(1992 response)
In the novel, Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R Tokien, Frodo's best friend Sam acts, at first as the readers best friend, but as the novel continues Sam actions become more and more heroic, ultimately triumphing over his best friend Frodo's actions, Sam literally carrying Frodo to the fires of mount doom to destroy the ring. Frodo would have not only failed his mission without Sam, but would have been killed.
At the beginning of the novel Sam is reluctant to even leave the Shire, stopping at where the farthest from home he's been to linger. Frodo helps him find his bearings as a traveler and also helps build up his confidence. As the characters travel through book 1-3 their relationship remains this way, but when Frodo starts to be taken by the rings power Sam more and more becomes the strength behind the mission. The entrance of Gollum marks Sam's strength of mind over Frodo's.
When Gollum decides to murder Frodo and take the ring, only Sam sees the evil happening while Frodo still believes that Gollum is on their side. When Gollum tricks Frodo into believing that Sam had eaten the last of their food, Frodo believed Gollum and not Sam and Sam was sent away. This fell right into Gollum's plan of taking Frodo to be eaten by a giant spider at which point he would take the ring. Sam proves himself to the audience to be stronger then Frodo also by not leaving, he saves Frodo in the end from a group of orcs. When Sam saves Frodo, Frodo finally realizes what he's done and that Sam is his true friend, without him Gollum would have stolen the ring and middle earth would have been doomed
When Sam saves Frodo, Frodo finally realizes what he's done and that Sam is his true friend, without him Gollum would have stolen the ring and middle earth would have been doomed. Sam proves himself not only mentally more stable, but also physically stronger. He carries Frodo up mount doom to where the ring must be destroyed.
Sam acts not only as a friend to the reader, but proves himself far superior to his best friend, the protagonist, Frodo Baggins, by saving him at many points, not being deterred by Frodo's doubts about him, and having a larger will to succeed then Frodo was able to have.
