Lembas Symbol Analysis

Lembas, the wafer-like and highly nutritious bread given to the Fellowship as they left Lothlorien, symbolizes perseverance as well as physical, emotional, and spiritual sustenance. Lembas is intended to sustain travelers on long journeys. Accordingly, it strengthens Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas as they run for days on end in a hopeless pursuit of the orcs that kidnapped Merry and Pippin, enabling them to press on in spite of their despair and exhaustion. But it doesn’t just renew their bodily strength—it also gives them mental respite, reminding them of friends, laughter, and happier times. Lembas is also essential for Sam and Frodo’s well-being as they journey through barren lands and the oppressive weight of Sauron’s gaze. When their other food runs out and they have nothing else to keep them alive, they have lembas and its accompanying memories of home and old comforts. In its role of maintaining the spiritual health of the hobbits, lembas is reminiscent of the Christian Eucharist.

Sam, who understands the importance of food for emotional and mental health as well as simple physical sustenance, often urges Frodo to eat a little lembas when he feels particularly despairing. Gollum, who eats only raw flesh, hates the taste of lembas, finding it offensive in its connection to the elves and its association with goodness and happiness. In this way, the lembas also represents the hobbits’ virtue and the refinements that separate them from Gollum and his more animalistic behavior. Sam, who has little trouble remembering the joy of home, becomes tired of eating only lembas until Gollum refuses it, and then finds himself once again appreciative of the taste. Sam, determined to get Frodo home at the end of his quest, carefully rations the lembas, planning to save it for when their need is most dire. He understands that once they leave Ithilien and enter Mordor, the bread—and the reminders of home and spiritual sustenance that it brings—will be scarce.