My favourite character is Sam. I once told my friend this, and she yelled at me and called him 'fat and stupid.' But here's the reality...Sam is a loving, loyal friend. He is willing to go through anything to ensure Frodo's safety, even when Frodo sends him away. He continues, throughout the journey, to be unphased by the powers of the Ring, which most other members of the Fellowship are unable to do. Sam knows what is worth fighting for, and he fights for it. He knows that there will eventually be light, even after all this darkness, and this keeps him going while others feel hopeless. Sam has a keen ability to know whether someone is a good person or not, as evidenced by his feelings on Gollum.
Haha...I wrote a 2-page essay on this topic once. It was awesome. (As awesome as this smiley face?
I doubt it.)