Samwise Gamgee

A gardener by trade, Sam seemed to be a simple Hobbit of plain speech. However, his love for Elves, his gift for poetry, and his belief that the world contains greater wonders than most hobbits are aware of (all nurtured by his tutor Bilbo Baggins) set him apart from the beginning. It was Sam who first introduced the theme of the Elves sailing from Middle-earth, a subtle foreshadowing of Bilbo and Frodo’s final journey across the Sea. He lived with his father, Hamfast Gamgee, known as “The Gaffer”, on Bagshot Row in the Shire, close to Bag End. Sam’s mother was Bell Goodchild; he had five siblings: Hamson, Halfred, Daisy, May, and Marigold.

As “punishment” for eavesdropping on Gandalf’s conversation with Frodo regarding the dangers of the One Ring, Sam was made Frodo’s first companion on his journey to Rivendell in the beginning of Frodo’s journey. Sam saved Frodo’s life more than once during the quest to destroy the Ring, and he accompanied him all the way to Mount Doom. Gollum planned to kill the hobbits as Sam eavesdropped on his plotting. Sam exclaimed it to Frodo but was cast down by him. Gollum led Frodo into Shelob’s Lair hoping to kill him since Sam was gone. Sam returned and fought his way to find his hobbit companion.

After Shelob attacked and seemingly killed Frodo, Sam took the Ring, intending to complete the quest. Because he held the Ring for a time, he was considered one of the ring-bearers. After thinking Frodo was dead, orcs came and scavenged the body explaining that he still alive. Sam followed the orcs into the tower of Cirith Ungol. The Uruk-Hai and Orcs were rioting and killing each other making it easier for Sam to get to Frodo. Sam eventually saved Frodo and made their way to Mount Doom, disguising as orcs along the way. The way to Mount Doom was filled with fiery rocks and pillows of ash which made it almost impossible for the hobbits to pass. Frodo was collapsing and Sam carried him up to Mount Doom to be stopped by Gollum.

Sam weakened Gollum and the hobbits ran to the volcano. As Sam yelled for Frodo to destroy the ring, Frodo was corrupted. Gollum attacked them by knocking out Sam with a rock, and biting off Frodo’s finger in the process. Gollum was reunited with his treasure for a short time before being pushed off the rocky ledge by Frodo. As Gollum was dying and the ring melting, Frodo was hanging on to the ledge. Sam then woke up to pull him from the edge and they both ran out of the volcano while the lava was rising. The two were rescued by Gandalf and the eagles. The four hobbits then made it back to the Shire and settled there once again.

After the War of the Ring, he married Rosie Cotton. They had thirteen children: Elanor the Fair, Frodo, Rose, Merry, Pippin, Goldilocks, Hamfast, Daisy, Primrose, Bilbo, Ruby, Robin, and Tolman. Sam accompanied Frodo to the Undying Lands trip. Frodo then announced that he was leaving, and then gave Sam the Red Book of Westmarch. After Will Whitfoot resigned his post as Mayor of Michel Delving (the largest town in the Shire and the “unofficial capital”), in SR 1427, Sam was elected Mayor of the Shire for seven consecutive 7-year terms.

After his wife died in the year 61 of the Fourth Age (SR 1482), Sam entrusted the Red Book to Elanor and left Middle-earth to sail across the Sea and be reunited with Frodo in the Undying Lands.