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Won a power of wills against two ancient, malice filled spirits
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Well, he did have the Phial of Galadriel to give him a little help there. But at least he had the willpower to use it in a tight fix.
Not to denigrate Sam at all, because he is a very heroic, strong-hearted figure, but it seems he had an enormous amount of luck behind him (or probably a Higher Power) when it came to his feats in Cirith Ungol. It almost borders on the fantastic, especially the part where he puts on the Ring right in Mordor. A Nazgul should have swooped down and picked him off right then and there. Oh, that's right, they weren't "at home". Another bit of fantastic luck.
Let's also not forget that Frodo stood up to Shelob as well, and if the tables had been turned, I have no doubt that he would have advanced on the spider if it had been Sam who was taken.
But you also have to take into consideration the duties of the two Hobbits. Sam's sole duty (as well as the others in the party), was to protect Frodo. Frodo's primary duty was to protect the Ring, at all costs. You don't protect a precious object by putting yourself forward into any skirmish or battle, risking yourself being killed or captured.
At Weathertop and Moria, I think Frodo aquitted himself quite well. The only other attack he faced - before Cirith Ungol, that is - was from Boromir! The fact that he didn't stab Boromir out of hand as he tried to take the Ring is only to Frodo's credit.
So let's knock off these "Frodo was a whooze" threads. The fact that Frodo was more of the "non-violent resistance" school of thought is what made him the perfect Ringbearer. I'm sure not only Gandalf, but Ghandi, would have approved.
[ August 03, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]