i think people sometimes misunderstand what frodo means when he says "the ring is my burden; it will destroy you, sam" because he's not saying that the ring would only destroy sam, he's saying the ring is already in the process of destroying himself, and there is really no point in letting it destroy both of them. splitting the cost won't save frodo at that point, it can only destroy sam too. it's too late for frodo. but he can keep carrying it alone so that sam can survive unburdened.


















