He and Goldberry live alone, and don't seem to do much work, yet there is food,
shelter and a complete household. The rain does not touch him. My take on it is
that the natural elements, plants and animals of his land respond readily to
his needs, giving him the service of sustenance and shelter. Like Beorn
squared. I admit there is no evidence of such service, but that is my
interpretation of the phrase "Tom is the Master."
He does not demand service, but receives it, like any rightful master.
And of course, nothing can threaten or harm him. Even Old Man Willow and the
Barrow-wights, hostile to all intruders when left untended, acknowledge Tom's
mastery when he demands it of them.
No more than a King owns a Lord, or a Lord owns a farmer or burgher, yet the
latter owe the former service when called upon, does Tom own these elemental
forces and creatures. That is exactly the distinction Goldberry makes to the
Hobbits.
Even now the phrase "I am my own Master" is distinctive, because it is such a
rare phenomenon. As Bob Dylan says, most people find they gotta serve somebody.
And every Master has servants, willing or unwilling. That is the meaning of the
word. Servant is only a disgraceful term in our modern culture. It was formerly
a mark of honor to be servant to a good Master, since you had to be a servant
to someone.
If you do not see him as Master of his own land in the medieval sense of the
word, what do you think he is Master
of?
"Wake up and smell the coffee."
squire online:
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The Valaquenta discussion
