Master was a title used for many people, the most prominent being Tom Bombadil, whose jolly and riddling songs gave him mastery over all things in his domain,[1] and the two Dark Lords, whose overwhelming malign sway over fell powers made them overlords over a myriad of willing or unwitting thralls.
Other characters who have also been honoured with this title include:
- Frodo Baggins was called "little master" by Barliman Butterbur[2] and Master by both Samwise Gamgee and Gollum, the latter case due to Frodo's ownership of Gollum's 'precious': the One Ring.[3]
- The elected civil leader of Esgaroth upon the Long Lake was called Master.[4]
- The Dark Lord Sauron, as Master to his foul servants, was referred to by this epithet by both the Wizard Gandalf[5] and much earlier by King Isildur, the latter specifically calling him "Black Master".[6]
- The Uruk captain Uglúk used the epithet for his own petty Master, the Wizard Saruman.[7]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "In the House of Tom Bombadil"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Taming of Sméagol"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Ring Goes South"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Passing of the Grey Company"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Uruk-hai"