I have not lost anyone that close to me, or reached Sam's level of grief.
The passage affects me, though. I feel sad for Sam.
Sam matured long ago, before he even left the Shire, but his sense of purpose
has always been focused on Frodo. As long as Frodo was alive, he did not
reach the level of despair felt by Aragorn when Gandalf fell, or by Frodo when
Minas Morgul sent forth its troops. Without Frodo, Sam temporarily loses
his purpose for living.
On the other hand, Sam's focus on Frodo has at times blinded him, as for
example when he continued to be suspicious of Aragorn and Faramir, or when he
could not treat Smeagol with respect. For the first time he now thinks of
the larger mission, over and above serving Frodo. Like Aragorn and Frodo
before him, he overcomes his despair and decides to persevere.
Did Sam make the wrong decision? He later tells himself he did, but I am
not so sure. Certainly taking the Ring and the vial was the right
decision. But it is also hard to see how Sam and Frodo could have passed
by the tower if the orcs had not captured Frodo and fought over his mail.
This seems like one of those decisions that looks wrong at the time, but turns
out for the best, although it costs the hobbits much pain.
I find it interesting that Sam does not think twice about his decision to
rescue Frodo once he finds out Frodo is alive. Like Aragorn going after
Merry and Pippin, Sam's decision seemingly endangers the mission. But in
Tolkien's world, the kindhearted choice is always the correct choice.
Sam does take on Frodo's mission when he takes the Ring and vial, and in a
sense he does not give that up when he returns the Ring, since he will
literally carry Frodo up Mount Doom. I wonder how Sam would have reacted
to Frodo's increasing fog in Mordor if Sam had not temporarily been a
ringbearer himself. Would he have fully understood what was happening to
Frodo? Might he have made some error in judgment because he did not
understand? Would he have been quite so focused on reaching Mount Doom?
Sam does have an old habit of talking to himself. This is not the first
time we have seen him do so. But in this case he also hears a voice
answering back. I don't think that voice is anyone other than Sam
himself, though. This is just how Sam thinks through a
decision.
My Tolkien blog.________________________________________
"‘I think he was a silly little man,' said Councillor Tompkins. ‘Worthless, in fact; no use to Society at all.'
"‘Oh, I don't know,' said Atkins, who was nobody of importance, just a schoolmaster. ‘I am not so sure: it depends on what you mean by use .'
"‘No practical or economic use,' said Tompkins. . . .
. . .
"‘It is proving very useful indeed,' said the Second Voice. ‘As a holiday, and a refreshment. It is splendid for convalescence; and not only for that, for many it is the best introduction to the Mountains. It works wonders in some cases. I am sending more and more there. They seldom have to come back.'"
