The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum


Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page

Go Back   The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum > Middle-Earth Discussions > The Books
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-19-2020, 07:49 AM   #1
R.R.J Tolkien
Wight
 
R.R.J Tolkien's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 156
R.R.J Tolkien has just left Hobbiton.
Sam as Frodo's Garner

Question on Sam as Frodo's garner. Was he paid for this service? did he do it for free? how did it come about?





thanks.
__________________
“I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size). I like gardens, trees and unmechanized farmlands; I smoke a pipe, and like good plain food...I am fond of mushrooms.” -J.R.R Tolkien
R.R.J Tolkien is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2020, 09:50 AM   #2
Inziladun
Gruesome Spectre
 
Inziladun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
Posts: 8,058
Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.
The use of money is well documented in the Shire, so I imagine service workers like Sam were paid. The Gaffer had worked for Bilbo before, so the post wasn't simply Sam helping a friend. Since Sam was also a friend, Frodo probably also gave the Gamgees food items and other sundries from time to time.
__________________
Music alone proves the existence of God.
Inziladun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2020, 05:51 AM   #3
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh
Spectre of Decay
 
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Bar-en-Danwedh
Posts: 2,206
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh is a guest at the Prancing Pony.The Squatter of Amon Rûdh is a guest at the Prancing Pony.
Send a message via AIM to The Squatter of Amon Rûdh
Pipe

Frodo and Sam have a normal, albeit friendly, master and servant relationship at first, but obviously that changes somewhat during the course of LR. In A Long Expected Party, Hamfast Gamgee mentions having been "prentice" to the previous Bag End gardener, Holman. We can presume, then, a more or less formal system of apprenticeships, which would make gardening a trade in the Shire. Actually a family trade, since Holman is Hamfast's first cousin at one remove through his grandfather's brother Halfred. Tradesmen normally expect payment.

It seems that Bilbo was a considerate employer, and he left Hamfast Gamgee some extremely useful items when he departed. It also seems that Bilbo and Frodo after him treated their gardeners with no little respect and consideration, especially deferring to their professional opinions.

Incidentally, there was a chemist's shop in Exmouth (not very far from Sidmouth) in the 1920s and '30s called Holman and Ham. I've often wondered if Tolkien ever saw it on one of his holidays.
__________________
Man kenuva métim' andúne?
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:33 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.