Wk8 Bk6 Ch1: Sam and the Ring

[Stormrider]

From: Stormridr (Original Message) Sent: 5/11/2003 9:44 PM

Sean Astin as Sam

Sam put the Ring on several times in this chapter and we learn through Sam's senses what it is like to wear it. His hearing is sharpened only to deceive him, his eyesight is blurred, he feels the Eye searching, he is weighed down by its burden. Yes, Sam is even tempted to claim it. The Ring gives Sam wild fantasies of himself as Samwise the Strong, Hero of the Age. And yet Sam is a down to earth kind of hobbit and he realizes his limitations, his own personal goals in life, and that these ideas are only a trick of the Ring.

How is it that Sam has enough foresight and common sense to see through the tricks of the Ring's lies of temptation? Or is there more to it than that?

[Stormrider]

From: jerseyshore Sent: 5/12/2003 9:28 PM
It isn't only that Sam sees through the Ring's promises of grandeur, and has more sense than to believe himself a worthy wielder of the power in the Ring. These are factors, but they are outweighed by the main purpose that Sam has followed all along: to see to Frodo's safety. When he thought Frodo was dead, Sam went on to try to accomplish their mission by himself, but the minute he realized that the orcs had captured his friend, and that he was still alive, he went back to his original goal of helping, serving and safeguarding Frodo. Completing the mission of destroying the Ring, carrying the Ring, using the Ring--none of these had any importance to him in comparison with his primary goal of aiding Frodo in any way he could.

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From: Annie2 Sent: 5/12/2003 10:11 PM
Jerseyshore writes:

When he thought Frodo was dead, Sam went on to try to accomplish their mission by himself, but the minute he realized that the orcs had captured his friend, and that he was still alive, he went back to his original goal of helping, serving and safeguarding Frodo.

Wow, what an eye opener! I hadn't thought of it in quite that way. My thinking ran parrallel to yours until my eyes hit upon what I highlighted in red above. I will be continuing this discussion next week in The Land of Shadow. I wish I had had this insight when I wrote one of the discussion questions. I could alter it but I think I will leave it as is. I will be curious to see how this thread develops.

Annie

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From: Desi-Baggins Sent: 5/13/2003 6:30 PM
Sam's main goal was to stay with Frodo and keep him safe but I do think it helped that Sam doesn't see him self as the ruling type. If he did see himself as the ruler type he wouldn't care to serve Frodo or anyone else but to be served by others and that could have led to him taking the Ring as his own. It is a good thing Sam is so faithful to Frodo.

Desi