Sam Gamgee never became corrupted by Sauron’s One Ring, despite much stronger Lord of the Rings characters falling to its influence. This says a great deal about Sam’s character since he clearly possessed a certain quality that kept the Ring from gaining control over him. While this is true of most Hobbits, to some extent, the gentle gardener was uniquely equipped for his job to support Frodo Baggins’ in his perilous journey. He might have been even more resistant to the Ring than Frodo himself, hinting that he might have been a great Ring-bearer.
While on his journey in The Lord of the Rings, Frodo quickly learned how dangerous the One Ring could be. Though Boromir never carried the thing itself, he was still corrupted by it and uncharacteristically attacked Frodo to get his hands on Sauron’s dark weapon. From then on, Frodo trusted no one and decided that the only thing he could do was depart from the Fellowship to ensure that no one else fell prey to its influence by proximity. Of course, Sam wouldn’t take no for an answer, and he came along anyway. Thankfully, he was never even tempted to take the Ring for himself.
Related
How To Watch The Lord Of The Rings Movies In Order (Chronologically & By Release Date)
The Hobbit explores a time period before the Lord of the Rings, meaning Peter Jackson’s movies can be watched in more than one viewing order.
Sam’s Pure Heart Meant The Ring Could Not Corrupt Him
Sam Was Likely Even More Resistant To The One Ring Than Frodo
Sam was only Frodo’s gardener at the beginning of The Lord of the Rings, and he was swept up into the Fellowship of the Ring by complete chance. He had happened to overhear Gandalf and Frodo’s conspiring, leaving the wizard with no choice but to send Sam along so as not to leave any loose ends in the Shire. Of course, Gandalf understood the work of fate and destiny better than most, and he quickly realized that Sam’s overhearing was by greater design. Sam was the perfect Hobbit for the job since his purity of heart left no footholds for the Ring to latch onto.
Sauron’s One Ring uses a being’s ambition to corrupt them. Even someone with good intentions, like Gandalf and his goal of helping the beings of Middle-earth, would be corrupted by the Ring if they attempted to use it for this purpose. However, as a simple gardener whose primary dream was to see Elves and support his friends, Sam didn’t provide the Ring with much to use against him. He was pure of heart—wholly innocent, which meant he was among the few in Middle-earth who could have gone all the way to Mordor with Frodo.
Hobbits Are Naturally Less Inclined To Be Tempted By The One Ring
Hobbits Were Key To The Rings Destruction All Along
Sam’s lack of traditional ambition was unique to his character, but he was predisposed to such traits as a Hobbit. Though halflings are believed to have evolved from Men, they lack the desire for power that the big folk commonly possess. They are described as simple folk who delight in the earth and all things that grow. Food, drink, pipeweed, and peace are the things they most aspire to, and they know that a little hard work and cooperation are all they need to achieve it. It’s for precisely this reason that Gandalf became so fascinated with Hobbits.
The Appendices of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King reveal that Gandalf first discovered the Hobbits during the Long Winter, centuries before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. It was then that he realized just how much the powers of Middle-earth overlooked these beings. Later, the wizard knew it was no coincidence that a Stoor like Smeagol had kept the Ring for so long or that a Hobbit like Bilbo had found it. Destiny had chosen Hobbits as Ring-bearers, and though Sam didn’t carry the Ring for long, he was destined to assist Frodo on his journey.
What Would’ve Happened If Sam Was The Fellowship’s Ring-bearer?
Frodo Might Not Have Been Able To Support Sam If The Tables Were Turned
Given Sam’s strength and purity of heart, there’s no question that he would have been able to carry the One Ring for the long journey to Mordor without being taken over entirely by it. However, if he had been the Ring-bearer, something would have been missing—he wouldn’t have had a Sam to support him. Frodo did a remarkable job carrying the Ring, but no being in Middle-earth could have made that journey alone. In the end, he needed a pure and hopeful friend by his side, or the One Ring wouldn’t have been destroyed.
While Frodo would have done his best to support Sam had their roles been reversed in The Lord of the Rings, there’s no guarantee that things would have gone the same way. Frodo and Sam were the perfect team, and the Ring-bearer needed Sam’s love and purity to pull him back after such a horrible experience. Sure, Frodo still had to leave for the Undying Lands to relieve his pain, but he wouldn’t have even made it that far if it wasn’t for Sam. Were the roles reversed, who knows how That Lord of the Rings would have ended.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
- Movie(s)
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The Lord of the Rings (1978)
, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
, The Lord of The Rings: The War of The Rohirrim - Created by
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J.R.R. Tolkien
- First Film
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The Lord of the Rings (1978)
- Cast
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Norman Bird
, Anthony Daniels
, Elijah Wood
, Ian McKellen
, Liv Tyler
, Viggo Mortensen
, Sean Astin
, Cate Blanchett
, John Rhys-Davies
, Billy Boyd
, Dominic Monaghan
, Orlando Bloom
, Christopher Lee
, Hugo Weaving
, Sean Bean
, Ian Holm
, Andy Serkis
, Brad Dourif
, Karl Urban
, Martin Freeman
, Richard Armitage
, James Nesbitt
, Ken Stott
, Benedict Cumberbatch
, Evangeline Lilly
, Lee Pace
, Luke Evans
, Morfydd Clark
, Mike Wood
, Ismael Cruz Cordova
, Charlie Vickers
, Markella Kavenagh
, Megan Richards
, Sara Zwangobani
, Daniel Weyman
, Cynthia Addai-Robinson
, Lenny Henry
, Brian Cox
, Shaun Dooley
, Miranda Otto
, Bilal Hasna
, Benjamin Wainwright
, Luke Pasqualino
, Christopher Guard
, William Squire
, Michael Scholes
, John Hurt - TV Show(s)
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
- Character(s)
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Frodo Baggins
, Gandalf
, Legolas
, Boromir
, Sauron
, Gollum
, Samwise Gamgee
, Pippin Took
, Celeborn
, Aragorn
, Galadriel
, Bilbo Baggins
, Saruman
, Aldor
, Wormtongue
, Thorin Oakenshield
, Balin Dwalin
, Bifur
, Bofur
, Bombur
, Fili
, Kili
, Oin
, Gloin
, Nori
, Dori
, Ori
, Tauriel
, King Thranduil
, Smaug
, Radagast
, Arondir
, Nori Brandyfoot
, Poppy Proudfellow
, Marigold Brandyfoot
, Queen Regent Míriel
, Sadoc Burrows - Video Game(s)
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The Lord of the Rings Online
, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
, The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum
, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
