[Mithalwen]

"anti-hero, principal character of a modern literary or dramatic work who lacks the attributes of the traditional protagonist or hero. The anti-hero's lack of courage, honesty, or grace, his weaknesses and confusion, often reflect modern man's ambivalence toward traditional moral and social virtues."

THat would fit quite a few of the people already mentioned but not Sam. I think Sam is more of an "unsung hero". He was modelled on the "batmen" Tolkien encountered in WW1 and I think Tolkien does genuinely admire him. While he is given a fair amount of comedy and no other character does himself down, he is the most "real" perhaps of all ..... For all that he is a servant, he is not cowed or fazed by the great lords and he is a rare "socially mobile" character... He is a servant who gate crashes a great counsel, answers back a captain of Gondor.... for all his being "trying" ... his lack of nobility has it's advantages. I doubt Frodo would have survived GOllum without a "nassty suspicious" hobbit sidekick...