With Frodo dead, Sam recognizes the worthlessness of revenge on Gollum. Nothing about Gollum is worth leaving Frodo, and no vengeance, however much deserved, could compel him to. Despair is a natural emotion, but it is also the enemy’s weapon. It worsens Sam’s conflict over his choices and nearly leads him to give up on the quest and the world entirely. If his duty was to stay with Frodo, and Frodo is dead, it seems only natural to him that he should be dead, too. His emotional conflict fuels his indecision, and he struggles to motivate himself to do anything at all. Yet, his devotion to his duty—still unclear but certainly important—triumphs over his fear and aversion to going on without Frodo.