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'''Samwise Gamgee''' ([[Third Age|T.A.]] 2983-[[Fourth Age|F.A.]] 62; [[Shire Calendar|S.R.]] 1383-1482), is [[Frodo Baggins]]' servant who proves to be the most loyal of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].  A gardener by trade, Sam seems 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 is Sam who first introduces the theme of the [[Elves]]' sailing from Middle-earth, a subtle foreshadowing of Bilbo and Frodo's final journey across the Sea. He lives with his father, Hamfast Gamgee, known as "[[The Gaffer]]", on [[Bagshot Row]] in the [[Shire]], close to [[Bag End]]. Sam's mother is [[Bell Goodchild]]; he has five siblings: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]].
{{Expansion}}
{{hobbit infobox
| image=[[File:Lorraine Brevig - Sam in a Garden.jpg|250px]]
| name=Samwise Gamgee
| pronun=
| othernames=[[Banazîr]]
| titles=[[Mayor of Michel Delving]]
| position=Gardener
| location=[[Bagshot Row|3 Bagshot Row]], [[Hobbiton]]<br/>[[Bag End]], [[Hobbiton]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=
| birth=[[6 April]] {{TA|2980}}
| birthlocation=
| rule={{FoA|6}} - {{FoA|55|n}}
| sailedwest=After {{FoA|61}}
| sailedfrom=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=102
| notablefor=
| family=[[Gamgee Family|Gamgee]]
| parentage=[[Gaffer Gamgee]] and [[Bell Goodchild]]
| siblings=[[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]] and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]]
| spouse=[[Rose Cotton]]
| children=[[Elanor Gardner|Elanor]], [[Frodo Gardner|Frodo]], [[Rose Gardner|Rose]], [[Merry Gardner|Merry]], [[Pippin Gardner|Pippin]], [[Goldilocks Gardner|Goldilocks]], [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]], [[Daisy Gardner|Daisy]], [[Primrose Gardner|Primrose]], [[Bilbo Gardner|Bilbo]], [[Ruby Gardner|Ruby]], [[Robin Gardner|Robin]], and [[Tolman Gardner|Tolman]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=Brown<ref name="breaking">{{FR|Breaking}}</ref>
| clothing=
| weapons=[[Daggers of Westernesse|Dagger of Westernesse]], also [[Sting]]
| steed=[[Bill the Pony|Bill]]
}}
<center>{{quote|I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam|[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]<ref name="Mount Doom">{{RK|Doom}}</ref>}}</center>


As "punishment" for eavesdropping on [[Gandalf]]'s conversation with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] regarding the dangers of the [[One Ring]], Sam is made Frodo's first companion on his journey to [[Rivendell]] in the beginning of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Sam saves Frodo's life more than once during the quest to destroy the Ring, and he accompanies him all the way to [[Mount Doom]].  
'''Samwise "Sam" Gamgee''' (6 April {{TA|2980}}<ref group="note">In the second edition of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Sam's year of birth was added to ''[[Appendix B|The Tale of Years]]''; it was, however, {{TA|2983}}. This contradicts both the ''[[Longfather Tree of Master Samwise]]'' and a later entry in ''The Tale of Years''. The incorrect date has been corrected in the [[The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition)|50th anniversary edition]]. See also ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', p. 716.</ref> - {{FoA|61}}; [[Shire Reckoning]]: 1380 - 1482; 102 years old when he sailed into the [[Aman|West]]) was [[Frodo Baggins]]' servant and the only original member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] to remain with him till the very end of the journey to [[Mount Doom]].


After [[Shelob]] attacks and seemingly kills Frodo, Sam takes the Ring, intending to complete the quest. Because he holds the Ring for a time, he is considered one of the [[Ring Bearer]]s.  
== History ==
He lived with his father, Hamfast Gamgee, better known as "[[The Gaffer]]", on [[Bagshot Row]] in [[the Shire]], close to [[Bag End]]. Sam's mother was [[Bell Gamgee|Bell Goodchild]]; he had five siblings: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]].


After the War of the Ring, he marries [[Rose Cotton|Rose "Rosie" Cotton]] back in the [[Shire]]. They have thirteen children: [[Elanor Gardner|Elanor the Fair]], [[Frodo Gardner|Frodo]], [[Rose Gardner|Rose]], [[Merry Gardner|Merry]], [[Pippin Gardner|Pippin]], [[Goldilocks Gardner|Goldilocks]], [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]], [[Daisy Gardner|Daisy]], [[Primrose Gardner|Primrose]], [[Bilbo Gardner|Bilbo]], [[Ruby Gardner|Ruby]], [[Robin Gardner|Robin]], and [[Tolman Gardner|Tolman]].  After [[Will Whitfoot]] resigns his post as Mayor of [[Michel Delving]] (the largest town in the Shire and the "unofficial capital"), in [[Fourth Age|F.A.]] 7 or [[Shire Calendar|S.R.]] 1427, Sam is elected Mayor of the Shire for seven consecutive 7-year terms.
A gardener by trade, Sam seemed to be a simple [[Hobbits|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.


After his wife dies in the year 62 of the [[Fourth Age]] ([[Shire Calendar|Shire Reckoning]] 1482), Sam entrusts the [[Red Book of Westmarch|Red Book]] to Elanor and leaves Middle-earth to sail across the Sea and be reunited with Frodo in the [[Undying Lands]], though they would eventually die a mortal death.
Sam was one of the "[[Conspirators]]" who were summoned by [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry Brandybuck]] in order to watch after [[Frodo Baggins]] and the [[The One Ring|Ring]] inherited by Frodo from Bilbo. Being the closest to Frodo, Sam was their "chief investigator" who eavesdropped on his talks with [[Gandalf]] the [[Wizards|Wizard]].<ref>{{FR|Conspiracy}}</ref>


==Name==
On [[13 April]], when Gandalf revealed to Frodo that Bilbo's ring is [[Sauron]]'s One Ring, they noticed Sam eavesdropping. Initially suspected as a spy, Sam feigned innocent curiosity.  As "punishment", Sam was made Frodo's first companion on his journey to [[Bree]] and [[Rivendell]].<ref>{{FR|Shadow}}</ref> Sam and [[Pippin Took]] followed Frodo to his new house at [[Crickhollow]] where his and the Conspirators' role was revealed. Merry joined the travelers on their way to Bree. They passed through the [[Old Forest]], the [[Barrow Downs]] and [[the Prancing Pony]] at Bree where they were joined by "[[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]]". [[Sauron]]'s spies had opened the stables of the inn and all the mounts went loose, therefore before leaving the village, the company purchased a [[Ponies|pony]] from [[Bill Ferny]]. Sam loved and tended the animal, and named him [[Bill the Pony|Bill]], after his owner.


Tolkien took the name from [[Gamgee Tissue]], a surgical dressing invented by a 19th century [[Birmingham]] surgeon called [[Joseph Sampson Gamgee]]. "Gamgee" became the colloquial name in Birmingham for cotton wool; Tolkien described why he had chosen that name for his character:
When they reached [[Rivendell]], Sam was beside Frodo's bed while he was recovering from the [[Morgul-wound]] he was inflicted on [[Weathertop]]. Sam also was caught eavesdropping on the [[Council of Elrond]] and insisted that he accompany Frodo on his [[Quest of the Ring|quest to destroy the Ring]].  
<blockquote>"The choice of Gamgee was primarily directed by alliteration; but I did not invent it. It was caught out of childhood memory, as a comic word or name. It was in fact the name when I was small (in Birmingham) for 'cotton-wool'. (Hence the association of the Gamgees with the Cottons.) I knew nothing of its origin." (''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', ed. Humphrey Carpenter)</blockquote>


It is possible that Tolkien may have subconsciously recalled Dr. Gamgee (who died in [[1886]] but is commemorated by a plaque at the [[Birmingham Medical Institute]], only yards from Tolkien's childhood home) but he claimed to be genuinely surprised when, in March [[1956]], he received a letter from one Sam Gamgee, who had heard that his name was in ''The Lord of the Rings'' but had not read the book. Tolkien replied on [[March 18]]:
In [[Lothlórien]], [[Galadriel]] [[Gifts of Galadriel|gave]] Sam a [[Sam's garden box|box]] containing earth from her orchard.


<blockquote>"Dear Mr. Gamgee,</blockquote>
After the [[Breaking of the Fellowship]], Sam was the only member of the Fellowship to remain with Frodo.
<blockquote>It was very kind of you to write. You can imagine my astonishment when I saw your signature! I can only say, for your comfort, I hope, that the 'Sam Gamgee' of my story is a most heroic character, now widely beloved by many readers, even though his origins are rustic. So that perhaps you will not be displeased at the coincidence of the name of this imaginary character of supposedly many centuries ago being the same as yours." (''The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien'', ed. Humphrey Carpenter)</blockquote>
When [[Gollum]] joined up with them, Sam remained distrustful of his loyalty to Frodo, and treated him with disdain, and partially (though unintentionally) pushed Gollum to betray Frodo in [[Shelob's Lair]].   
[[File:John Howe - Sam and Shelob.jpg|thumb|[[John Howe]] - ''Sam and Shelob''.jpg]]
After [[Shelob]] attacked and seemingly killed Frodo, Sam took the Ring, intending to complete the quest, but upon learning that Frodo still lived, he rescued him from the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]] and returned the Ring to him. Because he held the Ring for a time, he is considered one of the [[Ring-bearers]].
 
Together, Sam and Frodo crossed [[Mordor]] to [[Mount Doom]]. Sam himself carrying Frodo up the slope for part of the way. After the destruction of the Ring, both Sam and Frodo were honored by [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] for their deeds.
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Sam and Rosie Cotton.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''Sam and Rosie Cotton'']]
After the [[War of the Ring]], and the [[Scouring of the Shire]], Sam planted saplings in all the places where specially beautiful and beloved trees had been destroyed, and he put a grain of Galadriel's soil at the root of each. He planted a silver nut in the [[Party Field]] where [[the Party Tree]] had once been, and the nut grew into a [[Mallorn]] tree.
 
He married [[Rose Cotton|Rose "Rosie" Cotton]]. In honor for restoring the Shire his family was given the name [[Gardner Family|Gardner]].
 
They had thirteen children: [[Elanor Gardner|Elanor the Fair]], [[Frodo Gardner|Frodo]], [[Rose Gardner|Rose]], [[Merry Gardner|Merry]], [[Pippin Gardner|Pippin]], [[Goldilocks Gardner|Goldilocks]], [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]], [[Daisy Gardner|Daisy]], [[Primrose Gardner|Primrose]], [[Bilbo Gardner|Bilbo]], [[Ruby Gardner|Ruby]], [[Robin Gardner|Robin]], and [[Tolman Gardner|Tolman]]. When Frodo sailed on the [[White Ship]], at the end of the Third Age, he was entrusted 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 {{FoA|6}}, Sam was elected Mayor of the Shire for seven consecutive 7-year terms.
 
After his wife died in {{FoA|61}}, 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]].
 
==Etymology==
Samwise means "simple minded" or "half-minded". Gamgee is a corruption of the name [[Gammidgy]], a village in the Shire. Both names are presented as translations of the [[Westron]] form of Sam's name '''[[Banazîr]] [[Galbasi]]''' (''also spelled Banazîr Galpsi'') (q.v. for more information).<ref>{{App|Translation}}</ref>
 
Tolkien's English translation, ''Samwís Gamwich'', could have come to ''Samwise Gamgee'' in modern English.
 
The [[Sindarin]] version of Samwise is '''[[Perhael]]'''.
 
==Inspiration==
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] took the name from ''Gamgee Tissue'', a surgical dressing invented by a 19th century [[Birmingham]] surgeon called Joseph Sampson Gamgee. "Gamgee" became the colloquial name in Birmingham for cotton wool. Here, Tolkien describes why he had chosen that name for his character:
{{quote|The choice of Gamgee was primarily directed by alliteration; but I did not invent it. It was caught out of childhood memory, as a comic word or name. It was in fact the name when I was small (in Birmingham) for 'cotton-wool'. (Hence the association of the Gamgees with the Cottons.) I knew nothing of its origin.|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''}}
 
It is possible that Tolkien may have subconsciously recalled Dr. Gamgee (who died in 1886 but is commemorated by a plaque at the Birmingham Medical Institute, only yards from Tolkien's childhood home) but he claimed to be genuinely surprised when, in March 1956, he received a letter from one Sam Gamgee, who had heard that his name was in ''The Lord of the Rings'' but had not read the book. Tolkien replied on March 18:
{{quote|Dear Mr. Gamgee,<p>It was very kind of you to write. You can imagine my astonishment when I saw your signature! I can only say, for your comfort, I hope, that the 'Sam Gamgee' of my story is a most heroic character, now widely beloved by many readers, even though his origins are rustic. So that perhaps you will not be displeased at the coincidence of the name of this imaginary character of supposedly many centuries ago being the same as yours.|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]:'' [[Letter 184]]}}


He proceeded to send Mr Gamgee a signed copy of all three volumes of the book. However, the incident sparked a nagging worry in Tolkien's mind, as he recorded in his journal:  
He proceeded to send Mr Gamgee a signed copy of all three volumes of the book. However, the incident sparked a nagging worry in Tolkien's mind, as he recorded in his journal:  
{{quote|For some time I lived in fear of receiving a letter signed 'S. Gollum'. That would have been more difficult to deal with.|''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]''}}
==Portrayal in adaptations==
<center><gallery>
File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Sam Gamgee.png|Sam in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Samwise Gamgee.jpg|Sam in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Samwise Gamgee.jpg|Sam in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
File:Lego - Sam mini figure.png|Sam as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
</gallery></center>
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Victor Platt]] provided the voice of Sam.
'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:[[Michael Scholes]] was the voice of Sam, and [[Billy Barty]] played him in rotoscoped footage.
'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Sam is provided by [[Lou Bliss]].
'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:[[Roddy McDowall]] provided the voice of Sam.
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:A young [[Bill Nighy|William Nighy]] portrays Sam as a warm and caring person. No dialectical or social difference was made.
'''1992: ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|Tales from the Perilous Realm]]'':'''
:In the two episodes of "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil", [[Jonathan Adams]] portrayed Sam with a very rustic accent.
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Scott Menville]] provided the voice for Sam in all but the X-box version; there, [[Cliff Broadway]] took over. The role of Sam is greatly diminished: after being caught eavesdropping by Gandalf, Sam is to be Frodo's companion, but he does not appear again until Frodo reaches [[Farmer Maggot]].
'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:Sam is played by [[Sean Astin]].


<blockquote>"For some time I lived in fear of receiving a letter signed 'S. Gollum'. That would have been more difficult to deal with." (''Tolkien: A Biography'', Humphrey Carpenter)</blockquote>
'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Sam is a playable characters in several missions: escape from [[Osgiliath]], Shelob's Lair, Cirith Ungol and the Crack of Doom.


In the appendices of ''The Lord of the Rings'', pages 1109 and 1111, it is mentioned that the [[Westron]] form of Sam's name is '''Banaz&icirc;r Galbasi''' (''also spelled Galpsi'').  ''Banaz&icirc;r'' comes from elements meaning "halfwise" or "simple".  ''Galbasi'' comes from the name of the village ''Galabas''.  The name ''Galabas'' uses the elements ''galab-'', meaning "game", and ''bas-'', corresponding somewhat to "-wich" or "-wick".  Tolkien's English translation, ''Samw&iacute;s Gamwich'', could have come to ''Samwise Gamgee'' in modern English.
'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Samwise only makes a single appearance in the Lothlorien mission.


==Actors==
'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Unlike most other characters, Frodo and Sam make no appearance in Skirmish battles - they only appear in the storyline campaign.


[[Roddy McDowall]] voiced the character of Samwise Gamgee in the 1980 animated short of ''[[The Return of the King (1980 movie)|The Return of the King]]'', made directly for television.  In the [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 movie)|more popular animated version]], originally released in  1978, Michael Scholes voiced the character.
'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Sam and other Hobbits are no longer permanent units, they are now a temporary power boost available to Free People forces.


In the 1981 BBC radio [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|serial of ''The Lord of the Rings'']], Sam is played by [[William Nighy]].  
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Samwise is first found in Rivendell, preparing for the departure. Later, he is found on [[Cerin Amroth]] in Lothlorien, alongside Frodo. The game's "Guardian" class ("Tank" in MMO terms) is based on Samwise due to the dedication he showed Frodo. This leads to an interesting occurrence: at some point each player gets to talk to a major character, who inspired his class. But while Legolas can teach a lot to a Hunter and Bilbo can show much to a Burglar, Sawmwise insists that he is no Guardian and not fit to be one - because his heroic deeds have not happened yet. The player has to double-check and discovers that whoever talked of Sam as a great Guardian, apparently had misheard the word "Gardener".


In [[Peter Jackson]]'s ''[[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' (2001), ''[[Peter Jackson's The Two Towers|The Two Towers]]'' (2002) and ''[[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]'' (2003), Sam is played by [[Sean Astin]]. It is not clear whether Astin had heard Nighy's radio performance, but both actors bring very similar characterisations and accents to the role.
== Commentary ==
Sam Gamgee is by many regarded as the "true hero" of Tolkien's story. Tolkien himself expressed this view in one of his letters: Sam is referred to as the "chief hero", and special emphasis is placed on Sam's "rustic love" for Rosie.<ref>{{L|131}}</ref> The quest to destroy the Ring only succeeds because of Sam, who repeatedly saves Frodo from disaster (such as rescuing him at [[Cirith Ungol]] and carrying him up [[Mount Doom]]). He was one of only two Ring-bearers strong enough to surrender the Ring voluntarily.


==Commentary==
The relationship between Frodo and Sam is, in many respects, at the center of ''The Lord of the Rings''. To the modern reader, it seems archaic, as it is extremely class-oriented.  Sam's humbleness and "plain speaking" is frequently emphasised in contrast to Frodo's "gentility", and he often shows deference to Frodo, calling him "Mister Frodo" or "Master".  At the same time, a strong bond of love and trust grows between them, portrayed most poignantly during the events of Cirith Ungol, where Sam vows to return to his (apparently) dead master, to be reunited with Frodo in death.


Sam Gamgee is by many regarded as the "true hero" of Tolkien's story. Tolkien himself expressed this view in one of his letters: Sam is referred to as the "chief hero", and special emphasis is placed on Sam's "rustic love" for Rosie. {{ref|letters}} The quest to destroy the Ring only succeeds because of Sam, who repeatedly saves Frodo from disaster (such as rescuing him at [[Cirith Ungol]] and carrying him up [[Mount Doom]]). He was one of two Ringbearers strong enough to surrender the Ring voluntarily.
[[Tolkienists]] regard Sam as Frodo's ''[[wikipedia:Batman (army)|batman]]''. In the British Army, a batman was an orderly who acted as the personal servant of an officer. It was a role with which Tolkien (who served as an Army officer in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I First World War]) would have been extremely familiar. Sam undertakes all of the typical roles of a batman &mdash; he runs errands for Frodo, he cooks, he transports him (or at least carries him), and he carries his luggage. Tolkien confirmed this interpretation when he wrote in a private letter that:
{{quote|My Sam Gamgee is indeed a reflexion of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognized as so far superior to myself|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''}}


The relationship between Frodo and Sam is, in many respects, at the centre of ''The Lord of the Rings''. To the modern reader, it seems archaic - it is clearly extremely class-oriented.  Sam's humbleness and "plain speaking" is frequently emphasised in contrast to Frodo's "gentility", and he often shows deference to Frodo, calling him "Mister Frodo".  At the same time, a strong bond of love and trust grows between them, portrayed most poignantly during the events of Cirith Ungol, where Sam vows to return to his (apparently) dead master, to be reunited with Frodo in death.  
Compare to the relation between [[wikipedia:Don_Quixote|Don Quixote]] and his squire [[wikipedia:Sancho Panza|Sancho Panza]], and the gradual "Quixotization" of Sancho.


[[Tolkien research|Tolkienologists]] regard Sam as Frodo's [[batman (army)|batman]]. In the [[British Army]], a batman was an orderly who acted as the personal servant of an officer. It was a role with which Tolkien (who served as an Army officer in the [[World War I|First World War]]) would have been extremely familiar. Sam undertakes all of the typical roles of a batman - he runs errands for Frodo, he cooks, he transports him (or at least carries him) and he carries his luggage.  Tolkien confirmed this interpretation when he wrote in a private letter that:
{{seq-start}}
<blockquote>"My Sam Gamgee is indeed a reflexion of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognized as so far superior to myself" (''The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien'', ed. Humphrey Carpenter).</blockquote>
{{seq-head
| race=hobbit
| house=[[Gamgee Family]]
| born=[[6 April]] {{TA|2980}}
| died=After {{FoA|61}}
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Frodo Baggins]]
| list=[[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]]
| dates=[[13 March|13]]-[[14 March]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=[[Frodo Baggins]]
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{fellowship}}


Compare to the relation between [[Don Quixote]] and his squire [[Sancho Panza]], and the gradual "Quixotization" of Sancho.
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Samwise Gamgee|Images of Samwise Gamgee]]


==References==
{{References|n}}
#{{note|letters}} In the long summary-letter sent to Milton Waldman, published in ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' as #131.


[[Category:Hobbits]] [[Category:Gamgee]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Gamgee]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[de:Samweis Gamdschie]]
[[fa:سم‌وایز گمجی]]

Revision as of 15:59, 8 September 2014

"...It is a long tale..." — Aragorn
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Samwise Gamgee
Hobbit
Lorraine Brevig - Sam in a Garden.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesBanazîr
TitlesMayor of Michel Delving
PositionGardener
Location3 Bagshot Row, Hobbiton
Bag End, Hobbiton
AffiliationFellowship of the Ring
Birth6 April T.A. 2980
RuleFo.A. 6 - 55
Sailed westAfter Fo.A. 61 (aged 102)
Grey Havens
Family
FamilyGamgee
ParentageGaffer Gamgee and Bell Goodchild
SiblingsHamson, Halfred, Daisy, May and Marigold
SpouseRose Cotton
ChildrenElanor, Frodo, Rose, Merry, Pippin, Goldilocks, Hamfast, Daisy, Primrose, Bilbo, Ruby, Robin, and Tolman
Physical Description
GenderMale
Eye colorBrown[1]
WeaponryDagger of Westernesse, also Sting
SteedBill
GalleryImages of Samwise Gamgee
"I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam"
Frodo[2]

Samwise "Sam" Gamgee (6 April T.A. 2980[note 1] - Fo.A. 61; Shire Reckoning: 1380 - 1482; 102 years old when he sailed into the West) was Frodo Baggins' servant and the only original member of the Fellowship of the Ring to remain with him till the very end of the journey to Mount Doom.

History

He lived with his father, Hamfast Gamgee, better 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.

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.

Sam was one of the "Conspirators" who were summoned by Merry Brandybuck in order to watch after Frodo Baggins and the Ring inherited by Frodo from Bilbo. Being the closest to Frodo, Sam was their "chief investigator" who eavesdropped on his talks with Gandalf the Wizard.[3]

On 13 April, when Gandalf revealed to Frodo that Bilbo's ring is Sauron's One Ring, they noticed Sam eavesdropping. Initially suspected as a spy, Sam feigned innocent curiosity. As "punishment", Sam was made Frodo's first companion on his journey to Bree and Rivendell.[4] Sam and Pippin Took followed Frodo to his new house at Crickhollow where his and the Conspirators' role was revealed. Merry joined the travelers on their way to Bree. They passed through the Old Forest, the Barrow Downs and the Prancing Pony at Bree where they were joined by "Strider". Sauron's spies had opened the stables of the inn and all the mounts went loose, therefore before leaving the village, the company purchased a pony from Bill Ferny. Sam loved and tended the animal, and named him Bill, after his owner.

When they reached Rivendell, Sam was beside Frodo's bed while he was recovering from the Morgul-wound he was inflicted on Weathertop. Sam also was caught eavesdropping on the Council of Elrond and insisted that he accompany Frodo on his quest to destroy the Ring.

In Lothlórien, Galadriel gave Sam a box containing earth from her orchard.

After the Breaking of the Fellowship, Sam was the only member of the Fellowship to remain with Frodo. When Gollum joined up with them, Sam remained distrustful of his loyalty to Frodo, and treated him with disdain, and partially (though unintentionally) pushed Gollum to betray Frodo in Shelob's Lair.

John Howe - Sam and Shelob.jpg

After Shelob attacked and seemingly killed Frodo, Sam took the Ring, intending to complete the quest, but upon learning that Frodo still lived, he rescued him from the Tower of Cirith Ungol and returned the Ring to him. Because he held the Ring for a time, he is considered one of the Ring-bearers.

Together, Sam and Frodo crossed Mordor to Mount Doom. Sam himself carrying Frodo up the slope for part of the way. After the destruction of the Ring, both Sam and Frodo were honored by King Elessar for their deeds.

Ted Nasmith - Sam and Rosie Cotton

After the War of the Ring, and the Scouring of the Shire, Sam planted saplings in all the places where specially beautiful and beloved trees had been destroyed, and he put a grain of Galadriel's soil at the root of each. He planted a silver nut in the Party Field where the Party Tree had once been, and the nut grew into a Mallorn tree.

He married Rose "Rosie" Cotton. In honor for restoring the Shire his family was given the name Gardner.

They had thirteen children: Elanor the Fair, Frodo, Rose, Merry, Pippin, Goldilocks, Hamfast, Daisy, Primrose, Bilbo, Ruby, Robin, and Tolman. When Frodo sailed on the White Ship, at the end of the Third Age, he was entrusted 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 Fo.A. 6, Sam was elected Mayor of the Shire for seven consecutive 7-year terms.

After his wife died in Fo.A. 61, 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.

Etymology

Samwise means "simple minded" or "half-minded". Gamgee is a corruption of the name Gammidgy, a village in the Shire. Both names are presented as translations of the Westron form of Sam's name Banazîr Galbasi (also spelled Banazîr Galpsi) (q.v. for more information).[5]

Tolkien's English translation, Samwís Gamwich, could have come to Samwise Gamgee in modern English.

The Sindarin version of Samwise is Perhael.

Inspiration

J.R.R. Tolkien took the name from Gamgee Tissue, a surgical dressing invented by a 19th century Birmingham surgeon called Joseph Sampson Gamgee. "Gamgee" became the colloquial name in Birmingham for cotton wool. Here, Tolkien describes why he had chosen that name for his character:

"The choice of Gamgee was primarily directed by alliteration; but I did not invent it. It was caught out of childhood memory, as a comic word or name. It was in fact the name when I was small (in Birmingham) for 'cotton-wool'. (Hence the association of the Gamgees with the Cottons.) I knew nothing of its origin."
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

It is possible that Tolkien may have subconsciously recalled Dr. Gamgee (who died in 1886 but is commemorated by a plaque at the Birmingham Medical Institute, only yards from Tolkien's childhood home) but he claimed to be genuinely surprised when, in March 1956, he received a letter from one Sam Gamgee, who had heard that his name was in The Lord of the Rings but had not read the book. Tolkien replied on March 18:

"Dear Mr. Gamgee,

It was very kind of you to write. You can imagine my astonishment when I saw your signature! I can only say, for your comfort, I hope, that the 'Sam Gamgee' of my story is a most heroic character, now widely beloved by many readers, even though his origins are rustic. So that perhaps you will not be displeased at the coincidence of the name of this imaginary character of supposedly many centuries ago being the same as yours."

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter 184

He proceeded to send Mr Gamgee a signed copy of all three volumes of the book. However, the incident sparked a nagging worry in Tolkien's mind, as he recorded in his journal:

"For some time I lived in fear of receiving a letter signed 'S. Gollum'. That would have been more difficult to deal with."
J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

Portrayal in adaptations

1955: The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series):

Victor Platt provided the voice of Sam.

1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):

Michael Scholes was the voice of Sam, and Billy Barty played him in rotoscoped footage.

1979: The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series):

The voice of Sam is provided by Lou Bliss.

1980: The Return of the King (1980 film):

Roddy McDowall provided the voice of Sam.

1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):

A young William Nighy portrays Sam as a warm and caring person. No dialectical or social difference was made.

1992: Tales from the Perilous Realm:

In the two episodes of "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil", Jonathan Adams portrayed Sam with a very rustic accent.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

Scott Menville provided the voice for Sam in all but the X-box version; there, Cliff Broadway took over. The role of Sam is greatly diminished: after being caught eavesdropping by Gandalf, Sam is to be Frodo's companion, but he does not appear again until Frodo reaches Farmer Maggot.

2001-03: The Lord of the Rings (film series):

Sam is played by Sean Astin.

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game):

Sam is a playable characters in several missions: escape from Osgiliath, Shelob's Lair, Cirith Ungol and the Crack of Doom.

2004: The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring:

Samwise only makes a single appearance in the Lothlorien mission.

2004: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth:

Unlike most other characters, Frodo and Sam make no appearance in Skirmish battles - they only appear in the storyline campaign.

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II:

Sam and other Hobbits are no longer permanent units, they are now a temporary power boost available to Free People forces.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Samwise is first found in Rivendell, preparing for the departure. Later, he is found on Cerin Amroth in Lothlorien, alongside Frodo. The game's "Guardian" class ("Tank" in MMO terms) is based on Samwise due to the dedication he showed Frodo. This leads to an interesting occurrence: at some point each player gets to talk to a major character, who inspired his class. But while Legolas can teach a lot to a Hunter and Bilbo can show much to a Burglar, Sawmwise insists that he is no Guardian and not fit to be one - because his heroic deeds have not happened yet. The player has to double-check and discovers that whoever talked of Sam as a great Guardian, apparently had misheard the word "Gardener".

Commentary

Sam Gamgee is by many regarded as the "true hero" of Tolkien's story. Tolkien himself expressed this view in one of his letters: Sam is referred to as the "chief hero", and special emphasis is placed on Sam's "rustic love" for Rosie.[6] The quest to destroy the Ring only succeeds because of Sam, who repeatedly saves Frodo from disaster (such as rescuing him at Cirith Ungol and carrying him up Mount Doom). He was one of only two Ring-bearers strong enough to surrender the Ring voluntarily.

The relationship between Frodo and Sam is, in many respects, at the center of The Lord of the Rings. To the modern reader, it seems archaic, as it is extremely class-oriented. Sam's humbleness and "plain speaking" is frequently emphasised in contrast to Frodo's "gentility", and he often shows deference to Frodo, calling him "Mister Frodo" or "Master". At the same time, a strong bond of love and trust grows between them, portrayed most poignantly during the events of Cirith Ungol, where Sam vows to return to his (apparently) dead master, to be reunited with Frodo in death.

Tolkienists regard Sam as Frodo's batman. In the British Army, a batman was an orderly who acted as the personal servant of an officer. It was a role with which Tolkien (who served as an Army officer in the First World War) would have been extremely familiar. Sam undertakes all of the typical roles of a batman — he runs errands for Frodo, he cooks, he transports him (or at least carries him), and he carries his luggage. Tolkien confirmed this interpretation when he wrote in a private letter that:

"My Sam Gamgee is indeed a reflexion of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognized as so far superior to myself"
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

Compare to the relation between Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza, and the gradual "Quixotization" of Sancho.

Samwise Gamgee
Gamgee Family
Born: 6 April T.A. 2980 Died: After Fo.A. 61
Preceded by:
Frodo Baggins
Ring-bearer
13-14 March, T.A. 3019
Followed by:
Frodo Baggins


Members of the Fellowship of the Ring
Frodo · Sam · Merry · Pippin · Gandalf · Aragorn · Legolas · Gimli · Boromir

See also

Notes

  1. In the second edition of The Lord of the Rings, Sam's year of birth was added to The Tale of Years; it was, however, T.A. 2983. This contradicts both the Longfather Tree of Master Samwise and a later entry in The Tale of Years. The incorrect date has been corrected in the 50th anniversary edition. See also The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 716.

References

fa:سم‌وایز گمجی