Samwise Gamgee as the Everyday Christian

Theological symbolism is scattered throughout Lord of the Rings. Tolkien’s universe presents significant insight regarding death, greed, addiction, power, fate, free will, and much, much more.

Tolkien was believed to split the singular Christ figure between Gandalf (prophet), Frodo (priest), and Aragorn (king). This splitting of the Christ figure is unique, and Peter J. Kreeft, author of The Philosophy of Tolkien speaks to this.

There is no one complete, concrete, visible Christ figure in The Lord of the Rings, like Aslan in Narnia. But Christ is really, though invisibly, present in the whole of The Lord of the Rings.

Again, he says:

[Christ] is more clearly present in Gandalf, Frodo, and Aragorn, the three Christ Figures. First of all, all three undergo different forms of death and resurrection. Second, all three are saviors: through their self-sacrifice they help save all of Middle-earth from the demonic sway of Sauron.

Most important to discussions about Sam is Frodo’s place in this story. Frodo represents the priestly nature of Christ. Frodo is the character that carries the weight of Middle Earth, the Ring, to its ultimate destruction, sacrificing his own comfort and security.

Samwise Gamgee

Sam’s relationship with Frodo, a Christ figure, reveals Sam’s allegorical identity to the reader.

Sam is us. Sam is the follower of Christ.

Let’s bullet point some of Sam’s prominent character traits:
- Strong-willed
- Humble
- Devoted to Frodo
- Hopeful

The way Sam interacts with Frodo provides significant takeaways when we examine our own interactions with Christ. Fictional may he be, Sam offers a sound allegory for Christian living.

Strong-willed

This scene always strikes a chord with me, and is, in my view, the quintessential Samwise Gamgee scene.

Though battered, exhausted, and likely dehydrated, Sam takes the time to nurture Frodo. When Sam realizes that Frodo may have lost hope, he snaps to. He isn’t about to give up now, though this is the hardest part of their journey.

Sam shows no interest in carrying the Ring and leaving Frodo on the side of Mount Doom. He recognizes that the only way he can take care of both Frodo and the entirety of Middle Earth is to carry them both.

Sam continues to push forward, even though his burden has increased. The weight of Frodo’s quest is now upon him, and he continues anyway.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” — Matthew 16:24

Humble

Sam is a hobbit gardener, and this curtails his sense of ambition and his social aspirations. He is not greedy, he does not envy, he is void of jealousy. He is content.

Sam does not think highly of himself. Nor does he lack self-esteem. Sam is sure and confident, but not to the point of bravado. Any source of entitlement or pride is not found within, but rather in his servitude unto Frodo.

In a letter to Eileen Elgar from 1963, Tolkien writes:

Sam was cocksure, and deep down a little conceited; but his conceit had been transformed by his devotion to Frodo. He did not think of himself as heroic or even brave, or in any way admirable — except in his service and loyalty to his master. That had an ingredient (probably inevitable) of pride and possessiveness.

Tolkien’s comments about Sam being “cocksure” and a “little conceited” are especially important. These traits in Sam, however miniscule they may be, were transformed into vehicles of further devotion to Frodo. Frodo, then, acts as the transformation medium for Sam’s flaws.

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. — Galatians 6:14

Devoted to Frodo

To me, the most admirable of all of Sam’s traits is his hopeless devotion to Frodo. Even when Frodo turns away from Sam and casts him away, Sam obeys.

What was undoubtedly one of the hardest moments of Sam’s story, the one he loves most telling him he isn’t needed, becomes another opportunity for him to showcase his devotion by obeying, no matter how hard it is.

From Anne Marie Gazzalo in Moments of Grace and Spiritual Warfare in Lord of the Rings:

“Frodo’s torn heart still beats, and it pushes past terror and hopelessness because of Sam’s blessed aid and his own battered and bleeding will to do so.”

Look at this passage from The Two Towers:

“Then as he had kept watch Sam had noticed that at times a light seemed to be shining faintly within; but now the light was even clearer and stronger. Frodo’s face was peaceful, the marks of fear and care had left it; but it looked old, old and beautiful, as if the chiseling of the shaping years was now revealed in many fine lines that had before been hidden, though the identity of the face was not changed. Not that Sam Gamgee put it that way to himself. He shook his head, as if finding words useless, and murmured: “I love him. He’s like that, and sometimes it shines through, somehow. But I love him, whether or no.”

Perhaps Sam says it best himself in Return of the King:

“I’ll get there, if I leave everything but my bones behind,” said Sam, “And I’ll carry Mr. Frodo up myself, if it breaks my back and heart.”

Hopeful

Sam, despite his circumstances, is always reaching for the good in life. He longs for Rosie. Between the lava streams on Mount Doom, he hopes to taste strawberries again.

From Return of the King:

“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”

Sam’s thoughts and actions are centered upon the good that is to come, whether he is sure it’s coming or not.

We Are Sam

When looking for a blueprint for Christian living in literature, Samwise Gamgee is about as good as it gets.

Though our circumstances around us may be difficult, let us remember to never slow down, never cloak ourselves in visions of grandeur, cling to Christ, and keep our thoughts on the unknown good that is surely waiting.

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