Frodo wasn’t the main hero in #lotr
Discussion
Boil em, smash em, stick em in a stew 😀
Also why Sam was rewarded with BTB and eternal riches and Frodo was shipped off to the afterlife. #lotr
The True Bearer of Hope: Reconsidering Samwise Gamgee as the Primary Hero of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
While Frodo Baggins is traditionally viewed as the protagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, a careful analysis of the narrative structure, character development, and thematic elements reveals that Samwise Gamgee functions as the trilogy's true hero. This paper argues that Sam's unwavering loyalty, moral fortitude, and decisive actions at critical junctures position him as the central heroic figure whose journey embodies the work's core themes of sacrifice, hope, and the triumph of ordinary goodness over extraordinary evil.
Through close textual analysis, this study demonstrates that Sam's character arc follows the classical hero's journey more completely than Frodo's, progressing from humble gardener to Ring-bearer to the eventual Mayor of the Shire. Unlike Frodo, who increasingly succumbs to the Ring's corruption and despair, Sam maintains his moral clarity and serves as the driving force behind the mission's success. Key evidence includes Sam's rescue of Frodo from Shelob's lair, his temporary assumption of the Ring-bearer role, and his crucial intervention during the final moments at Mount Doom.
Furthermore, this analysis examines how Sam's working-class background and practical wisdom represent Tolkien's idealization of English pastoral values, making him a more relatable and inspiring figure than the aristocratic Frodo. The paper concludes that while Frodo serves as the nominal Ring-bearer, Sam functions as the emotional and moral center of the narrative, embodying the "eucatastrophe" that Tolkien identified as essential to fairy-tale literature. This reframing positions The Lord of the Rings not as the story of a reluctant hero's burden, but as a celebration of steadfast friendship and the heroism found in everyday devotion.
Gory thief