In praise of Sam's Pans

[Gorwingel]

The leaving of the Pans always reminded me of stories from the Oregon Trail when people would leave all their treasures on the side of the road to lighten the load. Sam was kind of similar to them in a way. In the beginning the personal possessions where very important to and he would have never thought of giving them up. Then eventually after going through a part of the very difficult journey, he reaches a point where he finds that they really don't matter in the great story of things, and so they are left. But he keeps them till the last possible moment, because it is all that is remaining of his old life and his civility. I was very surprised thought when I read the books that he kept them as long as he did. But I don't personally think that Sam had given up hope of surviving when he gave up the pans. I think that he had reached a point where the ring was the main thing, and them living or dieing really didn't matter. If they survived they survived, and if they died they died.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 4:14 AM January 25, 2004: Message edited by: Gorwingel ]