Editing Samwise Gamgee (section)

=== Christianity ===

{{further|Christianity in Middle-earth}}

[[File:5 Simon of Cyrene carries the cross. Church of St. John Nepomucen in Brenna.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Frodo]] has been compared to [[Christ]], and Sam, who carried Frodo on the way to [[Mount Doom]], to [[Simon of Cyrene]], who carried Christ's cross to [[Golgotha]].{{sfn|Pearce|2013|pp=97–98}}]]

Tolkien intentionally avoided making Christianity explicit in his Middle-earth writings,{{sfn|Flieger|2005|pp=36–37}} choosing instead to allow "the story and the symbolism" [[Christianity in Middle-earth|to convey his meaning]].<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|p=xii}}</ref> Frodo finds the Ring a crushing weight, just as the cross was for Jesus. Sam, who carries Frodo up to Mount Doom, parallels [[Simon of Cyrene]], who helps Jesus by carrying his cross to [[Golgotha]].{{sfn|Pearce|2013|pp=97–98}} Sam gains prominence as he is willing to be unimportant in doing his duty, echoing the Christian emphasis on the humble.{{sfn|Wood|2003|p=165}} The ordeal of crossing Mordor, too, reflects the Christian theme of [[redemptive suffering]].<ref name="Olar 2002">{{cite journal |last=Olar |first=Jared L. |title=The Gospel According to J.R.R. Tolkien |journal=Grace and Knowledge |issue=12 |date=July 2002 |url=http://graceandknowledge.faithweb.com/tolkien.html}}</ref>