The Lord of the Rings/Analysis

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Frodo and Sam's relationship

In spite of the fact that Tolkien described Frodo and Sam's relationship as brotherly, the bond between them raised a lot of questions and arguments about the range and meaning of eroticism in his works. Their gestures and acts towards each other are indeed brotherly, even though many people misinterpret them due to different beliefs, culture and prejudices. The reader is not supposed to see something else in their connection, because, according to the Word of God, they are like brothers. But if the author didn't want to be other Unfortunate Implications, then why are there two relevant quotes that actually liken their relationship both to a marriage and to the animal partnership that exists for mating purposes? He could easily have used less ambiguous metaphors that bear no sexual implications whatsoever. One quote is remarked in the passage where Sam battles Shelob to save Frodo. There Sam is described as a small creature(...)that stands above its fallen mate.

The other one is written in the epilogue, when Elanor, Sam's daughter, hears that Celeborn and Galadriel have separated and that Celeborn tells Aragorn that he hopes Aragorn will not be separated from Arwen like he has been from Galadriel. And Celeborn uses the word treasure to describe his true love, Galadriel. By picking up on the key word treasure Elanor's response likens Sam and Frodo's relationship to that of at least one, if not two, married couples (Celeborn/Galadriel and Aragorn/Arwen). Not only that, Celeborn's comment and feelings become understandable for Elanor through her father's feelings for Frodo, because she tells Sam these words: He knew that Lady Arwen would stay, but that Galadriel would leave him. I think it was very sad for him. And for you, dear Sam-dad. (...) For your treasure went too. I am glad Frodo of the Ring saw me, but I wish I could remember seeing him. Sam does not, as might be expected, correct his daughter's comments as a childish misunderstanding. Neither does he explain to Elanor that he is in fact married to Rose Cotton, or that the two relationships are of a different nature. He does not contest or modify the comparison at all; instead he tells Elanor that his sadness has lessened and confides that he hopes to see Frodo again, thereby implicitly validating his daughter's insights. So, no matter how much Tolkien denied it, he still framed Frodo and Sam's bond in terms of marriage and animal mating.

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