Concerning Tolkien (And Samwise Gamgee)
Another reason why I love Tolkien - he himself stated that Sam is the hero of LOTR.Watching the movies, you see how important Sam is to the story. I remember coming out of the first one, with one of my first statements (if not the first) being, 'I love Sam.' But in the books it's far more obvious. The focus gradually shifts from Frodo to Sam, with the last line being spoken by Sam. I make no pretenses of being a literary critic, but I've read enough to realize that the first and last lines not only set the tone for the book, but also make the most impact. LOTR begins with Bilbo and ends with Sam, about whom Tolkien said, 'Sam is the most closely drawn hobbit, the successor to Bilbo in the first book, the genuine hobbit. Frodo is not so interesting...'
In the British army in WW I, officers had 'batmen,' servants who looked after the officers' kits and cared for them; men who were always putting the officer first, yet clearly indispensible to the officer. Tolkien stated: ' My "Sam Gamgee" is indeed a reflexion of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognized as far superior to myself. '
Tolkien also said, 'I think the simple "rustic" love of Sam and his Rosie (nowhere elaborated) is absolutely essential to the study of his (the chief hero's) character, and to the the
me of the relation of ordinary life (breathing, eating, working, begetting) and quests, sacrifice, causes,... and sheer beauty."
me of the relation of ordinary life (breathing, eating, working, begetting) and quests, sacrifice, causes,... and sheer beauty."Tolkien didn't show him as being perfect, though. Just before they enter Shelob's Lair, there's a moment when Gollum seems about to repent. But then Sam speaks harshly to him (as he often does), and those few words are enough to turn Gollum completely away from 'the good side.' Tolkien said it was an example of how the good can be a stumbling block to the wicked.
But through it all, I love Sam. I'm sure at some point I'll write a whole long post on why I love him, but for now, suffice it to say that Frodo couldn't have destroyed the Ring without Sam. And while Frodo got all the attention and praise, Frodo actually fell to the power of the Ring at the end - Sam never did, even when it was in his possession. Without Sam, Frodo would have given up, given in sooner, been killed by Gollum, or who knows what else. It was Sam's loyalty, hope, courage, and perseverance that got Frodo through it all, and thus saved Middle Earth. He is the real hero. I'm glad Tolkien showed it so clearly.
posted by melilotnfosco | 5:34 PM
4 Comments:
sam's love for rosie gives them a reason to return after destroying the ring. had sam not been there, frodo could have perished along with the ring. but sam had to go back. his purpose was not yet fulfilled.
does that make sense?
and i love sam, too, and i love that as tolkien wrote the book, he found it was more and more about sam, because sam was more interesting than frodo.
it's funny how a great character just kind of creates themselves and the author is just along for the ride.
actually whenever anyone asked tolkien about anything in middle earth that he hadn't already figured out, he would tell them he would find out for them, like he was digging up history, rather than just make something up. so yeah, what you girls said - tolkien 'found' it was more about sam, and sam 'created himself.'
and yes, didder, you made sense about rosie.
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