The Political Rivalry Between Master of Lake-town and Bard

The Master of Lake-town and Bard the Bowman are locked in a political rivalry that surfaces after the death of Smaug, when the people of Esgaroth, devastated by the dragon's attack, turn their gratitude and anger into a contest for leadership. The Master, a calculating merchant who values trade and tolls above old songs, finds his authority challenged by Bard, the grim-faced descendant of Girion who actually slew the dragon. Their conflict exposes the tension between inherited legitimacy and elected office, between the practical wisdom of commerce and the heroic charisma of a dragon-slayer, and it ultimately resolves when Bard, after receiving a generous share of the treasure, becomes the effective leader of Dale while the Master, corrupted by gold, dies miserably in the Waste.

The Master's Position and Bard's Challenge

The Master of Lake-town owes his position to his head for business, giving his mind to trade and tolls, to cargoes and gold. When Thorin Oakenshield and his company first arrive, the Master hesitates, wishing for no enmity with the powerful Elvenking and thinking little of old songs about the return of the King under the Mountain. He is overruled by the popular enthusiasm, but he remains skeptical, believing the dwarves are frauds who will come to a bad end. After Smaug destroys the town, the Master flees early in his great gilded boat, hoping to save himself in the confusion. The people, shivering on the western shores, murmur against him: "He may have a good head for business—especially his own business," some say, "but he is no good when anything serious happens!" They praise Bard's courage and his last mighty shot, and when Bard emerges alive from the water, they shout "King Bard! King Bard!" The Master, grinding his chattering teeth, retorts that Girion was lord of Dale, not king of Esgaroth, and that the Lake-town has always elected masters from among the old and wise, not endured the rule of mere fighting men. He invites those who prefer cold stones under the Mountain's shadow to follow Bard, while the wise will stay and rebuild.

The Crowd's Shift and the Master's Rhetoric

The crowd's cry of "Up the Bowman, and down with Moneybags" shows how quickly Bard's heroic deed has overturned the Master's authority. The Master, however, is a skilled politician. He rises to his feet and speaks very loud and clear, deflecting blame: "Who aroused the dragon from his slumber, I might ask? Who obtained of us rich gifts and ample help, and led us to believe that old songs could come true?" He points to Thorin and the dwarves as the true cause of the ruin, and the people, forgetting their idea of a new king, turn their angry thoughts toward the dwarves. Bard, showing a different kind of leadership, calms the crowd: "Why waste words and wrath on those unhappy creatures?" He declares he still serves the Master, though he may later think again of his words and go North with any that will follow him. The Master scowls at Bard's back as he goes to help order the camps and care for the sick and wounded, while the Master himself remains sitting on the ground, calling loudly for men to bring him fire and food.

The Resolution: Bard's Rise and the Master's Fall

In the end, the political rivalry is resolved not by a direct contest but by the distribution of the treasure. Dain, the new King under the Mountain, honors the agreement of the dead and gives a fourteenth share of all the silver and gold to Bard. From that treasure, Bard sends much gold to the Master of Lake-town for the help of the Lake-people. The Master, however, "being of the kind that easily catches such disease," falls under the dragon-sickness. He takes most of the gold and flees with it, and dies of starvation in the Waste, deserted by his companions. The new Master is of a wiser kind, and very popular, getting most of the credit for the present prosperity. Bard, meanwhile, rebuilds the town in Dale, and men gather to him from the Lake and from South and West, and all the valley becomes tilled again and rich. The political rivalry thus ends with the old Master's corruption and death, and with Bard's establishment as the true leader of the restored Dale, while Lake-town itself is refounded under a more prudent ruler.