Sam: It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? (Théoden: Victory! We have victory!) But in the end, it's only a passing thing... this shadow. Even darkness must pass! A new day will come! And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer! Those were the stories that stayed with you... that meant something! Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand! I know now! Folk in those stories... had lots of chances of going back, only they didn't. They kept going... because they were holding onto something.
Samwise Gamgee's speech in The Two Towers.
Frodo: What are we holding onto Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for!
Samwise Gamgee to Frodo on the slopes of Mount Doom - one of the most famous quotes in film.
I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!
Samwise "Sam" Gamgee, also known as Samwise the Brave, is the tritagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien's 1954-1955 epic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings and its many adaptations of the same name, including Peter Jackson's film trilogy.
Sam is a Hobbit, a halfling race that mostly lives quiet, rural lives. Sam worked as a gardener for most of his life but one day left his home in the Shire when his best friend and neighbor, Frodo Baggins, was tasked with destroying a cursed artifact known as the One Ring. Together, they embarked on an arduous journey across the land to ensure its destruction in Mordor's Mount Doom.
In the Peter Jackson adaptations, he was portrayed by actor Sean Astin, who also played Mikey Walsh in The Goonies and Bob Newby in Stranger Things, and also voiced Kodi in Balto III: Wings of Change, Chester in the Bunnicula animated series, and Raphael in 2012s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series.
In the novels
The Lord of the Rings
Leaving the Shire
For years, The One Ring was in the possession of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, Frodo's uncle. Bilbo had come across the Ring by chance years ago during his own adventures and used its power of invisibility to evade danger in his quest. After the adventure, Bilbo kept the Ring as a keepsake on his mantle without using it. At his 111th birthday, Bilbo puts on the Ring to vanish before his friends and neighbors, as he wished to take his leave of the Shire and retire with the Elves, wanting to go with a bit of presentation. The wizard Gandalf, who was an old friend of Bilbo, had visited for the retirement and sees the Ring used. Gandalf then realizes that the cursed Ring he has been seeking for years has been with his old friend the whole time. Gandalf convinces Bilbo to leave the Ring for Frodo before he goes and then summons Frodo to inform him of the Ring's importance.
Gandalf tells Frodo that the Ring has the power to make its wearer invisible but also resonates with its master, the evil Sauron, allowing him to influence and eventually possess the wearer and those around him. As the Ring was unused for years, Sauron did not know where it was, but with its recent use, Sauron's attention will be fixed on it and, by extension, the Shire. Both conclude it must be taken away and destroyed, but Gandalf says he cannot be the one to bear it. Gandalf had magical powers, and if he were influenced by the Ring, he would become a truly unstable evil, so the Ring needed to be borne by someone with no innate might and a pure heart, leaving only Frodo. Frodo eventually sees he must be the one to take the Ring away to the Elves to see to its destruction. However, Gandalf notices someone spying on them and discovers it is Samwise, who had been listening at the window all along. Because Sam was privy to the story, it was best for him to journey with Frodo so he would not let the information slip. Sam is less than happy about needing to leave his home and go on a dangerous journey but does not wish for anything to happen to his childhood friend, so he goes with him.
The Fellowship is Formed
Frodo and Sam prepare to leave while Gandalf heads on ahead to consult with the head of his order, Saruman, but says they can meet him at The Prancing Pony Inn while passing the road. Once ready, Frodo and Sam meet Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck and Peregrin "Pippin" Took, two other childhood friends. The two were outrunning a farmer who had caught them stealing his crops, and in their fleeing decided to follow Frodo and Sam. The four follow the road until they get to The Prancing Pony. However, Gandalf is not there. They do, however, hear from a ranger named Strider, who later reveals his true name to be Aragorn. Aragorn was sent by Gandalf to help protect the hobbits and guide them to the elven city of Rivendell. Sam wants to know what happened to Gandalf, but no one is sure—only that he did not arrive, so something is off. Aragorn tells them that with the Ring in Frodo's possession, they cannot delay, as the four had nearly been caught by a wraith on the road. Sam eventually agrees to trust him and move onward.
At Rivendell, Sam is happy that the four can begin heading home. However, Frodo sees that during the meeting called, everyone is under the influence of the Ring and ready to tear each other apart over how to destroy it and who should do it. Frodo offers to take the Ring himself to the treacherous Mount Doom, where it was forged, and throw it into the fires below the mountain. Despite wishing to go home, Sam is the first one to join the quest on its full way through. Merry, Pippin, and Aragorn quickly agree to go as well, as do the meeting members Legolas of the Elves, Gimli of the Dwarves, and Boromir of the human capital of Gondor. Together, the Fellowship of the Ring makes the long journey to Mount Doom seeking to destroy the cursed Ring. While perhaps one of the weaker members of the Fellowship, Sam's closeness to Frodo is largely what manages to keep Frodo from falling under Sauron's spell during their travels.
More coming soon!
In the films
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Coming soon!
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Coming soon!
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Coming soon!
Portrayals
Films
- In Ralph Bakshi's The Lords of the Rings animated film adaptation, he was voiced by Michael Scholes.
- In the 1980 animated Return of the King, he was voiced by the late Roddy McDowell, who also played Caesar in the original Planet of the Apes.
- In the Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he was portrayed by Sean Astin.
- Astin reprised his voice for character in the tie-in game Return of the King and Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest.
Television
- In the 1993 miniseries Hobitit, he was portrayed by Pertti Sveholm.
Radio
- In the 1955 radio adaptation, he was voiced by Victor Platt.
- In the 1971 Mind's Eye radio adaptation, he was voiced by the late Lucille Bliss, who also voiced Smurfette in The Smurfs.
- In the 1981 BBC radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, he was played by Bill Nighy, who also played Sergeant Arthur Wilson in Dad's Army, voiced Grandsanta in Arthur Christmas.
Stage
- In the Canadian stage adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, he was portrayed by Peter Howe.
- In the American stage adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, he was portrayed by Blake Bowden.
Video Games
- In The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, he was voiced by Scott Menville.
Gallery
Trivia
- UGO Networks named Sam as one of their top heroes in entertainment.
- Entertainment Weekly called the character as one of the "greatest sidekicks".
- In a speech, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar quoted Sam’s famous ‘A new day will come’ speech. In response, the actor Sean Astin challenged Varadkar (who has referenced pop culture many times in his speeches) to use a quote from Mean Girls. The Taoiseach then quoted the line “That limit does not exist” from the film.
- During filming of the scene where Sam attempts to go into the river to go after Frobo, Sean Astin step on a piece of glass and had to be rush to the hospital to be treated.
External Links
- Samwise Gamgee on the Pure Good Wiki
- Samwise Gamgee on the Lord of the Rings Wiki
- Samwise Gamgee on the Wikipedia
