers to take the Ring, and when he runs off alone (or tries to) when they're at Parth Galen. He's still guiding them in his decisions to take Gollum with them, how to respond to their capture by Faramir. The depth of Sam's heroism comes to the fore after Frodo gets stung by Shelob. And he does it for other motivation than romantic attachment. In fact, that suggestion seems a little creepy since their relationship is of servant and master. Because Elijah Wood was 17 when they started filming, people often look at Sam and Frodo as being contemporaries, and they're not. Frodo is 50 to Sam's 32 IIRC. The Ring is extending Frodo's life, but its power increases once they cross into Mordor, and a 50yo Hobbit still won't have the resilience of a 50yo Dwarf or Elf. Nice reflection, and i'm glad to see someone else write a long, reflective comment!

@VoiceoftheRings 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Reading Day guys!

@whymihere86 2 жыл бұрын

I don't know why, but when you got to the end, I started crying in my car, thankfully I was parked. Maybe it's life, the world, I don't know but I just did. There's an argument for both Frodo and Sam being the true heroes for different reasons. Frodo CHOSE the burden of the ring, to go to Mordor and all the consequences and while he did fail, it doesn't negate what he achieved until then. Especially in the books where at the river with Glorfindel he was ready to face down the Nazgul and everything. He did grow and change, he resisted many temptations and dangers and I do feel had he not made the choice to go the worse case scenario would have happened. That being said there is an argument for Sam as well. Someone said Sam was a cornerstone which is very important as well. We always get told that it's one person who did everything, but I think without the Fellowship and Sam choosing his loyalty and friendship with Frodo to see things through to the end, proves that no one can do it all alone. It takes many people to accomplish great things not just an individual. Every member of the Fellowship offered something, but as i said, if Sam's friendship, love, and loyalty hadn't been there as a beacon for Frodo it would have ended in disaster. Not to mention everything else Sam did to save Frodo in Mordor up until the final moments. They balanced each other and guided each other and overcame nearly impossible odds. So I look at them as a set rather than one being more important than the other.

@thegreatestpepe 2 жыл бұрын

"But I can carry you" is all the proof you need.

@Huskytabby 2 жыл бұрын

What-if video idea for you to do: What if Gandalf never fell at the Bridge of Khazad-dum and continued with the fellowship to Lothlorien and on forward?

@Cynfulbrew82 9 ай бұрын

It was really a team effort.

@Jayjay-qe6um 2 жыл бұрын

The quest to destroy the Ring would have failed without Sam, who repeatedly saves Frodo from disaster (rescuing him at Cirith Ungol and carrying him up to Mount Doom).

@gandalftehdank6052 2 жыл бұрын

16:34 Indeed, I agree.

@Erigato2010 2 жыл бұрын

I love that you said that Sam is the best friend everyone wants to have but I think Sam is the friend we SHOULD BE :)

@WalecznyBrowar Жыл бұрын

I wrote an essey about Samwise Gamgee on my final exam in secondary scool, and even goot good score :D The theme wos "who do you think is a true hero" so i took Samwise Gamgee

@yasinyuce7659 2 жыл бұрын

Recognizing the great achievment of resisting the rings temptation, it is a far greater achievment from Gimli attempting to break the ring with his axe, although I know the scene solely exist in the movies.

@hypixal1512 2 жыл бұрын

His name states his traits He is wise

@spangelicious837 2 жыл бұрын

Technically, his name means Halfwise. Aragorn will eventually give him the name Panthael, which means Fullwise.

@MickeyJWind 2 жыл бұрын

but, Sam did bear it while in MORDOR itself. this is a more impressive achievement as the ring's power in Mordor would have been significantly more than outside of it where it influenced others so much. This make's Sam's accomplishment that more amazing.

@michaelkean5969 Жыл бұрын

Sam is the type of guy to carry his injured Squadmate back over no man's land to their trench all the while taking bullets themselves.

@kawekalee9737 2 жыл бұрын

I personally believe that Frodo himself validates Sams place in this quest. "For Frodo would'nt have gotten far without his Sam."...as far as declaring a true hero- I personally believe that all 4 of the Hobbits played equal parts in assuring the outcome as successful as it was.

@LuxuryLindsey 2 жыл бұрын

Hello & thank you for sharing your #briefbutspectacular take on Samwise the Brave as the true hero of the LOTR trilogy. Great convincing argument.

@gillianhynes7120 2 жыл бұрын

Sam was always my hero he is the one who gives you the hope that you could do it yourself

@jobowisheshewasnomo4171 Жыл бұрын

sammy was my favourite character of both the books and the movies, genuinely decent person who will struggle and stop at nothing to make sure frodo succeeds. S-Tier bromance.

@gmypooh4224 2 жыл бұрын

Do a video on merry and pippin like their key roles in the fellowship and other things like why was pippin so much of a fool and the consequences of his curiosities.

@angeliesy1021 2 жыл бұрын

From my humble perpective, Sam is the real hero of the entire story. The key to the success of the mission depended on the ring being destroyed. It was Sam that saw Frodo's struggles and he stood by Frodo to ensure Frodo carries his mission. Without Sam, Frodo would have died and the mission would have been a failure.

@oscurosignore8026 2 жыл бұрын

For me Sam doesn't overhelming Frodo and Frodo doesn't overhelming Sam, they are equal in the mission to destroys the ring.

@samanthacakebread8196 2 жыл бұрын

I always felt that the ring struggled to corrupt Sam because he truly is selfless, nothing he ever does is out of personal need, but out of love for his fellows (hobbits and others alike) so there was nothing the ring could latch onto. I never viewed him as a simpleton, because although simple his nature is (as stated in the vid), he sees far more than others and has a far from simple mind. Rather than Samwise the brave, I would call him Samwise the Steadfast as nothing ever sways him from the ultimate goal of destroying the ring, even as fellowship members fall around him or are lost, even when Frodo falls (albeit temporarily) as he truly sees what catastrophies could await them should they not complete the task. In a way it may be that Sam's very upbringing of a gardener gives him this viewpoint as he will know, more than others, how one sick plant can destroy a harvest and damn hundreds to starvation and how rot can spread if not watched form and destroyed early. Frodo, despite knowing how dangerous the ring is and knowing history never seems to quite grasp just how bad the potential outcomes are - perhaps this is part of the ring's influence, perhaps his youth, perhaps his nature, or a mix of all three. Sam, meanwhile, quietly observes, watches for the rot and is quick to adhere to Frodo's side to enable the fulfilment of the task. For me, Sam will always be the saviour of middle earth.

@aaron.debattista 9 ай бұрын

Frodo and Sam represent two different facets of heroism. Frodo is the ringbearer. He represents endurance. The unrelenting resolve to keep resolute in the face of adversity and overwhelming tribulation. He teaches us that strength is not the ability to shirk pain but the will to keep pushing in spite of failure, pain and heartbreak. Sam is the protector. He represents courage. Literally surrounded by people far more 'capable' than he is. He is not the ringbearer, not an undiscovered king, not a powerful wizard, not an elven prince or a dwarven warrior. Out of many in the fellowship, he is unburdened by expectation. Nobody expects Sam to do much. And yet, time and time again, he willingly puts himself into danger to protect Frodo. A duty that nobody asked him to take on. Something he volunteered to do. A hero does not question his involvement in dire times. A hero steps up, regardless, because it is the right thing to do.

@wheelchair_charlie 2 жыл бұрын

Yes! Samwise IS the unsung hero. I've always thought that myself.

@DorkLords 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Reading Day! I’m on team Samwise - not overhyped - a genuine hero!

@TheBrokenSword 2 жыл бұрын

💪 team Sam!

@alanmike6883 2 жыл бұрын

I thought so. Good nature and loyalty. I believe even Tolkien once thought that too

@angelic9889 Жыл бұрын

Frodo is a martyr type hero. His 1 real contribution was his willingness to sacrifice everything for the cause. Sam is the opposite. He would sacrifice himself if it came to it, of course, but his main objective was to fight for survival (Rosie's and the Shire's). They are 2 sides of the same coin really. I feel that Sam was the bit of hope and goodness that Frodo lost but desperately needed to hold onto to complete the mission.

@lucasclark1178 2 жыл бұрын

Sam is the ultimate underdog

@tracynickels164 Жыл бұрын

Sam is the good friend anyone would want! He helped Frodo destroy the ring!

@zachariaszut 2 жыл бұрын

In a sense Gollum is... when Frodo ultimately and catastrophically fails, it is he who takes the ring from him and plonks himself into the redeeming Fires of Orodruin... “He May Play a Part Yet that Neither He Nor Sauron Have Foreseen” Gandalf/Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring ...but yes, Samwise Gamgee is a giant in this narrative. But I would advise a bit of caution judging the flawed hero Frodo... one should not forget the length of Frodo's journey nor the burden he mostly alone carried and how that wore him. I lazily lay a quote here: “Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” Gandalf/Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring For some reason Tolkien named it "The Fellowship of the Ring". Every member of it played a crucial part in the quest to end the evil that the Ring enclosed. I think the real hero of "The Lord of the Rings" is every member of this fellowship. And in a rather convoluted, sad and miserable manner, Sméagol... EDIT: Do not ever forget: all real heroes are flawed.

@nicholasbarber3644 2 жыл бұрын

can you do a video on finwe the first king of the noldor

@RossHolt89 2 жыл бұрын

Happy Tolkien Day Brothers and Sisters The man was a legend and has a positive effect on my life So Skal to J R R Tolkien and to you all 🍻🍻🍻🍻 Yes Samwise Gamgee is the true hero of Lord of The Rings

@burnsyd17 2 жыл бұрын

Samwise would be my choice as "the" hero of the entire mythology IF I could only pick one. But the beauty of JRRT's writings is there are so many critical characters across the ages and the reader is never forced into having to feel that there "can be but one".

@hendrikm9569 2 жыл бұрын

Something else to keep in mind is that Bilbo gave up the ring in the Shire, and, long before Sauron even had any idea where the Shire was. Sam however gave up the ring in Mordor itself, which is a lot closer to mount doom aka. the ring at a lot more powerful.

@Keblash 8 ай бұрын

Now, being named Sam myself I fully agree that Sam Wise is certainly one of the biggest heroes in the story but I think too often when people are talking about how Sam, they unintentionally discredit the hardship Frodo endured in completing his task.

@kawekalee9737 2 жыл бұрын

Samwise, of course was/is a hero extraordinaire-he stepped up when he was called upon to do his part, just as Smeagol did his part by sacrificing himself to achieve the ultimate goal of the Council, to destroy the 1 Ring. I believe that Elrond's foresight saw Sam having to play a major part to achieving the council's goal. I also believe that Gandalf saw that Smeagol would play a part as well...For even Frodo explains this to Samwise while awaitin certain death, before Gwahir's far seein eyes seen them layin there

@tylerrobbins8311 2 жыл бұрын

Honestly I always thought he was, he was then good loyal friend that no matter the odds stuck it out with honor an courage.

@bradjjones77 2 жыл бұрын

Sam was, if not the true hero, the MVP of the story in my humble opinion. In my eyes he went from one of my least liked characters to my most favorite. Giving his all for a quest that wasn't even his, without any promise of riches or power. Simply for the fact that his friend needed him and he was going to see it to the end. Top 10 bromances of all fiction.