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Old 01-17-2004, 03:05 AM   #5
davem
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Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties
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davem is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.davem is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.
Sting

But Tolkien may have had in mind the instruction, 'Bear ye one another's burdens'. This is something Charles Williams placed a great deal of emphasis on, with his idea of co-inherence, that not only is it right, but also quite possible, to take another person's sufferings onto oneself, in order to free up the other person. It is possible the point Tolkien is making is that Sam honestly wanted to take on the burden of carrying the Ring, or at least to share it, but that Frodo, at that point was so closed off, so obsessed with the Ring that he could not share it. The Ring is a closed circle, there is no opening, nothing can be let in. Frodo also becomes completely closed off. Even if Sam's offer was completely altruistic, Frodo could not have seen it in that way.

Is Sam's love for Frodo stronger than his desire for the Ring? This is my feeling. He is freed by his love from desire for what the Ring could offer him. Its interesting that the only thing the Ring can symbolise for him - Samwise the Strong - is so ridiculous even he can't take it seriously. I don't think he's 'clever' enough to come up with a serious temptation, something which would hook him. Maybe the Ring feels he's not suitable material, & stops trying with him. I wonder whether Sam hadn't already overcome any temptation the Ring could offer way back in Lorien, when he chose not to go back home & stay with Frodo.
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