Sam was the protagonist of the story. Frodo literally did nothing notable in the entire story. He didn’t even throw the fucking ring into the volcano, which was the only job he had. Frodo was a rich asshole climbing Mt. Everest, and Sam was the sherpa who saved his ass but got none of the credit.
Frodo was responsible for being the vessel to absorb and shield the ring’s power from others while carrying it to Mt Doom. If Sam himself carried it, he would have eventually succumbed to the ring just like Frodo. No one could really do much alongside that burden.
He saved the party in the burrow, endured the Nazgul blade in his shoulder, decided to take the burden alone when it started to affect the fellowship, tamed Gollum and got them through Emyn Muil and the Marshes, convinced Faramir to let them go on and keep their guide.
Granted, after being stung by Shelob it was Sam that kept them going, but in the end Frodo even predicted (or maybe more than predicted?) Gollums demise on the slopes of Mt. Doom: “If you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom.”
For me this is kind of the point of his whole character: He isn’t particularly strong or mighty, but he keeps going and eventually fulfills his impossible quest through courage, wisdom and restraint. He most likely wouldn’t have come far on his own, but without him there was no hope at all.
Sam was the protagonist of the story. Frodo literally did nothing notable in the entire story. He didn’t even throw the fucking ring into the volcano, which was the only job he had. Frodo was a rich asshole climbing Mt. Everest, and Sam was the sherpa who saved his ass but got none of the credit.
Frodo was responsible for being the vessel to absorb and shield the ring’s power from others while carrying it to Mt Doom. If Sam himself carried it, he would have eventually succumbed to the ring just like Frodo. No one could really do much alongside that burden.
Eh, he had his moments.
He saved the party in the burrow, endured the Nazgul blade in his shoulder, decided to take the burden alone when it started to affect the fellowship, tamed Gollum and got them through Emyn Muil and the Marshes, convinced Faramir to let them go on and keep their guide.
Granted, after being stung by Shelob it was Sam that kept them going, but in the end Frodo even predicted (or maybe more than predicted?) Gollums demise on the slopes of Mt. Doom: “If you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom.”
For me this is kind of the point of his whole character: He isn’t particularly strong or mighty, but he keeps going and eventually fulfills his impossible quest through courage, wisdom and restraint. He most likely wouldn’t have come far on his own, but without him there was no hope at all.