Lord of the Rings is a story that many people know very well. It is full of compelling characters and takes place in an interesting world. Lord of the Rings tells the story of a humble Hobbit named Frodo Baggins, played by Elijah Wood in the movies. He is given a seemingly impossible task: take the One Ring to Mount Doom and destroy it, going behind Sauron's ever-watchful eye to do so. There are many other intriguing characters that populate this world, from Frodo's Hobbit friends to the wizard Gandalf. Aragorn, the humble Ranger who becomes King, is also one of the main characters. As is Arwen, Aragorn's elf-maiden love interest. However, someone unexpected might be the most important character.
That would make sense given the themes of Lord of the Rings. Many of the main characters have humble origins but are hiding greatness within. Even Frodo himself is just a simple Hobbit. Until the events of the story, he lives a relatively normal life. Well, as normal as life can be when one is a Hobbit living in a fantasy world. The story seems to suggest to those watching or reading, that one never knows who someone could turn out to be. And the most important character of the story certainly wouldn't consider themself such. That's part of their charm.
The most important character in Lord of the Rings is none other than Samwise Gamgee, Frodo's close friend and the one who supports him through it all. As Frodo himself admits, he wouldn't have made it without Sam. And that is what makes Sam the most important character in Lord of the Rings. Tolkien's books and the Lord of the Rings movies focus on humble characters becoming greater than they ever thought they'd be. Sam himself, though, returns to his humble origins. After Frodo leaves Middle Earth behind, Sam is still in the Shire. Though he, like Frodo, remains forever changed by his experiences outside of it.
Despite that, Sam retains his optimism. That ability of his to always look on the bright side, even when things get tough, is another thing that makes him the most important character in Lord of the Rings. While Frodo is understandably changed by his experiences and is unable to remain in Middle Earth because of it, Sam stays. He can rise above any challenge he faces.
Due to his relentless optimism, Sam can be an inspirational character for anyone watching or reading. He can inspire people to remain happy and relaxed, no matter what they might be going through. At the same time, Sam's optimism isn't unrealistic. He is optimistic but also knows that life can be dark. However, his ability to hang on through the dark periods makes him a true hero.
Sam's optimistic perspective is not the only thing that makes him such an important character in Lord of the Rings. There's also Sam's loyalty. Sam doesn't leave Frodo behind, sticking with his friend even up to the fires of Mount Doom itself. It is Sam's loyalty that likely keeps Frodo going at that difficult time. Themes of loyalty are also important to Lord of the Rings and many similar fantasy stories.
Sam could be considered the real hero of the story in a way, as he is one of the characters who gets a happy ending. Frodo's ending is more bittersweet, as it involves leaving friends like Sam behind. Sam, however, gets to live a happy life with his wife and children. And that is definitely a happier ending than whatever happened to Frodo. Sam's hopeful nature also makes him the true heart of the story, and that's important too. Without a heart, a story cannot reach its full potential.
Of course, not everyone will agree that Sam is the most important character in Lord of the Rings. Some might say it's Aragorn or Gandalf or even Gollum. Everyone is going to have a different take on the story. Still, one can make a good case for Sam being the most important character. He is full of wisdom, too. He recognizes what makes a story compelling and what makes people keep going despite the danger. Sam knows the importance of hope. No matter what happens, his hope never leaves him. Sam believes in the good in the world to such a powerful extent. Frodo needed that belief in the world's goodness throughout the story. It's something many people watching and reading the story might need. And without Sam, that aspect of the story wouldn't exist so prominently.
Sam personifies goodness and hope. He inspires those who need it without it being corny. He does it through determination, optimism, and loyalty. And all of that is part of what makes Sam such an important character.