from skip spence
Quote:
Sam was portrayed fairly well in the Movies. The only major difference from the book is his status as socially equal to Merry and Pippin in the Movies. In the books, Frodo, as well as Pippin and Merry, were from rich and important upper class families. Sam was 'just' a gardener working for Frodo. This is clearly reflected in their social intercourse, where Merry and Pippin threat Frodo as an equal, often joking and taking the mick out of him, while Sam wouldn't dream speaking against his "master".
He's the faithful servant.
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This is an excellent observation. And very true. Being an American, I have always found it disturbing and somehwat confusing that every other British book or film somehow, someway ends up being about social class. In something like the excellent REMAINS OF THE DAY its well and good because that is the essence of the story. But from a non-Britishers perspective it is way overused in too many books and films. Here in America, everything was supposed to be structured to negate the entire idea of social class and placing people in a heirarchy and comparing them as better or lesser than others. I imagine that New Zealand, is similar. When the books were adapted by someone other than a British director, it was probably inevitable that the strict social class boundaries would be lessened somewhat- both because of their own upbringing and as a nod to the potential worldwide audience.
Sam is still in a serving position and not the equal of "Mr. Frodo" as he is nearly always adressed by him. But it was good he was not turned into some sort of Gunga Din character.