InThe Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, the author described the character of Samwise Gamgee as the “chief hero” ofThe Lord of the Rings. As the friend and gardener of Frodo Baggins, Sam was the only member of the originalFellowship of the Ringwho remained with him until the end of his journey. Like his fellow Hobbits, he enjoyed the simple pleasures of the Shire. Even his feelings for Rose Cotton were described by Tolkien as a “rustic love”. The innocence of the “plain speaking” halfling was especially demonstrated when he told Frodo with almost child-like wonder at the beginning of their quest that this is “the farthest away from home I’ve ever been”. He soon proved to beinstrumental during the War of the One Ring, proving his loyalty to Frodo on multiple occasions, from rescuing him at Cirith Ungol to carrying him up Mount Doom.
However, when Frodo decided to leave the Shire at the end ofThe Lord of the Rings, Sam was “torn in two” since he wanted to stay close to his master as well as live in the Shire. However, Frodo reminded him that “your hands and your wits will be needed everywhere”, and that he would be “busy and as happy as anyone can be” — which turned out to be exactly true.
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What Happened to Sam After the Lord of the Rings?
A few months afterthe Dark Lord Sauronwas defeated, Sam and Frodo returned to their native country in November, T.A. 3019, along withMeriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took— only to find the Shire now under the rule of Lotho Sackville-Baggins. With help from Ruffians, Dunlendings and half-orcs (who had been sent by Saruman), Lotho occupied Shire with the intention of industrializing it. He caused extensive damage to its once green lands until Saruman arrived to take control. Sam and the other Hobbits played a pivotal role in what was later known asthe Scouring of the Shire, after which it was finally freed from the totalitarian regime.
After discovering that the Party Tree had been chopped down on Saruman’s orders, Sam planted a silver nut in its place, which later grew into a Mallorn tree. It is said that many people would visit from distant places just to gaze upon it. This had beengifted to Sam by Lady Galadrielin Lothlórien, along with soil from her own garden. He placed a single grain of the soil wherever “specially beautiful and beloved trees had been destroyed”, which helped restore the Shire to its former glory. In honor of his contributions, he was given the surname ‘Gardner’.
He finally married his long-time love Rosie on May 1, T.A. 3020, and the two moved in with Frodo at Bag End. They had their first child, Elanor the Fair, in 3021. Later that year, on September 29, Frodo announced that he was going to leave for the Undying Lands. This greatly distressed Sam, but Frodo consoled him: “You will be healed. You were meant to be solid and whole, and you will be.” He left him Bag End, and also gave him theRed Book of Westmarch(in which he had written his memoirs) while saying, “The last pages are for you, Sam.”
Sam had twelve more children: Frodo, Rose, Merry, Pippin, Goldilocks, Hamfast, Daisy, Primrose, Bilbo, Ruby, Robin and Tolman. He went on to be elected as the Mayor of Michel Delving (the unofficial capital of the Shire as well as its largest town) in the sixth year of the Fourth Age. Sam remained at his post for seven consecutive seven-year-terms — a record only rivaled by one other (Jerry Gergich of Pawnee, Indiana), who held office for ten terms. King Elessar also appointed Sam as Counselor of the North Kingdom, and awarded him the Star of the Dúnedain, a badge of honor among rangers, in Fo.A. 15. Sam even traveled to Gondor in Fo.A. 21, and spent a year in the company of the King with Rosie and Elanor. Perhaps his biggest achievement, however, was that he became, as Frodo had predicted, “the most famous gardener in history”.
Did Sam Join Frodo in the Undying Lands?
When Rosie passed away in Fo.A. 61, Sam decided to leave the Shire for good. He was last seen at Tower Hills by Elanor, whom he handed over theRed Bookto. He traveled to the Grey Havens and was granted passage to the Undying Lands. This is because he had been, albeit briefly, also a Ring-bearer — during the War of the Ring, when the great spider Shelob had seemingly killed Frodo, Sam took hold of the One Ring so he could carry out their mission on his own. He was, in fact, one of the only two Ring-bearers (the other being Bilbo Baggins)who never gave into its temptations or be fooled by its deceptive visions. He returned it to Frodo when he found him alive at the Tower of Cirith Ungol.
While Sam’s journey to the Undying Lands has not been described, his decision to follow his former master literally to the ends of the earth is a fitting ending for his character.
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