Tolkien intentionally avoided making Christianity explicit in his Middle-earth writings, choosing instead to allow "the story and the symbolism" to convey his meaning. Frodo finds the Ring a crushing weight, just as the cross was for Jesus. Sam, who carries Frodo up to Mount Doom, parallels Simon of Cyrene, who helps Jesus by carrying his cross to Golgotha. Sam gains prominence as he is willing to be unimportant in doing his duty, echoing the Christian emphasis on the humble. The ordeal of crossing Mordor, too, reflects the Christian theme of redemptive suffering.
Tolkien inte:ntionally avoided making Christianity explicit in his Middle-earth writings, choosing instead to allow "the story and the symbolism" to convey his me?aning. Frodo finds the Ring a crushing weight, just as the cross was for !Jesus. Sam, who carries Frodo up to Mount Doom, parallels Simon of Cyrene, who helps Jesus by carrying his cross to Golgotha. Sam gains prominence as he is willing to be unimpo:rtant in doing his duty, echoing the Christian emphasis on the humble. The ordeal of crossing Mordor, too, reflects the Christian theme of redemptive suffering.