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The Lord of the Rings is a story about strength and power, but reimagines the characteristics that many other classic fantasy stories have used to illustrate them. Showing strength in many forms is one of the main factors that has made The Lord of the Rings into one of the greatest fantasy masterpieces of the last century, and Peter Jackson's movie trilogy remains faithful to this idea. When considering the best heroes in high fantasy, most are physically powerful. However, a character's emotional and mental strength, whether it is obvious or understated, is something the epic fantasy never ignores.
The best scenes in The Lord of the Rings balance physical strength with small moments of vulnerability. For every visually stunning battle of Helm's Deep, there is an emotionally powerful scene, like when Galadriel tells Frodo, "even the smallest person can change the course of the future." Aragorn and Gandalf are among the greatest fantasy heroes of all time, but The Lord of the Rings also recognizes that Samwise Gamgee's strength is the heart of the story, and, in a world threatened by war, the world needs the eternal optimism of Merry and Pippin, and Frodo's willingness to sacrifice everything.
Through Aragorn and Denethor, The Lord of the Rings perfectly shows how the best leaders are not always the people who seek power, and the choice to walk away from a commanding position is a test that many fail even if, like Boromir, they redeem themselves soon afterward. The story tests many characters through the allure of The One Ring and the Palantir, but one Hobbit's test secretly reveals him to be the most powerful character in the entire franchise.
Why Samwise Gamgee Is Secretly The Lord Of The Rings' Strongest Character
Samwise Gamgee's role in the story has made him a fan favorite, and his inner strength and courage are clearly shown to be the heart of the story, with Sam's best line representing the Lord of the Rings franchise, and the entire fantasy genre. That said, he is still underestimated, with his power being more literal than every other character in the story. Sam is one of several Lord of the Rings characters who refused the One Ring when he had the opportunity to take it, but his test was far more grueling than any other.
When Frodo offered Gandalf the One Ring, he dared not take it, even from within the comfort of Bag End. When Galadriel refused it, she was protected by her people and her own Ring of Power. While Aragorn and Faramir demonstrated immense willpower by refusing it later on, with the book version of Faramir being even more heroic, none of their tests came close to Sam's. Sam, after spending months in close proximity to the One Ring, entered Mordor with it, and while starved and exhausted, still willingly handed it back to Frodo, within walking distance of Mount Doom.
None of the other Lord of the Rings characters were tested as close to Mount Doom as Sam was, and his power does not stop here. The story establishes that Sam is physically strong, but his strength waned the closer he got to Mordor. Still, he physically carries Frodo to Mount Doom, and then pulls his entire weight back from the precipice. When taking into account the way Mordor's power weakens Arwen from miles away and, as Boromir establishes, "the very air you breathe is a poisonous fume," Sam's power is not just metaphorical, it is literal.
The Lord Of The Rings Celebrates Different Kinds Of Heroism, And Samwise Proves It
The Lord of the Rings has many overlooked heroes, but while his power has been underestimated compared to the characters who have experience fighting in battles, using magic, or both, Samwise Gamgee is not one of them, as far as the viewer is concerned. Despite Sam being overlooked by many of the other characters, including near the end when Mordor falls and the other characters are seen screaming Frodo's name, the character was always intended to be seen and valued by the viewer.
Aragorn has been praised for the fact that he never asks for glory, and many characters, including Theoden, Eowyn, and Boromir, were willing to die to protect the rest of the world. Sam also fits this description, and the books and movies give viewers the ability to both acknowledge him as the greatest hero in The Lord of the Rings, and see the power that goes unnoticed by the other characters.
