Tom Bombadil

[Sethos]

Ok, this is a question for all you Lord of the Rings fans...I went to the library today to check out the books to pick up where I left off in the two towers and much to my dismay they were all checked out so i setteled instead for "The Mythology of Middle-Earth" at one point it talks about Tom Bombadil, from the Fellowship of the ring. I remember while reading it, that I found ol' Tom facinating, as if you will remember Tom was able to wield the ring, and it seemed to have no power over him. He was for example able to just give up the ring without a second thought. He was also apparently opnipitent over all that went on in his land, so can anyone tell me what Tom Bombadil is, ie. a hobbit, god, or what, and maybe a bit more about him? There is apparently a book "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" out there too...Thanx

~Sethos

[ZokesPro]

I found this in the Green Books.

http://greenbooks.theonering.net/guest/files/060101.html

[DukeP]

Tom Bombadil is an angel.
Not just any angel though, he is one of the original builders of middleearth. He IS of the same race as Sauron and Gandalf - but he is more powerfull than both.

Tom Bombadil is in fact A Maia - and the oldest of the Maia in endor - the first to enter Endor (Middleearth).
Originally the the Chief of Yavanna's people - a powerfull earth spirit. Yavanna made him the caretaker of the wild wood that once covered most of the lands.

(Yavanna was the second queen of the Valar, spouse of the Smith Aüle, queen of the Earth, the incarnate spirit of life and growth - Tom Bombadil was her first and foremost servant).

I was always very fascinated by Tolkiens work. My elder cousin read the books for my sister and I, and later i borrowed the original english version and read those while I was in sixth grade. I have been a fan ever since

(yes, I DO play roleplaying games).


~~DukeP~~

[KvHagedorn]

http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/t/tombombadil.html

http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html

[DukeP]

Nice links, Kv.

I do not quite concur, though. I think people in general acrue too much power to the one ring.
True, its is a great work - but greater works have been made before (the simarilions eg.).
I see no problem with older, more powerfull creatures not succombing to the nature of the ring. It was created in the second age - by the union of man and maia. For me, it seems logical, that a greater maia can ignore, or indeed control the ring itself.
The elves are affected by it, no doubt. The Istari (wizards) - the 5 transformed maia - are effected, as they are affected by thirst, pain and fear. To have a true Maia, without prior involvement or sacrifice to the ring, being affected, would for me be amazing. Not the other way around.

Hopes this make somewhat sense?
At times I find my lack of english skills demeaning.

~~DukeP~~

[KvHagedorn]

Well, your English skills are as excellent as I have seen in any to whom it is not a first language, Duke.

I, however, agree with the essayist in my second link above. Tom is Aulë the Smith. His power in general and his dominance over the ring in particular suggests none less than one of the Valar, and his singing is a dead giveaway, just as is Goldberry's green raiment. That essay is really quite good.. I had thought already that Tom had to be a Vala but I wasn't sure which.

[KvHagedorn]

As to why Gandalf the Maia fears the power of the ring, he has dwelled among men.. taken their form.. and knows he posesses many of their ambitions in his heart of hearts. It is not the ring which affects him (or anyone else for that matter,) but his failings.. his own natural inclinations, twisted and magnified by the ring. The reason he trusts hobbits to carry this artifact is that they are not powerful beings and have little natural ambition towards power and dominance. Tom is simply above these things. He has not dwelt among "worldly" beings.. has not attuned himself to their hopes and dreams.. he is innocent by choice and besides that, as the original lord and master of all that is in the Earth, the original teacher of the craft by which the ring was made, he is the one being who could really treat the thing as a harmless trinket.

[TransformX]

Thanks for the links KvHagedorn.

[Gurm]

The most likely scenario I've seen in a long time is that Bombadil was Aule the Smith (one of the original Maia who created Arda - not Endor, that's where the Ewoks live).

But it's generally accepted that he's a greater Maia spirit. *shrug*

Gandalf's fear of using the ring is that, among other things, he is constrained by certain "rules" associated with his human form. One of them is that he is vulnerable to the same things humans are - hunger, weariness, pride, ambition, etc. - which is why Saruman turned to his own ends so "easily".

- Gurm

[Topha]

Maybe this discussion and other like it are the reason why peter jackson didnt include bombadil in his films?

Although there are rumours about a 4:45 hour cutting of the first movie that even has some tom in it

[Jammrock]

I go with the Tom = Aule the Smith and Goldberry = Yavannah theory. That second link KvH gave is a great essay about it. Makes a lot of sense to me.

As the theories say, Tom represents a missing aspect of the middle-earth world. And although the other theories as to what that is abound, I think that he represents the Valar. Even Illuvatar makes a small cameo in bringing Gandalf back after he defeats teh Balrog. But no sign of the Valar. That's where Tom comes in incognito.

Jammrock