The Choices of Master Samwise

Summary

Sam returns to find Frodo entrapped in ShelobÂ’s web, apparently dead or severely wounded. Enraged, Sam uses FrodoÂ’s sword to fight Shelob. Shelob fights him, but he miraculously recites an elven prayer and uses the phial; a burned Shelob crawls away. Sam sees that Frodo is lifeless and gives up in exhaustion and sadness.

After some time, Sam resolves to finish FrodoÂ’s task of destroying the Ring. He takes the Ring from his companion and leaves him in his coat of fine chain mail armor. He goes some distance before he hears the sounds of the Orcs. He slips on the Ring just in time. His senses seem suddenly sharper, except for his eyesight. And he is aware of an eye searching for him. He hears the Orcs and realizes that they have found Frodo, at which point he can only think of rescuing his friendÂ’s body from the enemy.

He rushes to where Frodo lay, but the Orcs have carried his body away. Sam realizes he can hear the Orcs and understand their language. Eavesdropping, he learns that the Orcs are looking for him; and further, he learns that Frodo is not dead, merely paralyzed by ShelobÂ’s venom.

Sam dons the Ring, an act that is full of danger and the threat of corruption. But Sam is a good person, as already established. He dons the Ring fully aware of its dangerous potential. He does so to honor his fallen friend, Frodo.

A convenience here is that Sam learns Frodo is not dead. Otherwise, he might have gone on without Frodo. As it is, he learns that his friend is still able to be saved.

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