Farmer Maggot - Character Concept

Character Concept

Farmer Maggot and his farmstead have been interpreted as an example of Tolkien's vision of an idealised rural life. Although the Hobbit society regards the farming business higher than other peoples of Middle-earth do, even Frodo is not free of "class snobbishness" towards Maggot and in addition, both Frodo and Maggot recall a negative encounter from Frodo's youth. Maggot himself displays the "typical suspiciousness of the Shire" by denouncing the people of Hobbiton, Frodo's home town.

During their quest of the Ring, however, Maggot turns out to be protective and helpful, a turn that has been noted as evidence how Tolkien enjoyed reversing negative expections in his readership and his characters. Also the title "Farmer" is ultimately meant to be honorific and a scene where Frodo, Merry and Pippin are invited for supper at Maggot's house is another favourable portrayal of farm life. Maggot and another character, Farmer Cotton who in the end becomes Samwise's father in law, are two examples of a detailed description of steadfast Hobbit farmers. These two characters have been seen as "bookends" to The Lord of the Ring's plot with Maggot providing help to Frodo and his companions in the beginning and Cotton being a crucial figure in "The Scouring of the Shire", i.e. the liberation of the Shire from Saruman's occupation towards the end of the story.