Not only is the hermit barefoot in HHB, but Shasta is barefoot all through the book, remember he couldn't even walk on the sand at one point.

I think Lewis just liked to have his characters barefooted as long as it made sense, hence the star thing for two of them atleast.

Shasta was poor and simply could not afford shoes, while Coriakin and Ramandu certainly PREFER being barefoot.

Being able to walk around barefoot implies that the island is nice and doesn't have many things to poke your feet. (Even though Lucy does get a stone in her shoe.) It also means that at the time they visited the island was fairly warm.

Or maybe the magician was sympathizing with the Dufflepuds lack of shoes by not wearing them himself. (It would be pretty hard to make shoes big enough for them.)

Maybe he is envious that the talking animals and fauns in Narnia don't have to wear shoes.

Or maybe the magician was sympathizing with the Dufflepuds lack of shoes by not wearing them himself. (It would be pretty hard to make shoes big enough for them.)

Actually, they DO wear shoes in the illustrations (one big shoe each).

Many suggest it has something to do with being a star. How do you think, why do stars prefer walking around without shoes?

I think he has bare feet because he doesn't want to be heard.....or maybe magicians hate shoes.....lol!

Ramandu's Daughter was also barefooted, so I'll go with it having something to do with being a star. Or at least part star. After all, stars don't need shoes!

By the way, later Ramandu's Daughter becomes Caspian's bride. Would it be appropriate for a queen to walk around barefoot?