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Orual · 01-23-2003, 09:55 PM

I agree with everybody who's posted thus far. Sam, I think, wouldn't have been able to take that first step--accepting the mission. I don't think he would have stepped up at the Council and said "I'll take the Ring." He simply didn't think himself cut out for that job. But when Frodo became involved in the Quest, well, that was a different story. Now Sam had emotional ties to the whole journey, which totally changed his view. I think it's the sort of thing where people will join the armed forces if their best friend joins with them, even if they wouldn't have otherwise.

Alone and without the emotional stimulus of making sure that Frodo was okay, I really don't think that Sam could've dealt with the burden of the Ring. And this is out of the mouth of one of Sam's biggest fans, okay? I really don't think he could have. The action-reaction that it took to push Sam over that line in the sand depended on Frodo's being in peril. And heaven knows he was in peril often enough during the course of the Quest. If it had just been the, honestly, the abstract goal of "saving the world," he probably wouldn't have thought "okay, I have to do this." Sure, it sounds pretty urgent and immediate and pressing and all, but think about it. You're putting your own life on the line because you've been told that the world depends on it. There's really no proof--life in your own little community has been going on much the same as it has as long as you've been old enough to notice. No orcs have been knocking at your door. You've seen a few Nazgul, but only because you have this blasted Ring in the first place, so if you give it up it'll all be dandy, right? That's certainly what I'd think. And it's probably what Sam would think. Fortunately it wasn't what Frodo thought, which is why he took the Ring.

Sam is the best friend that we've never had, the guy who's always there when you need him, and to take that extra step when he really must. That's his role, that's his personality, it's what he's suited for. Look as it might that he'd've made the perfect Ringbearer, after considering it as I write this post I really think that it would've been a mistake, and that Elrond knew what he was doing when he gave the Ring to Frodo.

Whew! That was long-winded...sorry, guys! I gota little carried away.

~*~Orual~*~

[ January 23, 2003: Message edited by: Orual ]

01-23-2003, 09:55 PM	#9
Orual Speaker of the Dead Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Superbia Posts: 868	I agree with everybody who's posted thus far. Sam, I think, wouldn't have been able to take that first step--accepting the mission. I don't think he would have stepped up at the Council and said "I'll take the Ring." He simply didn't think himself cut out for that job. But when Frodo became involved in the Quest, well, that was a different story. Now Sam had emotional ties to the whole journey, which totally changed his view. I think it's the sort of thing where people will join the armed forces if their best friend joins with them, even if they wouldn't have otherwise. Alone and without the emotional stimulus of making sure that Frodo was okay, I really don't think that Sam could've dealt with the burden of the Ring. And this is out of the mouth of one of Sam's biggest fans, okay? I really don't think he could have. The action-reaction that it took to push Sam over that line in the sand depended on Frodo's being in peril. And heaven knows he was in peril often enough during the course of the Quest. If it had just been the, honestly, the abstract goal of "saving the world," he probably wouldn't have thought "okay, I have to do this." Sure, it sounds pretty urgent and immediate and pressing and all, but think about it. You're putting your own life on the line because you've been told that the world depends on it. There's really no proof--life in your own little community has been going on much the same as it has as long as you've been old enough to notice. No orcs have been knocking at your door. You've seen a few Nazgul, but only because you have this blasted Ring in the first place, so if you give it up it'll all be dandy, right? That's certainly what I'd think. And it's probably what Sam would think. Fortunately it wasn't what Frodo thought, which is why he took the Ring. Sam is the best friend that we've never had, the guy who's always there when you need him, and to take that extra step when he really must. That's his role, that's his personality, it's what he's suited for. Look as it might that he'd've made the perfect Ringbearer, after considering it as I write this post I really think that it would've been a mistake, and that Elrond knew what he was doing when he gave the Ring to Frodo. Whew! That was long-winded...sorry, guys! I gota little carried away. ~~Orual~~ [ January 23, 2003: Message edited by: Orual ] __________________ "Oh, my god! I care so little, I almost passed out!" --Dr. Cox, "Scrubs"