How did Sam remain unaffected by the ring's power?

Question

There are two characters who seem to be able to handle and wear the One Ring without being affected by its power. One is the mysterious Tom Bombadil. Later in the book, another character seems to have a similar ability:

Sam, believing Frodo to be dead, takes the ring and vows to finish the job. Upon learning that Frodo is still alive, Sam hurries to him and willingly gives the ring back to him. He was able to do this despite being inside Mordor, and despite Sauron's actively seeking the ring bearer.

How was Sam able to resist the temptations of the ring at such a critical stage in the journey?

Answer 1

I think a few things contributed to his resistance:

1. Hobbits are naturally more resistant to the influences of the ring than other races (Gandalf comments on this).
2. Sam had only been carrying the ring for a short time, the longer the ring is in someone's possession, the more addicted they become to it.
3. Sam's love for Frodo was too great for the ring to corrupt.
4. The ring may have sensed that it had a greater chance of returning to its master through the already corrupted Frodo, rather than having to start fresh with Sam.

Answer 2

He wasn't unaffected:

'No, not everything, Mr. Frodo. And it hasn't failed, not yet. I took it, Mr. Frodo, begging your pardon. And I've kept it safe. It's round my neck now, and a terrible burden it is, too.' Sam fumbled for the Ring and its chain. 'But I suppose you must take it back.' Now it had come to it, Sam felt reluctant to give up the Ring and burden his master with it again.

(Emphasis mine).

Sam had the Ring for only a short period of time, and had the natural Hobbit resistance to it, and even then was reluctant to give it up.

Sam offers to share the burden of the Ring twice after this - once immediately after returning it, and once later when Frodo is struggling. In all three of these situations, it's ambiguous whether Sam is motivated by pity and compassion, or by a desire to keep/regain possession of the Ring (the quote above reads more towards the latter, while the later incident more towards pity). It's likely that it was a combination of both.

Answer 3

The length of time that Sam had the ring was very small, from my memory, only a day or so. Everyone else either had it for longer, or had some power which they would have activated the full power of the ring, by which they would have turned more quickly. Sam, being a hobbit, and therefore somewhat immune to the Ring, not having any magic, having absolutely no desire to have power, and only having had the ring for a short period of time, was able to give the ring up relatively easily.

Answer 4

The length of time you have the Ring for is not really relevant; Isildur had barely even taken it when he was ensnared, Smeagol didn't even have it yet when it got him.

It seems evident that Sam was affected by the Ring; aside from the evidence given in Tony Meyer's answer, Sam was acknowledged as a Ring-bearer:

"Though you too were a Ring-bearer, if only for a little while. Your time may come."

(The Grey Havens)

And it is said that he eventually left Middle-Earth via the Havens:

Among them the tradition is handed down from Elanor that Samwise passed the Towers, and went to the Grey Havens, and passed over Sea, last of the Ring-bearers.

(Appendix C)

Letters makes it clear that this was not some kind of "reward", but instead a time of healing:

Their sojourn was a 'purgatory', but one of peace and healing and they would eventually pass away (die at their own desire and of free will) to destinations of which the Elves knew nothing.

(Letter 325)

But healing from what? For a Ring-bearer there is only one candidate - the influence of the Ring!

Answer 5

As mentioned here, Sam does experience temptation, but is able to resist (just as other characters like Galadriel could at least temporarily resist its temptations, though none had to endure it as long as Frodo and Gollum and presumably would have had their will broken eventually). Note in particular this quote from The Return of the King, in the chapter "The Tower of Cirith Ungol":

His thought turned to the Ring, but there was no comfort there, only dread and danger. No sooner had he come in sight of Mount Doom, burning far away, than he was aware of a change in his burden. As it drew near the great furnaces where, in the deeps of time, it had been shaped and forged, the Ring's power grew, and it became more fell, untameable except by some mighty will. As Sam stood there, even though the Ring was not on him but hanging by its chain about his neck, he felt himself enlarged, as if he were robed in a huge distorted shadow of himself, a vast and ominous threat halted upon the walls of Mordor. He felt that he had from now on only two choices: to forbear the Ring, though it would torment him; or to claim it, and challenge the Power that sat in its dark hold beyond the valley of shadows. Already the Ring tempted him, gnawing at his will and reason. Wild fantasies arose in his mind; and he saw Samwise the Strong, Hero of the Age, striding with a flaming sword across the darkened land, and armies flocking to his call as he marched to the overthrow of Barad-dur. And then all the clouds rolled away, and the white sun shone, and at his command the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of flowers and trees and brought forth fruit. He had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own, and all this could be.

In that hour of trial it was his love of his master that helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit-sense: he knew in the core of his heart that he was not large enough to bear such a burden, even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray him. The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command.

'And anyway all these notions are only a trick, he said to himself.

And as Tony Meyer's answer pointed out, it may have been the effect of the Ring that made Sam "reluctant to give up the Ring and burden his master with it again."

Answer 6

Sam did only carry it a short time but he also likely had the highest character out of everyone in my opinion. He was very honest and devoted to Frodo as well. If Frodo had died I do believe that Sam would have had the strength of character to destroy the ring though you never know. Also Sam was so intent on saving Frodo that he didn't have much time to think about the ring while it was in his possesion. Obviously the task would have never been done without Sam's help and I think many believe-including Tolkien himself, that Sam is the true hero of the entire story. People also mention Bilbo's ability to remain unaffected by the ring and he definitely used it more and carried it far longer than Frodo but Sauron was not nearly as strong at that time and therefore it was much easier for Bilbo. Sauron was also not ready to reveal himself so he could continue to gain strength in secret therefore Bilbo never felt the evil emanating from the ring that Frodo felt.

Answer 7

Sam remains unaffected because he loves Frodo more than the ring itself.