N41 - Gatherers and Sharers

[altariel.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: Economy: Redistribution
Format: Drabble
Genre: Hobbits doing what hobbits do best
Rating: G
Warnings: N/A
Characters: OCs
Pairings: N/A
Summary: The Rules say it’s best if we gather and share.

Gatherers and Sharers

"Even in the Shire there are some as like minding other folk's business and talking big."
Robin Smallburrow, “The Scouring of the Shire”, RotK

*

“There’s a few carrots and some good onions,” said Gaffer Goodchild, “and a sack of parsnips behind the hedge. I daresay your Marigold’ll find a use for ’em in her kitchen.”

“She will that,” said Daddy Brown.

Little Robin Noakes, ears flapping, trotted down the lane.

“Give her a minute,” muttered Daddy Brown, but it was half that before Asphodel Bracegirdle, cape flapping, came bustling up. “Now Gaffer,” she said, “what’s this I hear? The Rules say it’s best if we gather and share.”

“Daresay you’re right there, missus,” said the Gaffer. He hadn’t mentioned the taters in the shed.

Comments

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

And so some stick to the letter of the Rules, while some abide by the spirit of much older Shire customs.

I'd forgotten that quote from the Scouring of the Shire - even in the Shire, indeed? Surely minding their neighbours' business for them was one of the mainstays of Hobbit life! Which this brings out nicely.

And I love the last line :-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed! The beginning of "The Scouring of the Shire" is a hoot, although it rapidly gets darker. I'm not sure Tolkien had much time for the Welfare State.

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

"I would arrest anybody who uses the word State (in any sense other than the inanimate realm of England and its inhabitants, a thing that has neither power, rights nor mind); and after a chance of recantation, execute them if they remained obstinate! If we could get back to personal names, it would do a lot of good. Government is an abstract noun meaning the art and process of governing and it should be an offence to write it with a capital G or so to refer to people."

(letter to Christopher from 1943)

I rather strongly suspect you're right...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

after a chance of recantation, execute them if they remained obstinate!

*snort* MIserable old bugger.

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

Explains a lot about Middle-earth as he wrote it, though. That romantic view of History As Made By Individual (And Usually High-born And Therefore Naturally Superior) Heroes, as opposed to, say, any of those terrible modern inventions like industry or economics...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Yes, he's pretty dreadful on economics - all those static societies! And very old-fashioned about technology - although there are plenty of utopian anarchist writers who would agree with him about the proliferation of certain forms of technology and how they comes to dominate us rather than being a means of satisfying our needs - there are compatibilities with Le Guin, for one, who is suspicious of technology that acquires mastery over us, rather than being devised to meet moderate needs.

Sam is a "hero" who changes history and is not high-born, of course - but I wouldn't argue from him that Tolkien was a class warrior!