I am going to discuss the "coming of age" for Sam, due to the fact that
allthough I would discuss everything within the questions, I simply don't have
the time!
I am reading the book again and in fact clearly remember Sam's discussion of
the Elves to Frodo after meeting Gildor. I found it very pivitol; clearly, this
is one of the first times Sam begins to think outside the Hobbit mentality.
Several other times this occurs: the vistits to Lorien and Rivendell, and Sam's
blunder and self-defense upon meeting Faramir. (These instances are off the top
of my head, I'm sure those who have the book handy can recall more!) When Sam
is in the presence of Elves, he is struck by their wonder and also their
sarrow. "There's Elves and there's Elves", he tells Frodo, plainly in what can
only be described as Sam Speech. I think that Sam's transformation becomes most
evident in this chapter, yet throughout the book the metamorphisis is apparent.
Sam, in the "Choices..." chapter, begins to vocalize how he feels, and
articulately. Before, he merely stumbled through his feelings in limited
speech. While assuming that he is truely void of his master, he begins to
articulate more, and express his emotions with less restraint. (The "Great
Elvish warrior" comes to mindl; he is not afraid of becoming bold.) Perhaps the
absence of Frodo, if only for a brief time, allows Sam to rely on himself,
rather than a
"master."
---------------------------------------------------------------
"The bank is trying to kill me, Mr. Madison, but I will kill it."
-President Andrew Jackson, on the death of the Bank of the United States
