[sweetliberty]

It is as if he really is completely apart and unaffected by circumstances, concerns and events of all other races of Middle Earth. Looking at it in light of a Christian perspective, which undoubtedly influenced Tolkien profoundly, Tom seems almost like the quintessential innocent, one who has never been spoiled by sin and who, therefore, is neither tempted nor effected by the conditions of human weaknesse and lust for power. While the hobbits themselves are innocents in one sense, they are more like children. Although they are by nature guileless, they can be tempted and they are certainly into certain "creature comforts." Any time that is a factor, you can be certain that there will be temptation. Tom, on the other hand, just seems to take those "comforts" for granted and it seems that there is no need for concern that he would ever lose them, because "he is the master." It is almost as if his very nature of perfect innocence has MADE him the master. After all, what is a master other than one who is mastered by none?

[Overtaxed]

I was wondering if his innocence came from the fact that he is the Eldest...that he came to Middle Earth "before the Dark Lord came from the Outside."

[LinnieBeth]

I remember that when Tom is introduced, the phasing was something like, '...he was there at the beginning, etc." the echoes where like, 'in the beginning was the Word,..."
I felt that he wasn't just innocent, but that he understood everything including evil so thoroughly, beginning to end, that that knowledge lent him the ability not to be tempted. Kinda like, he could see right through it to the end, and then not begin that journey.

As a Christian person, it's "overcoming" temptations that strengthen us, but also, as we mature, we are tempted less frequently because we understand evil.
Did that make sense?