# The Master — The Wealth of Nations character guide

> The Master in The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** The master, the master

**First appearance:** 0011-viii-of-the-wages-of-labour

## Who they are

The great shepherd whose flocks and lineage command the clan's obedience, making him judge, general, and protector all at once.

## Relationships

### [The Chinese](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters/the_chinese)

_professional_

The Chinese and the master have a professional relationship, likely in trade or employment.

### [Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters/silver)

_professional_

Silver and the master interact in a professional capacity, possibly in commerce or management.

### [The Servants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters/the_servants)

_professional_

The master and the servants have a hierarchical employer-servant relationship.

## In the story

### [Of the Principle Which Gives Occasion to the Division of Labour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/ii-of-the-principle-which-gives-occasion-to-the-division-of-labour)

Referenced in the example of a spaniel seeking attention from its master at dinner.

### [VIII: Of the Wages of Labour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/viii-of-the-wages-of-labour)

The employer who advances stock and shares in the produce; represents the interests of masters in wage negotiations.

### [I: Inequalities Arising from the Nature of the Employments Themselves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-inequalities-arising-from-the-nature-of-the-employments-themselves)

Implied as the recipient of labor from cotters and other workers.

### [I: Of the Division of Stock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-division-of-stock)

Referenced as the master tailor, shoemaker, weaver, and manufacturer whose capital includes fixed instruments and circulating wages and materials.

### [III: Of the Accumulation of Capital, or of Productive and Unproductive Labour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/iii-of-the-accumulation-of-capital-or-of-productive-and-unproductive-labour)

Employer of manufacturers and menial servants; grows rich by employing productive labour, poor by maintaining unproductive servants.

### [How the Commerce of the Towns Contributed to the Improvement of the Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/iv-how-the-commerce-of-the-towns-contributed-to-the-improvement-of-the-country)

Refers to the great earl of Warwick and other barons who entertained large numbers daily.

### [Chapter IX: Of the Agricultural Systems, or of Those Systems of Political Œconomy, Which Represent the Produce of Land as Either the Sole or the Principal Source of the Revenue and Wealth of Every Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/ix-of-the-agricultural-systems-or-of-those-systems-of-political-conomy-which-represent-the-produce-of-land-as-either-the-sole-or-the-principal-source-of-the-revenue-and-wealth-of-every-country)

Employer of artificers and manufacturers, whose profits are considered unproductive in this system.

### [Article II: Of the Expense of the Institutions for the Education of Youth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/article-ii-of-the-expense-of-the-institutions-for-the-education-of-youth)

Refers to schoolmasters and teachers in public institutions, whose negligence is noted when salaries are fixed.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/conclusion)

Implied as part of the chief magistrate's dignity and the general contribution.

### [Taxes Upon Profit, or Upon the Revenue Arising from Stock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/taxes-upon-profit-or-upon-the-revenue-arising-from-stock)

Implied as the manager of stock who adjusts profit rates or interest in response to taxes.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters/the_master
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters