Lots of good points about refuge and Tom's role in the quest but I for one don't like it being a mystery. We have an entire history spelled out for us beautifully but we don't even know what kind of being Tom is. He was bigger than a Hobbit but the book stops short of saying he's a man. The ring has no effect on him and the book even suggests that Tom can see Frodo when Frodo has the ring on.
The easy thing would be to suggest that he represents nature, but Tolkien would never have taken such a complex character and applied such a simple allegory. Perhaps he is a Maia or Valar taken physical shape. I don't know! I must know! Help!!!
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