Is frodo gay

Frodo and Sam were more serious, sensitive people, often quite moved by the beauty and emotion around them. Merry and Pippin, while amazing characters in their own right, were less “Elvish” as Sam would say. Critics such as Partridge, Esther Saxey and Marion Zimmer Bradley have stated that the relationship of Frodo and Sam is friendly and intimate, but not necessarily homosexual.

[31][3] The scholar of culture Daniel Allington examines critical analysis of fan slash fiction about Frodo and Sam's relationship, writing that fans' discussions of such. One of the most popular and talked about potential pairings from The Lord of the Rings is between Frodo and Sam. There are definitely subtextual queer readings of their relationship that are easy to make.

In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' s cast commentary, Ian McKellen, a gay icon in his own right who played Gandalf the Grey, revealed that he was responsible for the inclusion of a small but crucial moment between Sam (Sean Astin) and Frodo (Elijah Wood) that featured in the books but might not have made it into the films.

Frodo consistently rejects Sam’s attempts to help him, sitting right in the middle of the venn diagram of “toxic masculinity” and “catty homosexuality”. Frodo feels no sorrow over the death of. The Lord of the Rings films resonate with millions of people for as many reasons as the trilogy is long. The special effects are outstanding; the way the movies pluck exquisitely from the source material while carving their own path forward helps to satisfy all audiences; and director Peter Jackson immerses the viewers into a world that fully validates the high fantasy genre on the big screen.

Frodo and Sam are the ultimate fantasy duo. They lean on each other emotionally in ways that are uncommon amongst straight men, especially in the Western world. Ignorant machismo and fear of judgment often limit the emotional bandwidth of platonic male bonds in fiction, but Sam and Frodo shatter many of these with behavior that resembles romantic intimacy.

Are these theories a simple work of fan fiction or is there some tangible subtext that gives this idea a place to manifest in literary analysis? Just looking at the relationship between Sam and Frodo through what is seen on the screen is an important starting point for any discussion about the two characters. Ad — content continues below. Sam is loyal, employable, and easy to command.

His commitment to Frodo can be looked at as an end to the means of destroying the Ring. Certainly, J. Tolkien saw Sam in this way, with many scholars and critics mentioning the two hobbits were inspired by soldiers in World War I. Queer kids seeing Sam and Frodo interact the way they do should feel inspired, and straight kids benefit the same.

Weeping for a friend, no matter their sexual orientation or the nature of the relationship, breaks down stereotypes regarding male intimacy. Fast forward to the end of The Return of the King when Sam references the only romantic feelings from either character towards the opposite sex in the films. He opines that he lost out on courting Rosie Sarah McLeod back home in the Shire, an emotional outpouring that Frodo responds to with genuine heartache and profound fondness.

Great writing is all about showing the viewer, not telling them. The scene tells us that Sam loves Rosie, but they show us that he and Frodo might share something more unique. Viewers must not be hypocritical when discussing queer interpretations. Scar from The Lion King , Hades from Hercules , and even Gus Fring from Breaking Bad are synonymous with queerness despite never sharing one same sex interaction with another character.

is gandalf gay

These villains all hint at queerness through mannerisms, animation, or subtext-laden backstories. Just as those queer-coded icons are valid, so are Sam and Frodo. The biggest difference between the two revolves around Sam and Frodo representing the zenith of queer potential while the other characters symbolize the downfall of humanity through queer temptation. Frodo and Sam should be celebrated for their affection catapulting them to saving the world.

Whether they are actually in love matters not, because their actions conceptualize a whole new reputation for gay potential. Skip to main content area. Photo: New Line Cinema. Share: Share on Facebook opens in a new tab Share on Twitter opens in a new tab Share on Linkedin opens in a new tab Share on email opens in a new tab Comment: Comments count: 0. Written by Shawn Laib. Read more from Shawn Laib.