Editing Samwise Gamgee (section)

=== Psychological journey ===

{{further|Psychological journeys of Middle-earth}}

The [[Analytical psychology|Jungian]] clinical psychologist Robin Robertson describes Sam's quest as [[Psychological journeys of Middle-earth|a psychological journey]] of love (for Frodo), where Frodo's quest is one of transcendence.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Robertson |first=Robin |title=Seven Paths of the Hero in ''Lord of the Rings'': Introduction |journal=Psychological Perspectives |volume=50 |issue=1 |date=30 May 2007 |doi=10.1080/00332920701319491 |pages=79–94 |s2cid=143849565 }}</ref> Robertson writes that "Sam's is the simplest yet the most touching of all paths: his simple loyalty and love for Frodo make him the single person who never wavers in his task throughout the book."<ref name="Robertson 2009">{{cite journal |last=Robertson |first=Robin |title=Seven Paths of the Hero in ''Lord of the Rings'': The Path of Love |journal=Psychological Perspectives |volume=52 |issue=2 |date=27 May 2009 |doi=10.1080/00332920902880846 |pages=225–242 |s2cid=144447881 }}</ref> In his view, Sam always stays grounded in simple things like meals and the glory of a sunrise, while Sam ends as the happiest of the Fellowship, having seen the Elves, served as Frodo's companion on the quest, and back in the Shire that he loves, marries Rosie and is blessed with many children.<ref name="Robertson 2009"/>

The Jungian analyst Pia Skogemann views Sam as standing for one of the [[cognitive functions|four cognitive functions]], namely feeling, with the other three assigned to the other hobbits in the Fellowship: Frodo stands for thinking, Pippin for intuition, and Merry for sensation.{{sfn|Skogemann|2009|p=14}}