How Did SAMWISE GAMGEE Resist The One Ring? | Middle-Earth Lore

Today we look at the interesting question of, how did Samwise Gamgee manage to resist the evil magic of the One Ring?
When you think of the likes of Isildur and Boromir gave into Sauron's evil weapon, the how did a gardener fair better?
We dive into the texts and see if we can come up with an answer!
I hope you enjoy the video 😁
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Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
01:40 - Samwise the Strong
03:56 - The Temptation of Sam
07:17 - The Power Behind Samwise
10:15 - Conclusion.
12:02 - QotD & Thank you’s.
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A massive shout-out to Brandon for penning the script for this video! bratya_nobles
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Samwise Gamgee - Kiendriel
The One Ring of Power LOTR - Ryan
Art in order of first appearance:
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Boromir - mistermoster
Éomer - mistermoster
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Boromir - Pierre Vanderweerd
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Samwise Gamgee - NNTan
Samwise the brave - leewlundin
Let him go you filth - Lidia Macov
Samwise the Brave - Imnotfunnyipromise
Mordor - kvacm
Shelob - DanielGovar
Samwise and the Mallorn Seed - beespit
The One Ring - benjamin-lindquist
Samwise the Brave - Cynthia-Blair
Frodo - Gabriele Dell'Otto
Bilbo in Rivendell - Julia Alex
Gollum The Hobbit - Freksama
The One Ring - LOTR - Jimmy-Appelt
Sauron The Lord of the Rings - William Faucher
Frodo Baggins - petnick
Bag End - Rob Garlington
Samwise - Dmytro Wint
Frodo Sam Gollum - BrentWoodside
Gamgee Family - Boudicca-Keltoi
The Lord of the Rings Fan Art Sam And Frodo 1 - phSilvente
The Lord of the Rings Fan Art Sam And Frodo 2 - phSilvente
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Sauron-As He Sat The One Ring Upon His Finger - IngvildSchageArt
Samwise Gamgee - Emma Buck
Samwise Gamgee - Andrew Johanson
Frodo and Sam - bakarov
Better Than Rain or Rippling Brook - CelandineGranger
Boromir Last Moments - MyCKs
Concerning Hobbits - ZutaraGirlXD
Once Upon A Time In Hobbiton - DaleComte
Samwise Gamgee - Cecilia Zugliani
Hobbits - Giacobino
LOTR Second Breakfast - AllrichArt
Middle earth - Klaradox
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#LordoftheRingsLore #SamGamgee #SamwiseGamgee

[@TheBrokenSword]

Who else’s favourite hobbit is Sam?!

[@chriszerdzinski]

Sam is one of my favourite characters for sure

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

Nah, Bilbo all the way.

[@RetroDeathReviews666]

Bilbo for me. Sam is a close second though!

[@michaelljungberg]

I love Sam but no. I think people do not understand the point of the books. No one is able to resist, not even Sam. The closest is Frodo, but even Sam is tempted for the brief time he holds it. Sam’s strength is not against the ring but as a true and loyal friend.

[@kratal122]

All five main hobbits are great. You can’t ask me to pick a favorite.

[@daniellekennedy8118]

In the end, Sam did have a realm of gardens, planted at his command. When the hobbits returned home after the scouring of the Shire, it was Galadriel's gift to Sam that he used to restore the land to fruitfulness. And, years later, he was the Mayor for Life. By doing the right thing, he got everything the ring falsely promised. It's not irony, it is Providence.

[@whatareyoulookingat908]

That's beautiful. :)

[@wretched17]

Well said

[@alfamalen]

A most astute comment. It's an angle on Samwise's story that I have never realized but, wow, it fits in perfectly with Tolkien's worldview expressed in the rest of the story. Thanks!

[@bitharne]

Kinda cool parallel to something done in 40k: when Horus was shown visions of the future in ruin, the chaos gods show him the future that would come if Horus did what they said, but presented it as if it was the future if he DiD NOT. Could say the ring did something similar and tried to manipulate Sam the same way. Of course that has actual prescience so 😂

[@VotePaineJefferson]

The great tragedy of fiction is that in real life, Sauron wins and Samwise never gets his garden.

[@artsohc]

Sam was humble and only wanted to be in service to others. A being like Sauron can’t possibly fathom how to tempt someone like that because they can’t understand that mentality. Had Sauron shown Sam that bearing the One Ring would allow him to save Frodo from pain and death, it might have ended differently.

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

A garden was pretty tempting to him.

[@ziephel-6780]

Sauron was loyal to Morgoth respectively. He was the lesser evil due to being in service to another. I guess after Morgoth was gone, and Sauron became the Second Dark Lord, he's forgotten over time about being formerly an underdog, only memories remain.

[@kratal122]

@@ziephel-6780 Was Sauron even truly loyal to Morgoth, or did he simply recognize that he was incapable of opposing Morgoth directly, but seized his opportunity once Morgoth had been expelled through the Door of Night? After all, the two had somewhat different goals, Morgoth wanting to be the supreme being, Sauron wanting a world without waste that he believed only he was capable of creating.

[@ziephel-6780]

@@kratal122 Sauron did made the numenoreans build temples and made sacrifices to Morgoth. I think I heard somewhere that Sauron planned on conquering Middle Earth, and then ruling while waiting for the dagordagorath, awaiting his master's return. Leaving all the blue prints for Morgoth to use in preparation against the Valar. Sauron knew he stood no chance against them on his own.

[@fredrik8500]

Sam wasn't affected by the ring because he's not a Frodo, he's a Fredo.

[@gwiz6278]

Sam was so pure of heart, all the ring could tempt him with was a huge garden. His love for Frodo could not be overcome. 😭 😭 😭

[@chunkyMunky329]

Not even overcome by the jeering of Ted Sandyman!

[@Marcus-ki1en]

I think it was Sam's very simplicity and deep connection to the earth that allowed him to reject the temptation of the ring. Tom Bombadil was also not tempted by the ring because of his deep connection to the natural world. One of Tolkien's main themes was the rejection of the destruction of industrialization and the value of rural life. All the others that were tempted by the ring were smart, powerful or highly motivated which made the ring's lure so strong. Sam was satisfied with what he had and what was his lot in life.

[@runenorderhaug7646]

THis makes me wonder if someone who was satisfied with their life but was literally an idea creator would be tempted by the ring. Someone who simply loved exploring ideas further and further not for power, but for the idea itself. Would the quest for knowledge tempt them be alone what was needed to tempt them? It is also noticeable that Sam Wise didn't actually always seem to really neeccsarily want to stay with his rural life and what his real connections to the natural world were beyond simply valueing rural life

[@radicalcartoons2766]

Agree, the ring worked by temptation. If you have no lust for anything more than your normal life will deliver, it would have nothing to work on.

[@billfred9411]

You are right but it's not only Sam its hobbits in general that are more resistant due to humble and content nature. Also, I wouldn't think too much into Tom Bombadil because he is on another wavelength and the ring simply doesn't matter to him. When Tom whore the ring he didn't resist it because he didn't have to. The ring has literally no effect on him, and he didn't even turn invisible. He is an enigma and is meant to not fully make sense.

[@Marcus-ki1en]

@@billfred9411 in general yes, but Bilbo, Frodo, probably the Sackville-Bagins. Basically anyone with ambition or desire or worse lust for power.

[@TheUnseenPath]

He and Tom did not reject it they spent less time with it the ring corrupts anyone and everyone it is a matter of time.

[@jumpman8282]

I bet part of Samwise's resistance to claiming the Ring for himself was due to his disgust towards Gollum. Having seen what the Ring had done to Gollum, Sam knew once and for all that he wanted to stay as far away from the Ring as possible.

[@bighand1530]

That would make sense

[@stevendouglas3781]

That’s a very good take. Conversely Frodo seeing Bilbo willingly give up the ring (something that isn’t praised enough imo), may have led him to believe it’s influence wasn’t as strong as it clearly was. And his desire for Gollum (and himself) to be redeemed from it may have also led him astray. The ring isn’t something you get over. There is no more Sméagol in any meaningful sense. I also think it’s interesting that Frodo falls to the ring after he had already accepted death before Sam carries. He accepted Frodo’s death, but not the ring. You sort of immunize yourself with bad expectations.

[@chunkyMunky329]

There still must be something specific about Sam otherwise you're basically implying that anybody (except Boromir) has a chance at resisting the ring so long as they look at Gollum. Also, in the books, Sam is always kind to Gollum (aside from a couple physical fights they have when they first and last meet) and has pity rather than disgust.

[@WasabiSniffer]

How amazing is it that one can be so wholesome and selfless that the most corrupting influence in existence can’t make you turn to evil. Sauron: “I’m gonna show you how to make the most badass garden ever.” Sam: “… this is weird” Sauron: “nah it’s gonna be awesome. Like, your flowers are gonna be beautiful as f*ck… yeah this is weird.”

[@warblerblue]

Thats a good explanation as any. Fun post. :)

[@Barghaest]

Tom Bombadil is another example of wholesome that couldn’t be corrupted. He had no real ambition for the ring to tempt… he just loved Goldberry and his area of the forest and had no interest in further power or domain.

[@TonyToed]

@@Barghaest he loves his wife very much❤

[@ledfloyd9035]

@@Barghaest true but he was also had a ridiculous amount of apathy towards anything outside of his realm. Gandalf explained it perfectly "even if we could convince Tom to take the ring, he'd just lose it" How do you tempt a man that doesn't care about anything he doesn't already have?

[@Svoorhout85]

It helps that his goal is a humble one. It would be a lot easier to compell someone who already thirsts for power and greed.

[@tomoliver3009]

Sam wanted for nothing. His power was loyalty to Frodo and the cause. His love of the Shire and Frodo kept the darkness at bay. His courage prevented the Ring from corrupting him. If you don't love Sam you're wrong. Love the content. Thank you for your time and hard work.

[@Buglin_Burger7878]

You don't have to love someone, some people like more rowdy people. Others like humble. Having your own opinions doesn't make you wrong. It is trying to say people who don't share an opinion are wrong is wrong.

[@adamschaeffer4057]

Sam wasn't too special in resisting the ring. Bilbo had the ring for 50 years, often using it and yet he never fell under the power of it completely. Sam only encountered the ring briefly. I don't know why people put him on such a high pedestal.

[@clxwncrxwn]

@@adamschaeffer4057 because he’s a positive force in the world, a reminder that the trees still sway, the grass still grows, and the flowers will always be in bloom. As long as the Sun still shines. He is the Light in the darkness.

[@seriousnesstv7902]

Just saw fellowship again today and couldn’t help but cry when Sam was willing to drown trying to get to Frodo. Their friendships is one that can teach a great deal to us today.

[@Techydad]

I'm listening to the audiobooks (fabulously narrated by Andy Serkis) and I remember how frightened Sam was during the whole river/boat journey. That terrified him, but when he thought Frodo might leave without him, Sam ran right for the river that scared him so much. He might have found the water scary, but being without Frodo was much scarier to him.

[@Zamiroh]

I think the ring was fated to come to Sam just like it was to bilbo and frodo. Sam resisted because his true desire was not for power. Sauron was unable to understand this. He believed all would want power, and the ring would corrupt anyone like this. But when someone truly does not, they can resist the one ring.

[@733067]

I really like where you are going with this. Can you elaborate on how Sam was fated to have the ring?

[@erickchristensen746]

@@733067 I disagree that it was Fate, but otherwise fully agree with the rest of his comment. The One Ring simply made a mistake in tempting Frodo. Not realizing the extreme loyalty Sam had for his friend and willpower to see it through. As such he was never tempted.

[@robertbeisert3315]

@@erickchristensen746 There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides that of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.

[@6666Imperator]

in defence of Boromir: He was fully aware that all people in Gondor were dependent on him and he had a very strong sense of responsibility. At the same time Denethor put additional goals onto him, demanding that the ring should be brought to Gondor. It is similar to when Gandalf says that he would succumb to the ring because he would be desperate to do good things with the power he would be given. Sam has a much smaller area of responsibility plus he is almost shy, certainly a lack of self awareness and self consciousness (not being able to talk to Rosie at first, always making Frodo the hero but not himself, etc). He is also not a person who envies others easily so the ring has more work to do to turn Sam around.

[@TheUnseenPath]

Eventually the ring would have gotten to Sam it always does.

[@McBernes]

I agree. Boromir was under a huge amount of pressure. It's not weakness or lust for power and mastery that caused Boromir to give in, it was fear of failing in his duty. He is, for me, the most tragic character in the LOTR series.

[@DDdreamer90]

@@TheUnseenPath I'm not sure sure about that. Just look at Smeagol. He certainly had enough selfishness and ambition for the ring to latch on to, but it still never got true control over him. All it could do was wear him down into a wretched goblin addicted to the ring. It's why it escaped when Bilbo came around. Smeagol was a dead end for it. Sam has even less for the ring to work with.

[@soraceant]

@DDdreamer90 smeagol wasn't that ambitious. All he did with ring was mess with people with rumors and mischievousness. He never had ambition to take over towns or become a ruler or anything which is why he was a dead end.

[@DDdreamer90]

@@soraceant Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have used the word ambition. "Desire" might be more apt. He had enough greed in him that the ring could effortlessly make him kill his cousin.

[@uriustosh]

He had big walking stick energy.

[@masti733]

He is the most under valued member of the fellowship. The final charge at the black gate Aragorns 'for frodo' has me screaming 'and Sam!!!'

[@philippalinton5850]

If you've read the book, you will recall that Aragorn honoured Frodo and Sam equally on the Field of Cormallen, and that Frodo honoured Sam by leaving Bag End to Sam and Rosie, and making Sam his heir. He also promises Sam during their farewell at the Grey Havens that he too may sail West one day because he too had been a Ring-bearer. And after Rosie dies in her old age, Sam does just that. Sam is not undervalued in the book - or in the films either, since I think Peter Jackson favoured his heroism over Frodo's, to be honest.

[@masti733]

@@philippalinton5850 You are right. Still, that moment always has me saying, in a wry jest "and sam!!"

[@Finn_the_Goldfish]

@Most Definitely a Human (and not a cat) Yay for dead heroic guys.

[@ajwinberg]

I have always felt Samwise was just too good that the ring never truly affected him. I think that when returning the ring to Frodo, he hesitates because he knows that Frodo is truly effected by it and he just wants to help.

[@mt4592]

Sam was the polar opposite of Sauron, so he negated the power.

[@Cauin450]

The Ring couldn't give him anything he wanted.

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

A garden.

[@radicalcartoons2766]

@@jonathonfrazier6622 His garden was the Shire. That's why Galadrial gave him his particular gift.

[@wesleyorange8133]

@@jonathonfrazier6622 A garden is life, which the ring can't create.

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

@@wesleyorange8133 Whethor it can or it can't, it certainly tempted him with it.

[@ravenskeep9009]

Samwise is one of the few truly pure of heart characters ever written.

[@206Zelda]

I like to think that even the movie's depiction of Samwise's hesitation to return the Ring to Frodo wasn't out of greed. I bet he was instead thinking "Would it be better if I carried it for him? He's been through so much for this thing already and all it does is take. But I have much to give, and give it I shall for my lord and the Shire."

[@d.l831]

That’s exactly how I viewed Sam’s hesitation. To me it was pure

[@michaelgriffith5747]

What I find most intriguing is that aragorn knew Sam could withstand the rings temptation. When he said if there would be just 3 who went to mordor it would be gimli Sam and himself.

[@cwopre]

Where does he say this 🤔

[@michaelgriffith5747]

@@cwopre in the books its shortly before boromir dies and the fellowship disbands. It's been so long I can't recall the exact location.

[@Cloofinder]

I believe it was his deep connection to the natural world, and his connection to others like Frodo. Frodo was Sam's best friend, and he kept a promise to Gandalf to never leave Frodo's side thru their journey (even after Gandalf fell in Moria). I'd also say that with Sam being with Frodo, seeing Frodo slowly get eaten away by the Ring and it's temptations. It was a sole reminder to Sam how the ring is Evil and will destroy all who possess it.

[@CourtneyRichards3000]

Cool to see you comment on his strength just being close to it, not many do. Boromir and Smeagol were driven to a maddening ring lust just by being close enough for a short time.

[@mage1439]

This is one of the things that bothers me most about the movies. Faramir went from "not if I found this thing lying by the roadside would I take it" to Boromir-lite. He and Elrond were treated badly by the movies (Elrond's mostly being that they for whatever reason made him bitter and grumpy).

[@ColoradoStreaming]

I just read this part of the book and have an interesting theory on why Sauron did not notice Sam was wearing the ring so close to Mordor. Sauron was not able to pierce his own shadow nets but still probably guessed the direction of the ring when Sam had it on. However, if you look at the dates, Sam puts on the ring on March 13. Aragorn notes he looks into the Palantir 10 days after the fellowship breaks which would be on March 8. If you look at a map, the line from Barad Dur to Sam's location is actually almost the exact same direction of where Aragorn would be if he was riding to Minas Tirith with the ring. So Sauron guessed a Hobbit had the ring and was captured by Sarumon but the Black Rider checked it out and saw Sarumon was defeated. This would make Sauron guess Aragorn has the ring and after 5 days of his battle of will with Sauron, Aragorn finally succumbed to the ring and put it on. Sam was resistant to the ring which would have made Sauron less aware of it so he assumed the smaller 'signal' is from the greater distance Aragorn should be away from Mordor. Contrast this to where Frodo puts the ring on in Mount Doom and was immediately noticed. At this time Sauron thought Aragorn had the ring still and was marching on the Black Gate out of arrogance from its power. As soon as Frodo puts on the ring the illusion is shattered and Sauron only then realizes his folly.

[@TDBoedy]

Boromir's issue was being raised for so long with all of the responsibility on his shoulders - and being weakened by his father who was for some time under the sway of Saruman, if not Sauron himself. Boromir's comparatively fast fall was due to personal weakness, not a weakness in the blood - as his brother Faramir demonstrated. And in the end he overcame it just long enough to die a hero, if a tragic one.

[@neil999ish]

Denethor had one of the palantir and used it to spy on the lands and Sauron. Whilst he was strong of mind, Sauron subtly showed him "untruths" that finally caused him to lose hope and fall into darkness, Sauron used a similar stragety except for flattery that he used to corrupt the Numenoreans except for the faithful.

[@brynduffy]

Sam had one additional benefit which was his commitment to service. When you put others first and look to service to your community or humanity, you transcend yourself. The ring loses power in that transcendence.

[@lucashamrock817]

I always loved the interaction between Sam & Frodo, talking about their favorite heroes, and Frodo says his favorite “Samwise the Brave”. Sam thinks Frodo is joking, but then silently muses about how Samwise the Brave sounds when he realizes Frodo is serious

[@MidlifeCrisisJoe]

This video should be 30 seconds long. Sam is the purposeful admiration of a simple man and his simple life. Sam is so simple the ring offers him nothing he doesn't already have. That's it.

[@Sargonarhes]

One could also believe Sam's connections to the earth, and his humbleness made him more resistant to the ring than even that of Merry and Pippin. Mainly because Pippin let his curiosity control his actions way too often. Merry, seem to have had more sense, but he also had an eagerness that lead to his riding with Rohan, which placed him there to save Eowyn so she may kill the Witch King. Merry and Pippin still had some ambition the ring could have tempted them with. Sam was the perfect guardian Gandalf could place at Frodo's side.

[@theenderdestruction2362]

When one must protect the bearer it is best to send a golem of earth for they do no care for whence the monster came from only that the one they protect is safe for it is in their very forms that they were truly made with love

[@comesahorseman]

He was a Hobbits Hobbit. He knew his limitations.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

One of the most impressive parts of the LotR, to me, was always “The Choices of Master Samwise”

[@jordanking8692]

The movie got it right in the scene where Sam gives Frodo back the ring. The two looked at each other with the awareness of the burden the ring was and Frodo reaffirmed that burden was for him to bear. In a way they were both equally resistant to it's power, they simply had different roles in getting the ring to Mount Doom. Sam would likely have shared Frodo's eventual submission if he had been the one to bear the ring that whole time. They both did there best, and Eru intervened using Golem as his instrument. Golem's inner conflict and his vow was fulfilled and his sacrifice to Eru's purpose redeemed him.

[@tacoman10]

Personally I like the theory that the ring has almost no actual power, just invisibility and mind control, both of which were placed in it by Sauron to make sure that it always gets back to him. He then started the rumors about the ring's power himself.

[@loraelstad8941]

I’ve definitely mentioned b4 that he was the story’s heart to me. While there was help and fellowship each doing their part to complete the mission, only Sam was present near its completion and able to help in the final steps by carrying Frodo. However, as Frodo’s will failed and Gollum appeared to attack Frodo upon the edge of the volcano, Sam couldn’t get to them in time and watched as Elrond had watched Isildur’s will break long before. It was either fate or dumb luck that the Ring was lost to all & got strewn to its doom with Gollum following after. Somehow, I think it’s better for Gollum because the Ring had such complete control over him at that point, that I’m not sure he could function as what he’d become, in its absence and without the wholehearted fixation to keep him going. Especially after his much lengthened lifespan due to its influence. Thank you for doing this. As for the question of the day: As much as I love my Sam, and believe in the simplicity of his goodness, stout heart & lack of personal desire for power, I don’t feel he was completely infallible to the ring’s pull. I felt some of the things we saw like the hesitation to return the ring were simultaneously his true compassion to not want to reburden his friend and Master and also the ring’s machinations trying (though failing) to use all persons in its proximity to follow its will or that of the power behind it, Sauron, to return to whence it came. In Sam’s case, he was probably lucky he was only close to it and not directly bearing it for as long as Frodo, or who knows what the outcome might’ve been? Mere hiccups or lapses were the only signs. But, if it had gone another way, it could’ve been like that line by Gandalf about using the Ring from a place of wanting to do good (initially), but through him giving it too much power. Except, in Sam’s case it wouldn’t be the great power of the Mayar, but corruption of what influence he might’ve attained starting out doing good with the Ring’s power, falling slowly to ruin. In summary, the hints of the Ring’s influence were present to me, but, thankfully, able to be resisted and the truth of his heart was also still present in those moments. Love you guys. Thanks for some simple Sam appreciation, but also food for thought. Speaking of food, I’m rather stuffed from Thanksgiving dinner/dessert (US). It was nice watching this whilst eating pumpkin pie 🥧 with whipped cream. 😉👍🏻💕

[@zenonx1]

We all need a friend like Sam

[@SpeakShibboleth]

We all need to be a friend like Sam

[@graveyardoperations7407]

@@SpeakShibboleth This.

[@ryangreen6255]

What you forget is that half halflings are very resistant to magic. Humans are vulnerable because they just are. Elves and wizards are because they are pure magic themselves.

[@theharper1]

Absolutely, Sam's motives were pure. The movies make it seem like he might have been tempted by the power of the ring, but I think it's seen from Frodo's perspective where the ring had years to work on him. Sam knew who he was and didn't have delusions of grandeur. In the end, though he couldn't carry the ring, he carried Frodo and the ring. As I think you mentioned in another video, Sam was the only person to willingly give up the ring. He only wanted to help Frodo complete the quest so they could return to the Shire and live happily to the end of their days.

[@kimpurcell8851]

In the book he was tempted by the Ring. He just realized that what it showed him was foolish. It showed him a vision of himself striding as Samwise the Great through Mordor with a flaming sword leading an army to save the world, then he would turn Middle Earth into a vast garden. He saw how foolish that was almost as soon as the vision ended. However, he does pause while giving the Ring back to Frodo (just like in the movie) when the thought goes through his mind that he could spare his master a lot of pain and grief if HE carried the Ring. If the Ring had started it's temptation of Sam with THOSE thoughts instead of thoughts of power he probably would have fallen to it. He wouldn't fall due to evil, but due to the overwhelming goodness in his heart and his desire to protect Frodo. Even in real life some decent people commit bad deeds that were originally born from a desire to do good things.

[@theharper1]

@@kimpurcell8851 as Gandalf said "do not tempt me with this ring. I would use it with good intentions but through me it would work great evil" (paraphrase, I don't have the book handy at work).

[@johansmallberries9874]

I’ve always viewed Sean Astins acting in that scene to show that he wasn’t pulling back because he was tempted by the ring, more that he was horrified that Frodo wanted it back so badly and he was reluctant to keep exposing him to it.

[@redbluebae4397]

@@johansmallberries9874 oh yeah so true

[@danielsaranchuk9524]

I always felt like from the movies that Frodo just didn't want what was happening to him happen to Sam

[@Ankhakaru]

Sam resisted the ring because of his heart. He held fast to love & friendship which is why he was able to easily overcome it. Sam is the true hero, Sam was pure of heart. No evil can overcome that no matter the odds, he defeated Shelob alone & when Frodo could go no further he carried him. All through the power of his heart! Sam was the real hero of the story & I think Tolkien made it that others would be seen while Sam was overlooked on purpose only to find out later that without Sam Frodo would've failed. Sam's power was his pure heart & innocence for the ring held no power over him at all or Tom Bombadil who is also pure of heart.

[@FatherMulcahy10]

I feel that each of the hobbits represents a characteristic and Sam is undoutably loyalty. He doesn't care for glory or the thrill of adventure despite being tempted by the ring, as long as he's there to protect Frodo he is happy. Though it makes me wander what if the ring use his love for Frodo instead of being a hero, would it change his desire for the ring?

[@Artanis99]

Yes. It worked for Boromir. It latched onto his love for Gondor and his despair over the war he knew he couldn't win.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

I doubt that any of the Ringbearers ever saw any of the Valar when they eventually went to Valinor, but I wish that Sam could get to know Yavanna, and I bet she would like to meet simple Sam

[@luisrodrigofernandezurquiz4170]

Sam was the example of loyalty and goodness, as simple as that

[@Daangalf]

Samwise The Brave... Frodo woudn't have gotten far without his Sam. We can all be a Sam to someone in our lives, and we all need a Sam in our life as well.

[@Kmmlc]

We also see Isildur and Sméagol pretty much taken over within minutes of obtaining the ring, with Sméagol being overtaken just at first sight and willing to murder right away for it.

[@RoderickEtheria]

Sam does not simply walk into Mordor. There was nothing simple about it. He did it with heavy emotional weight.

[@jaykubisanidiot8657]

Samwise the Brave... The only member of the Fellowship who's Not of noble blood. To me, this explains why he's obviously the best member of the Fellowship and why he does all the damn work and didn't get real recognition until more recent decades

[@philippalinton5850]

In the book, Sam is honoured equally with Frodo by Aragorn on the Field of Cormallen. Frodo honours Sam by leaving Bag End to him and Rosie, making Sam his heir and promising Sam at the Grey Havens that he too may sail West one day because he too had been a Ring-bearer. And after a long, happy life in the Shire - he becomes Mayor umpteen times, as Frodo prophesied, and he and Rosie have 13 kids - Sam does just that. Sam has been a much beloved character since the books were first published in the 1950s. He's always had recognition.

[@valmid5069]

*“I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you”* Nuff said

[@JohnDoe-wt9ek]

There were four others who resisted the temptations of the Ring: Gandalf, Galadriel, Aragorn, and Faramir. Each in their own way. -Aragorn saw its destructive power. He was fully aware, and he was very self-aware of what he could do with it. Frodo gave him, essentially, a singular opportunity to take it from him, but Aragorn refused it, despite knowing that, in his own hands, as opposed to a half-lings, it would make it to Mordor. Even more so what he said to Frodo, that he would have followed him into the very fires of Mt. Doom. -Gandalf ABSOLUTELY knows its destructive power. And his being in tune with the immaterial realm of the universe, he can see the potential before he even uses it. Its corruptive power would make him a monster WORSE than any before who had possession of the ring. And even more so the corruption would be rapid. There wouldn't be any form of resistance the likes of men or hobbit. It'd be instantaneous. And seeing the corruption of his friend Saruman via the witching orbs of Numanor (if I remember correctly as to what they're called), he absolutely sees that his refusal to take the ring from Frodo's proffered hand paid off. -Galadriel could be said of the same, having one of the rings of power that she no longer wears for fear of its own corruption by the One Ring. -Faramir is different. There was plentiful potential in taking the One Ring and returning it to Gondor. Even in disaster, pleasing his father, Denethor, would have been immense for him. But I think the point in the book, for Faramir, upon realizing that Boromir was dead, there would be no pleasing his father, even with the mightiest "gift" that Denethor charged Boromir to retrieve and bring back. For Faramir, he knew the Hobbits were on a mission, and to intervene and prevent them from doing so would be of such grand calamity that Gondor WOULD NOT survive if he took it to use as a "weapon". More so, he understood that the Hobbits were the only chance at winning the war, even a small chance, but better than the chances they had elsewhere or in others.

[@timothypanngam2249]

I think Sam's loyalty to Frodo was greater than any other force in his life, even the Ring itself. While he could not have resisted it forever (say, if he had to be a long-term ring bearer) I believe he would have resisted it even longer than Frodo.

[@LordOfTheLore123]

He resisted the ring because HE IS SAMWISE THE BRAVE

[@TheBrokenSword]

Samwise the brave indeed 💪

[@deborahwheeler4668]

I always read the books as Sam trying to protect Frodo and keeping his promise to Gandalf.

[@gabrieljude2478]

Sam was able to resist the ring because his love for Frodo was stronger than the temptation.

[@annettehunt900]

I think perhaps Gandalf may have played a role in Sam, not succumbing to the power of the ring for the short time he had it. Sam mentioned quite a few times Gandalf saying don’t you leave him Samwise Gamgee. His loyalty to Frodo was so great. That’s why it’s so sad in the end. when Frodo sales away. I ball like a baby every time I see that scene.

[@SharmClucas]

I didn't even know this was a question. I always thought it was obvious that Sam wasn't tempted, just didn't want to burden Frodo. It was Frodo, who was becoming paranoid, that thought Sam was going to keep the ring for himself. Even thinking that Sam was like that proved just how far gone Frodo was at the time.

[@philippalinton5850]

Sam IS tempted. Briefly. But it was real. And Book Frodo does not succumb to Ring-paranoia about Sam until Sam finds him in Cirith Ungol, and he is able at that point to overcome it. Please remember that Book Frodo is a much stronger character than he is portrayed in the films and doesn't ever believe Gollum over Sam or send Sam away.

[@SharmClucas]

@@philippalinton5850 Sorry, I wasn't clear enough. I meant that Sam wasn't tempted in the moment when he was about to give back the ring. You're right, he was tempted, but that moment was earlier, and the ring failed so thoroughly that it lost it's hold over Sam. Yeah, Frodo trusted Sam more in the book, and my memory of that moment is probably getting mixed up with the movie. I do remember that he was still very paranoid during their travels in Mordor, and made a lot of strange decisions because of that paranoia. I also remember that it took Frodo a moment to even recognize Sam when he was rescued. It's been a bit since I last reread LotR though, and my memory isn't great.

[@philippalinton5850]

@@SharmClucas Book Frodo not only recognises Sam instantly when San rescues him from Cirith Ungol, he heard Sam singing before the rescue and tried to answer. It's when Sam tells him he has the Ring safe and sound that Frodo's relief changes into Ring-induced madness and he snatches the Ring from Sam, calling him a thief. Sam was feeling reluctant to hand the Ring over, but this doesn't last, especially as Frodo snatches the Ring from him. This moment of paranoia passes swiftly and Frodo is instantly remorseful. He never tries to attack Sam with Sting the way he does in the film. Book Frodo never makes any strange decisions either. By the time they both get into Mordor, he is exhausted and near breaking point, which is why Sam's help is so essential. Frodo couldn't have survived the Quest without him. But Frodo still remains rational, up until when he stands at the Cracks of Doom and is unable to throw the Ring in, as the Ring takes full control.

[@hasangarmarudi2178]

There are two kinds of people in world, Saurons who take life too seriously, and Sams who take life as simple as it is, and Sams win. Always.

[@Galimeer5]

Ring: _"What do you most desire?"_ Sam: "Oh, I don't know...I really like gardening" Ring: "Gardening. Really? Um, okay, hang on...I can work with that. **Ah-hem** _Then, through me, I can give you a garden the size of Mordor, with thousands of servants to tend to it."_ Sam: "I don't want a garden that big...or servants to do the work for me" Ring: "You don't want-- ...what??"

[@vortexgen1]

Samwise Gamgee the Brave, the super gardener. Frodo could not have made the journey without Sam and his strength and devotion to Frodo. Because of his humility, deep love for the simple things in life, and the experience of the long journey to destroy the ring, he was able to heal and govern the Shire with those gifts given to him.

[@DneilB007]

The whole point of LOTR, or at least one of the points of it, is that true goodness can only be achieved by the “little people”, gardeners, poets, thieves, and that all of the great deeds of the mighty are a smokescreen that obscures the daily determination to do what good is needed, regardless of the price to ourselves.

[@TheFoxfiend]

Such a humble and grounded person.

[@MegaBrekky]

Sam was truly altruitic. He was as pure as they come.

[@ElffriendYT]

*EDIT: also hobbits were resistant to the ring for longer than say, Boromir - it could be because Sauron knew about and approached the Hobbits last compared to Men and Elves.* Sam was mainly there for Frodo. But the reason why he was able to resist the ring compared to Boromir, for example, is because hobbits are less resistant to the ring making it sort of based on his "hobbitness" per se. They both shared a similar longing for Elves but were manifested differently. He probably have heard Frodo’s conversations with Gandalf or not - it’s kind of not really known there but I think he knows some things but not everything. But Gandalf sorta chose Sam to go with Frodo. Thus, both of them wanted to destroy the ring. However, one thing I do want to point out tho, is that since Frodo is of a higher class than Sam, Sam sort of has to at least be motivated somewhat by Frodo. For example, you’ll see that he spares Gollum in Mount Doom. That was kind of like a big change for him since the beginning - I think it was because either he finally knew what it was like to have had the ring, or that he was motivated by Frodo.

[@thewal1ofsleep]

Sam never sought power and lived a life of humility, as did many hobbits. I think this is why the ring had such a difficult time gaining a hold of Bilbo, Frodo and especially Sam.

[@madladofshimano]

I just found this video in my feed. I love that you credit the artists in your videos, some other youtubers don't do so and simply take others' hard work.

[@marshmallowoflegends209]

Wow! I was so impressed and happy that I got that notification before I started to write my comment. Samwise The Brave! Love the fact that you used pieces from the book. I was expecting another video analyzing one of the 3 movies but no sir! Happy and grateful for this video. Job well done.

[@Justin-A-Carter]

I always thought why Sam resisted the ring. Because he was good! His love for his friends and being a hobbit and loyalty and bravery. I thought in my belief that he resisted the ring because of his virtue and his desire to rid the world of evil.

[@memorydrain7806]

Sam isn't my favourite Hobbit. That spot goes to Bilbo's extended family that always tries to take his silverware. lol. Anyway, Samwise Gamgee has the strongest heart of them all. The ring, Sauron, etc. can't handle such purity and nobleness. He's a hero.

[@ElffriendYT]

👀

[@lolglolblol]

Both Sam *and* Frodo were amazing. They accomplished a task that would have seen greater men falter. And they only succeeded because they had each other.

[@rory8182]

The ring: "I have conquered every mind I have came in contact with" Sam's mind: "I heard no bell"

[@Questor-ky2fv]

I agree that Samwise was far more important on the quest than many people realize, and he was very brave too. I am a long time fan of the Middle Earth stories by J.R.R. Tolkien, and I liked the movies too. They were very well done. I was able to find free sites to watch all of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies. I'm living on a fixed income, so I only watch free stuff online. My last TV died many years ago, so I only pay for the budget tier of internet service, and no cable TV. There is plenty of free content available online, so I do alright on entertainment. Sorry, strayed off topic. I once owned most of the Tolkien books in paperback. I later bought them in hardcover, and gave the paperbacks to a friend. Some time later I went through a series of moves, and had to sell some of my books at garage sales before each move. Unfortunately, my hardcover Tolkien books went during one of those garage sales. I have a wide taste in genres of books and videos. Before all of those moves I had quite a lot of classic literature. I think that the only classical literature book I still have from before the moves is a paperback copy of Rudyard Kipling's Kim. This is not a dumbed down kiddie version, but the original story. Like all of Tolkien's books, Kim is a very well written, and complex classic story. Thanks for the post. Samwise definitely merits more and better consideration than he gets. Fun fact: My first exposure to Middle Earth was when I had to pick a book to read for a class assignment, and then write a report on it. I think I wasn't yet a teenager. The book I picked was The Hobbit, and my father helped me do the report by asking me questions about the book. I remember we were working at the dining room table. Dad died a couple of years ago in his mid nineties, and I'm in my mid sixties now, but more than fifty years after that school assignment, I still love the stories of Middle Earth.

[@larryroberts3598]

Samwise the Brave...his motivation was to protect the Shire and his best friend

[@nicholasfrank6705]

Might I propose a third option: Sam was tempted to keep the ring not out pity for Frodo or a desire to keep the ring for himself, but instead it was self confidence that he can get the job done. Maybe he realized that Frodo was ultimately going to, and maybe already had, failed to destroy the ring. And given he had already rejected the temptation of putting the ring on himself up to this point , he should now be the one to destroy the ring himself and didn’t trust Frodo anymore.

[@buddyltd]

I've often interpreted Sam's reluctance to give the Ring to Frodo as a mixture of both its magic and Sam's goodness - the Ring's magic pressing Sam not to give it to Frodo by playing on his concern, his feelings for his friend, and gently pressing the belief in Sam that he is stronger of will than Frodo, and thus would make a better Ring-bearer than he.

[@jonplukehughes2807]

Without a shadow of doubt Sam is the true hero, all the fellowship hobbits are but Sam is above and beyond

[@jasonbull6560]

I find it very hard to believe people don't understand that Sam is not just a character, but the actual hero of the story . He is the working humble man that faced doom and accomplished, Not immortality But to go home and have a loving family. HERO!

[@philippalinton5850]

When I read the book many years ago, long before the films came out, it was clear to me that Frodo is just as much the actual hero of the story. The films do NOT do him justice. 😥 What you say about Sam is true but I find it hard to understand how more people don't apparently get what Tolkien was doing in his portrayal of Frodo, the tragic hero of the tale. Sam gets a traditional happy ending. Frodo's fate is more bittersweet, but he has become more Elvish. And Sam goes eventually to join him in the West.

[@Frost11511]

Lol.

[@Ni-boo]

I was a young teen when I saw the lotr trilogy. I remember never being worried about Sam doing anything to hinder getting the ring to Mordor, he was just too good a guy. It's hard to bribe a guy with power, status and wealth when he desires none of that.

[@solidfkingsnake]

His love for frodo was so strong it overpowered the rings temptation.

[@frostbite0707]

I think there are two main factors as to why Sam Resisted the ring. The first is proximity. Sam, while near the ring, didn't wear it for most of the journey and as far as i remember, never used it. Frodo wore it for the majority of the journey and used it several times. Naturally, it Corrupted Frodo faster and the fact that Frodo lasted as long as he did is impressive. The second is desire. Something the books liked to mention a lot was that Hobbits were a simple people with few desires, and many even looked down upon adventurous sorts, at least at the time of The Hobbit. Hobbits were the perfect race to bear the ring because of this and even when the ring did corrupt them, all they wanted was to hoard it and nothing else. Which effectively kept the ring out of ill hands. Sam would've been the better ring bearer because his desires were simpler than Frodo's. Boromir Succumbed to the ring because Humans are much greedier than the other races, and Boromir especially desired power for his kingdom.

[@MrBarnettcm]

Sam didn’t want all that extra stuff, he was a true habit, didn’t want to leave the shire but did so out of duty. He was of lower class than Frodo, and to be given this duty was the biggest responsibility of his life, he took it completely serious from the beginning. Frodo was his friend, and a kind one, but he was also his master, this dynamic and his values resting to duty, friendship, honor made Sam uniquely loyal.

[@rachelehaile540]

Samwise the Brave Genius way to get shy folks to engage with the algorithm. Hats off dude👏

[@Atomiccaboose]

Thank you for you for such great videos for us to enjoy.

[@TheSudsy]

Tolkein telling us that any successful society needs leaders and heros, but without the foundations of honest , hard working and loyal people around them, they are nothing.

[@ryanhernandez5632]

I think the biggest moral our hobbit Sam gives us is that there are no short cuts. The guy never choose the easy way out in any part of the journey. Even when the ring would tempt him with his worst qualities, he would choose his friend. He became a hero by doing things the hard/right way and when he returned home he would find everything he wanted in life. Love, friendship, family and responsibility. His only regret in life was he could not help froto from the mental/spiritual injuries inflicted by the ring and the ring wraiths

[@maxblast8210]

Humility. From beginning to end. "I can't carry the ring for you, but I can carry you," the most humble badass ever.

[@frequencydependent1826]

I really enjoy the content. Keep it up

[@thebrander2238]

It was Sam's humility that endeared me to him! When he and Froto were on the journey and was talking about Frodo being put into story, where as Frodo stated he wanted to hear more about Sam wise the Brave. Sam with his humility, thought Mr. Frodo was teasing. He was so unassuming and even after proving his bravery, he couldn't be swayed by the magic of the ring.

[@FLYINGTHOR]

Great video, thanks!

[@ARDEMDE]

Right? I read the books for the first time 30 years ago, and Sam and was always my favourite character, it is amazing what he achieved. He is one of the purest characters ever created, so I think he really wanted to protect Frodo.

[@logicaldude3611]

I'm so happy you used the books as your reference here. The movies were done well, but also butchered a lot of stuff and muddied things. In the book, Sam not only takes the Ring, but uses it to escape the orcs. He is also able to project himself as a powerful warrior in order to rescue Frodo from the tower. But in between those two events, he takes the Ring for himself and has his vision of being "Samwise the Strong" and turning Mordor into a beautiful garden. However, Sam's humble, simple, unassuming nature quickly shake him out of this fantasy. Sam is simply too innocent. He can't reason himself into the delusions of grandeur that the Ring gives him. The Ring would have conquered him eventually, like it conquered Frodo in Mount Doom. But Sam doesn't hold it long enough for that to happen. It's actually very endearing in the book to read about Sam's thoughts when he's having his "Samwise the Strong" fantasy.

[@sarahmccollum3694]

Sam is written as such a beautiful soul. Indeed he is pure of heart. The simple pleasures of life are all he needs. He's gentle and good because he accepted from a young age that love cannot be bought. It must be cultivated, like a garden. 😉 When it grows, that is the best reward one could ever receive. 🎁

[@BioHunter1990]

Sam is a genuine hero. The very kind of hero he idolizes from the stories. He’s also a man of great fortitude. And demonstrates that simplicity is sometimes all we need for a good life.

[@stevenknauer6234]

Thinking of Samwise the Brave always makes me tear up simply out of admiration.

[@yoursafeplace8476]

I think it's more obvious in the movie about Sam being worried for Frodo in handing the ring back over. You can see how physically destroyed Frodo is and mentally as well. So no, Sam didn't want the ring, he was just concerned for Frodo.

[@456882]

I always thought the best parts of the books were when the story was told from Frodo’s and sam’s point of view.

[@ffxiarcadius]

Roddy McDowell will always be my Samwise. Sam became my favorite because of his performance in Return of the King

[@anthonyferguson5877]

It was all about his friendship with Frodo everything he did, was for someone else whether it was going without food or drink or carrying Frodo & the ring truly a beautiful writing character

[@conscioussubconsciousness1976]

Simple, Sigma Sam was a *Bros Before O’s* ideology enjoyer, additionally, he knew he gotta keep on grinding through the main quest getting most of XP in the shortest amount of time so that he can spent most of his playthrough on completing all the side quest back in shire all levelled up enjoying the side content. Also. He knew very well that the Ring in the long term had more severe debuffs than beneficial buffs (especially to his race) and one of the debuffs is that he couldn’t drop it once it was in his inventory (unless someone takes it)

[@thejonjon5000]

Sam’s poetic feat of courage to carry Frodo up Mount Doom will never not move me.

[@SccerStud]

Love your videos! Watch as many as I can. I think Sam is incredibly underrated, especially for those that only watched the movies. I would like to believe that Sam was withholding the ring from Frodo because he wanted to protect him and saw the affects that it was having on him.

[@graceygrumble]

Of course Sam is the most beloved character. I thought this was obvious to everyone; I am amazed it is, in the slightest bit, a controversial opinion. I must admit, that Aragorn was gorgeous! At least, when he was a 'grubby ranger', as opposed to the 'scrubbed up king' and it was a bit tricky to focus, but anyone who read the books knows Sam was the greatest hero, surely!

[@radicalcartoons2766]

Sam has some of the spirit of Tom Bombadil in him.

[@SocialSpit]

This is brilliant, thank you so much. I remember reading this, and seeing it homaged in ROTK. I agree Samwise was the actual hero of LOTR, but he never cared about that. As far as the “question of the Day“ is concerned, Sams one and only concern was always the safety of Frodo…

[@0cheeseburga]

8:58 I'll never not cry at the imagery of Sam Carrying Frodo

[@uglyweirdo1389]

Frodo made a wonderful bag for the Ring.

[@akun50]

Ironically, the One Ring's failing was that, in trying to tempt Samwise's deepest desires, it dug its own grave further. Samwise, having seen how it affected the mind, likely became more firm in the desire to see the damn thing destroyed so he and Mister Frodo could go back to The Shire.

[@robertkelly5391]

I enjoyed this. Thank you.