The Lord of the Rings is known for its highly symbolic and meaningful plot twists, with no word out of place, and Samwise Gamgee’s encounter with the Mirror of Galadriel is no different. Between Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies, the event did not get adapted for the screen. Although sad, this made sense in the grand scheme of the envelope-pushing runtimes of all the movies. But it does mean that many Lord of the Rings fans, especially non-readers, may not know the full significance of the Mirror or Sam’s visions in it.

Galadriel is one of the most powerful Elves of Lord of the Rings, and her array of magical items helps her out there. The Mirror of Galadriel functions alongside Galadriel’s phial and hithlain rope to propel Sam and Frodo to the heights needed to eventually defeat Sauron and extend the prosperity of their people and the Shire beyond Sauron’s defeat. It was difficult for the movies to fully communicate the true extent of Sam’s role in this regard, considering it cut his experience with the Mirror, but the legendarium reveals more.

What Samwise Gamgee Saw In The Mirror Of Galadriel In The Lord Of The Rings

The Mirror Of Galadriel Revealed Sam’s Future

Sam saw the Scouring of the Shire and his role in transporting Lord of the Rings’ One Ring in the Mirror of Galadriel, with varying degrees of clarity. The Mirror sometimes shows the past, present, and future, and sometimes shows visions that have not transpired and will not. It can also yield to Galadriel’s command, showing what she asks. However, as per Galadriel’s comments to the two Hobbits, it is often more profitable to let the Mirror work its own magic. And the Mirror does appear to be working its own magic during Sam’s vision.

Galadriel proves her power and usefulness beyond other Elves by showing Sam the Mirror, and letting him see what he may, rather than implementing a strict framework for his vision. Although Sam says he wouldn’t mind seeing what is going on at home, he first sees what appears to be his future journey into Mordor. Then, he does see his home, which is a vision that also appears to be set in the future. This vision shows the Scouring of the Shire, which he would go home to after Sauron’s defeat.

The Mirror Predicted Sam’s Role In Bringing The One Ring To Mordor

Galadriel’s Mirror Was Wise In Its Choice Of Subject Matter

The Mirror of Galadriel shows Sam a vision of Frodo lying against a cliff with a pale face, indicating that he was somewhat less well than he was at the time. Sam also sees himself walking along a dim corridor. Although undefined in the chapter, it seems most likely that this vision reflects Sam camping with Frodo on the way to Mordor and wandering through Cirith Ungol. The Mirror, in this sense, predicted and foreshadowed Sam’s key role in bringing the One Ring to Lord of the Rings’ Mount Doom.

Lord of the Rings villain Sauron eventually loses the fight to Frodo and Sam, which may have been less likely without Sam’s vision in the Mirror of Galadriel. As Galadriel said, looking in the Mirror could be dangerous, especially as a guide of deeds. But Galadriel also confirmed that looking in the Mirror could be educational and, therefore, helpful. Sam decided to stay on course rather than head home in response to his fear for the Shire. This was probably a key step in Sam’s growth into the gritty hero of The Return of the King.

Sam’s Vision Foreshadowed The Scouring Of The Shire Later In The Books

Samwise Was One Of The Shire’s Heroes In Lord Of the Rings

After Sam sees Frodo and the stairs of Cirith Ungol in the Mirror, his vision moves onto the Scouring of the Shire. Sam actually sees the Shire before anything else in the mirror — he perceives the shining sun and trees waving on a windy day. This idyllic vision is soon cut short by the harrowing images of Sam and Frodo’s travels to Mordor, but it proves that home is where the heart is. Sam’s homesickness is clear as he is ripped away from the sights of his beloved home into a dark future, but this is transmuted into powerful foresight.

After Sam foresaw Cirith Ungol, the trees of his beloved Hobbiton came back into his vision, and he foresaw them crashing to the ground in the phenomenon known as the Scouring of the Shire. This attack on the Shire is made by Saruman, one of Lord of the Rings’ most evil characters. Sam sees the Old Mill replaced by a red brick factory, hinting at J. R. R. Tolkien’s underlying anxiety about industrialization and its threat to nature and pastoral ways of life. This vision helped prepare Sam for the real event, which he would master with confidence.

Why The Lord Of The Rings Movies Cut Sam Looking Into The Mirror Of Galadriel

Peter Jackson’s Trilogy Made Many Changes To The Book

The Lord of the Rings trilogy cut Sam’s time with the Mirror of Galadriel for a few key reasons. Another important part of the book — the Scouring of the Shire — was famously removed from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King‘s ending, despite being incredibly significant. From this perspective, it would have concurred for Peter Jackson to also cut Sam’s vision, but the movie actually gave Sam’s vision of the Scouring of the Shire to Frodo. Although controversial, this also made sense in the long run.

The Lord of the Rings movies amplified certain roles to maintain тιԍнт audience focus. Arwen (Liv Tyler) was one of these, in turn, to make Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) more appealing, among other reasons. While Aragorn was given some of the heroics of Théodred (Paris Howe Strewe), Frodo was given some of Sam’s parts, including his vision in the Mirror. It worked to throw everything at making Frodo the main character and the hero, to a certain extent. But in the books, at least, Sam’s vision is an important precursor to The Lord of the Rings’ final, grueling section.

The Lord of the Rings

Movie(s)

The Lord of the Rings (1978), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

Created by

J.R.R. Tolkien

First Film

The Lord of the Rings (1978)

Cast

Norman Bird, Anthony Daniels, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Morfydd Clark, Mike Wood, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sara Zwangobani, Daniel Weyman, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Lenny Henry, Brian Cox, Shaun Dooley, Miranda Otto, Bilal Hasna, Benjamin Wainwright, Luke Pasqualino, Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt

TV Show(s)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Character(s)

Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, Legolas, Boromir, Sauron, Gollum, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Celeborn, Aragorn, Galadriel, Bilbo Baggins, Saruman, Aldor, Wormtongue, Thorin Oakenshield, Balin Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori, Ori, Tauriel, King Thranduil, Smaug, Radagast, Arondir, Nori Brandyfoot, Poppy Proudfellow, Marigold Brandyfoot, Queen Regent Míriel, Sadoc Burrows

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