[Mithalwen]

I must admit I never thought of Sam as stupid ...and I hate the portrayal in the film ... the radio portrayal of him is much more as I imagined him ... ... I think Sam was probably regarded more as being "away with the fairies" for his interest in elves "walking trees" and old stories rather than intellectually impaired as such....
Sam, although he often chides hims self for stupidity is so often the best judge of the situation - he thinks out what Frodo has done at Parth Galen, he is cautious of Strider and Gollum.....

Also I think it was far from Tolkien's intention - Sam was modelled on the "batmen" of WW1 who so often save their officers bacon with native wit and resourcefulness triumphing over "breeding" and privileged education. In someway I would say Sam is modern rather than anachronistic because of his social mobility. Gaffer clearly thinks that Sam has "ideas above his station" in getting an education when his fate is merely to follow in his father's footsteps. In comparison Merry and Pippin seem like "hooray henries" , mucking about until they follow in their father's footsteps. Although financially Sam benefitted from Frodo's legacy, socially he has reached the level of Merry and Pippin (could the gaffer have imagined their families intermarrying - I think not..) and takes the elected position of Mayor for the rest of his life ..... Same is about the only "self-made man" in the whole canon - not so stupid to my mind........... He is also a microcosm of social changes happening in the UK at the same time as the books were written .......