I find the delicate balance between the master/servant role and personal friendship and need for each other particularly fascinating. I don't feel this master/servant role has become non-existent in the post-Edwardian world, rather it has reasserted itself in a different form, boss/secretary, president/staff. Status. No matter how many garbagemen we call maintenance engineers, equality escapes, and only really developes on an individual level.
One item we haven't touched on is the development of Frodo and Sam's friendship throughout the Lord of the Rings. Unlike the movie, initially Frodo and Sam were friendly, cordial and respectful, but not dear friends.
Frodo made few friends as a rule, and those late, and had a tendency even with them to be quite reserved, and probably only shared his mind completely with Bilbo, before he became friends Sam. It was clear that he chose his friends carefully, and gradually saw Sam as a worthwhile friend.
The development of the friendship between them began in after the meeting with Gildor. I think Frodo, from his position and 'breeding' was unconsciously condescending towards Sam, though kindly and protective - note his response to Pippin's "have you got the bathwater hot?" joke, jovially but firmly punishing Pippin for his prank on Sam. There's a slightly sharp unintentional undercurrent in that joke, reminding Sam that he was a servant among his betters.
While we got a glimpse of Sam's thoughtful side at the Green Dragon, talking of the elves sailing, sailing, Frodo had never seen that. He was surprised at Sam's observation of the nature of the elves "they seem quite above my likes and dislikes, so old and young, happy and sad.."
Afterwards he watched Sam, with a keen observation. "I've been learning a lot about Sam on this journey," he said outside Bree, was the only one not surprised by Sam's quoting the lay of Gil-Galad, and rightly guessed Sam made up the poem about the Troll. Very sharp, that Frodo, and his respect for Sam is clear, although at this point Sam had done nothing obviously remarkable. Yet Sam's clear sight, humility and hidden well-spring of talents, had measured up against a kind of inner standard Frodo held for those few he cautiously drew close. He not only picked up on Sam's hidden talents, but also his motivations. Oh yes, he'd been watching very carefully. He knew Sam was too humble to take credit, and it was to Frodo's credit that he took the opportunity to point out Sam's virtues to the others. Knowing Sam wouldn't. There is such respect in that, and kindness.
Sam's specific devotion to Frodo didn't really coallesce until Frodo's injury.
He was unaware of Frodo's observation until Frodo mentioned it, and didn't know Frodo well enough to know how rare this was. He kept a respectful distance, and admiration of Frodo. He considered the Bagginses to uncommonly kind and good, Frodo in particular, and increasingly so. But did not put himself on an equal enough footing to consider him something so ordinary as a 'friend.'
This admiration bloomed into a full-blown - I hate to use the word Crush, because I know the reaction it's going to get - but if you picture the kind of crush a little brother gets on his big brother, thinking everything he does is perfect and wonderful, you'll understand what I mean, and not Freak. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] It's not hero-worship, not so distant as that, because he also becomes so protective, after feeling helpless to do anything for Frodo on the journey in Rivendell. Rivendell and after he sticks to Frodo's side like glue, doing the little things like packing etc, not as just his job but with enthusiasm and to the best of his ability (took pride in packing little things Frodo left behind, which he could later triumphantly produce when called for..) but feeling rather inadequate. No surprise Sam is the first to react to the Watcher in Water. Must have been satisfying to finally be able to 'do' something.
Frodo was touched, and a little bemused, by Sam's sudden devotion to him. He accepted Sam's dogged following, but barely spoke with Sam in Hollin and Moria. In fact, he never did. Frodo had backed off, didn't want to encourage Sam putting him on a pedestal.
After Gandalf's fall you hear for the first time that perennial phrase 'Frodo and Sam,' almost immediately after. That shared loss sealed the bond of friendship between them.
It was in Lothlorien they spent all of their time together, and was where Sam learned much of Frodo's mind. Probably Frodo shared with Sam more about his own thoughts and fears than he ever had to anyone, other than Bilbo.
If the Fellowship had broken apart before Rivendell, Sam would not have guessed Frodo's plans.
The later development of their relationship has been covered very well in these previous posts.
I'm sorry the movie portrays them as friends from the start, it robs us the fun of watching the subtle shifts and growth in their relationship, though I understand why PJ did it.
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I'd still like to hear whether other people react to Sam and Frodo the way I talked about a few postings back: a close personal identification leaning towards one or the other characters, not just based on the book, but stemming from their own personal values and feelings about life, i.e., the man of our world who serves man (Sam) versus the man of spirit who serves a dream (Frodo).
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I identify most with Frodo, but I think I see in Sam what Frodo saw, that in serving 'man' he approached unintentionally an ideal. And was somehow ennobled by the very fact that he approached this ideal unknowingly, without the pride of comparison that comes in considering oneself an idealist. I think Frodo viewed Sam as ultimately better than himself (true or not) because of that, coming closer to Frodo's own ideals in his actions than Frodo himself. Or so Frodo would have thought. (Prof. Tolkien mentioned in his letters Frodo's lingering guilt over having claimed the ring.) The difference between these two is slight, one of motivation alone.
Hey, you think this post is long enough?