Join R. Siderson for the classic question: who's the bigger hero, Frodo or Sam? A deeper look into what Judaism views as heroism. The Lord of the Rings follows Frodo, a hobbit who inherits a magical ring that turns out to be the One Ring, which was created by the Dark Lord Sauron to control Middle-earth. The only way to destroy the Ring is to bring it deep into Sauron’s territory, Mordor, and cast it into the fires of Mount Doom. Frodo volunteers for the mission and is joined by a fellowship to help him get to Mordor, including three other hobbits. One of those hobbits is Sam, who was Frodo’s gardener and who gets looped into the journey by accident. Eventually, at the end of the first movie, Frodo continues the journey alone. Sam, however, insists on joining Frodo. Frodo and Sam set out to Mordor together. Along the way, they’re hunted by Gollum, who had possessed the Ring for centuries. Gollum is corrupted by the Ring, and wants it back very badly. Sam rescues Frodo a few times throughout the journey, including from Shelob (a giant spider), from orcs who capture Frodo and, most poignantly, on Mt Doom itself, where Sam says “I can’t carry it [i.e., the Ring] for you, but I can carry you!” And he picks Frodo up and walks up the mountain. Frodo and Sam make it to Mt. Doom, and stand in front of the lava. It’s the perfect opportunity to throw the Ring in. Frodo, who had been succumbing to the Ring’s corruptive influence for months as he’s been carrying it, chooses not to throw the Ring in. At that moment, Gollum jumps on Frodo and is able to reclaim it. Gollum eventually falls into Mt. Doom, taking the Ring with him. The Ring is therefore destroyed. There have been debates for as long as Lord of the Rings has been in print as to who is the hero of the story? Or perhaps, who is the most important, or the biggest, hero? Is it Frodo, who carried the Ring? Or Sam, who carried Frodo, both literally and figuratively? View 1: Frodo Is the Bigger Hero Common Arguments: He bears the Ring — the ultimate burden, corrupting and painful. He voluntarily accepts a nearly impossible mission, knowing it could cost him his life and sanity. He resists the Ring for a very long time, longer than most could, even if he ultimately fails at the end. Gandalf, Galadriel, and others venerate him as a Ring-bearer who has earned rest and honor for his service. This view emphasizes self-sacrifice, moral struggle, and spiritual burden. “Frodo undertook a quest no one else dared.” Delving into a bit more detail, when it becomes clear the Ring cannot stay in the Shire (because Sauron and his minions know where it is), Frodo asks, “where must I go?” He voluntarily takes up the quest, despite the danger. Even once he brings it to Rivendell - all he supposedly agreed to do, until his betters can make a decision - he chooses to bear the Ring to Mordor. One of his most well-known quotes is, “I will take the Ring to Mordor, though I do not know the way.” At which point, eight others are selected or volunteer to go with him. In the middle of the journey, Frodo tells Gandalf, “I wish the Ring had never come to me.” And even so, Frodo is fully willing to go by himself, as we see at the end of the first movie. Yes, Sam joins him, but Frodo was still willing to go it alone. As summarized nicely in a comment I saw on YouTube, “It's easy to focus on Sam, because he was such a great character and friend, but this scene is a great example of how brave Frodo was. He was fully ready to go to Mordor alone because he knew it needed to be done. The combination of Frodo's bravery and Sam's friendship here is what makes it one of the best scenes in the series imo” Even in failure (at Mount Doom), Frodo’s journey made victory possible. View 2: Sam Is the Bigger Hero Common Arguments: Sam is consistently selfless, humble, and unshaken. He saves Frodo multiple times, emotionally and physically. He resists the Ring when he briefly holds it — and gives it back, something Frodo couldn’t do. He asks for no reward, and still returns home to build a good, peaceful life. This view emphasizes loyalty, courage in service, and everyday moral strength. Sam was never meant to be the Ring-bearer—yet rises to the task when needed. Delving into a bit more detail, Sam was roped into this by Gandalf because Sam happened to be eavesdropping. He didn’t choose the quest, at least initially. At the end of the first movie, when Sam chases Frodo into the river, he says, “I made a promise, Mr. Frodo. A promise. ‘Don’t you leave him, Samwise Gamgee.’ And I don’t mean to.” As we noted previously, Sam saves Frodo multiple times from Shelob, a massive spider who immobilzed Frodo and was about to eat him). Sam also rescued Frodo, who was captured by orcs. When Frodo is completely passed out, Sam carries Frodo up Mount Doom. Sam also gives the Ring back to Frodo, even when he briefly holds it. He and Bilbo are the only ones who did that. After the quest, Sam returns to a simple life, embodying the ideal of service without glory. The quote that encapsulates people’s view on Sam: “I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you.” In other words, the general perspective on Sam is that while “Frodo carried the Ring, Sam carried Frodo.” Here are a few questions we'd like to explore: Before we discuss who’s the greater hero, Frodo or Sam - what is a hero in Jewish thinking? What makes a person heroic? What’s greater? Carrying the Ring? Or carrying the Ring-bearer? Frodo carries the burden of the Ring, but Sam carries Frodo. In other words: Is heroism about bearing the weight of evil, or about never giving up on someone who does? I think it’s tempting to say - they’re both heroes. Let’s just leave it at that. But that doesn’t sound satisfying: Is their heroism different, or the same? They’re both doing this as a service to others, going outside of their comfort zone. What nuance should we be picking up on here? Much of what seems to make Frodo the hero here is carrying the burden of the Ring. People often comment, “Frodo wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without Sam” - and much of that statement is true. Frodo stumbles regularly, and Sam saves the day. What exactly is the nature of the heroism of Frodo? And the heroism of Sam? I am excited to welcome Rabbi Menachem Siderson to this episode to answer our questions. Rabbi Siderson graduated from the Center for Kehilla Development in Jerusalem with smicha from the Cheif Rabbanut of Israel in 2020. Since then he has been the Rabbi of the Shul at Aish of the Rockies in Denver Colorado where he guides both the local community and Aish's signature outreach programs. He also serves as a resident Sofer and Mohel for Denver, and is a member of the Denver Beis Din. To reach Rabbi Siderson just send him an email at msiderson@aishrockies.org. Please see below for links to R. Siderson's various social media platforms. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aishrockies/# TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aishrockies5 X/Twitter: https://x.com/aishrockies YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aishrockies5 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aishrockies/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aish-rockies-9987252ba Transistor: https://aishrockies.transistor.fm/
