Of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, probably the most beloved character in the story that many claim as their favorite would be Samwise Gamgee. It is hard to find anything to complain about when it comes to Sam—he’s a loyal friend, simple, pure of heart, and one with nature. Not to mention, his bravery outmatches the other Hobbits except for maybe Frodo (at times). And without Sam’s love and protection over Frodo, the quest to destroy the Ring might have ended in tragedy.
Sam played such a crucial role in the quest of The Lord of the Rings, that many ask what would happen if he was the Ring Bearer instead of Frodo Baggins. Sam has a strong desire for the simple things in life, but he goes on the quest with Frodo—even though he could have turned back at Rivendale—not for any personal gain, but for the sake of others and out of the goodness of his heart. Sam is quoted in The Fellowship of the Ring book, saying how he knows the road he and The Fellowship takes will be dangerous, long, and dark, but he still won’t turn back. He says, “it isn't to see Elves now, nor dragons, nor mountains, that I want – I don't rightly know what I want: but I have something to do before the end, and it lies ahead, not in the Shire.”
This shows how Sam can sense the importance of his role in the quest, and won’t let anyone or anything stop him or send him home. Though he loves his home and those he left behind, Sam goes forward anyway. Because of his strong desire to do good by others, would he have been able to carry the Ring as the sole Ring Bearer? Though Frodo is the protagonist of the story, Sam is the hero of the story. Viewers even end the movie trilogy with Sam when he finally gets home, much like a war hero finally returning home.
Tolkien’s background and surrounding life growing up was Britain in the 20th century, when there was a class-divided society. Sam can be seen as the third or “working class” where Frodo is more wealthy, most likely of the upper-middle class. Sam is Frodo’s gardener, but also a servant of other needs. This is why he calls Frodo “Mr.” Relationships between middle-class families and their “servants” (for lack of a better word) who were of the working class were very strong and rooted in love and friendship. This is why Sam has such great love for Frodo, and he for Sam as well.
In The Return of the King, Sam carries the Ring after he believes Frodo to be dead at the hands—or legs—of the giant spider Shelob. He only is in the possession of the Ring for what seems like a mere hour or two, but when Frodo tells him to give him back the Ring, Sam struggles with handing it over—but only briefly, and this was only in the movies. He gave up the Ring with little more than a thought, which means the Ring may not have much influence over Sam. Sam never put on the Ring in the movies, but in the books, he actually carried the Ring for two days, even putting in on a few times to hide from Orcs.
He was able to avoid being spotted in Mordor, because even though the Eye of Mordor was “searching, trying to pierce the shadows that it had made for its own defense,” those shadows “now hindered it in its unquiet and doubt.” At one point, Sam even put the Ring on for no apparent reason, but as soon as he did, he was renewed with energy to keep going and took it off again. This shows how even if Sam wore the Ring occasionally, he would be able to resist the temptation of power or prosperity it offered.
When Sam wore the Ring, Sauron tried to tempt him with visions of a big and beautiful garden all to himself, but Sam resisted. It’s amazingly sweet and innocent that of all the things to be tempted with, it was a garden that Sauron stood the best chance with when trying to seduce Sam. After Sam took the Ring from Frodo when he thought he had died, Sam intended to complete the mission by himself. Though Sam briefly contemplates keeping the Ring before handing it back to Frodo in The Return of the King movie, in the book he gives it up quickly and readily. Of the keepers of the Ring, only Sam and Bilbo have ever given it up willingly, although Bilbo struggles with giving it up quite a bit. When Frodo goes to drop the Ring into the fire, he claims the Ring for himself. It is only by chance (since they spared Gollum’s life) that the Ring was destroyed.
If Sam had carried the Ring, then based on what happens in the books, he would have been able to resist the temptation the Ring offered and throw the Ring into the fires with little to no hesitation. Frodo’s struggle with the temptation of the Ring makes The Lord of the Rings story more compelling, but Sam might have been a better Ring Bearer.