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***Mithadan*** · 11-24-2000, 12:34 PM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Shade of Carn Dûm
Posts: 340</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
Re: Tom Bombadil

The reasons that Bombadil is so often discussed are:
1. He is not stated as belonging to any race or order by JRRT;
2. He possesses power evidenced by his actions concerning Old Man Willow and the Barrow Wight;
3. He is stated to be "eldest";
4. He does not wield his power except at need and has no aspiration to use his power to dominate;
5. The Ring has no power over him; and
6. JRRT in Letters says he is an "enigma" and declines to fit him into any category.

A bit of history. The poems making up the Tales of Tom Bombadil predate LoTR (and if I recall predate The Hobbit).
Tom was the subject of stories told by JRRT to his kids. JRRT liked the character and included him in LoTR. Almost a bit of "comic relief".

The controversy, such as it is, arises because JRRT consciously chose not to define him for whatever reason. This should not be confused with Tom not being definable within the Mythos. He easily could have been. He is an old power and the only such powers which existed are the ainur/valar/maiar and similar "spirits" to the extent such spirits other than ainur/maiar existed (separate issue -- were all non-earthly spirits ainur or maiar?). He loves the earth, the trees, etc. but is not specifically affiliated with the cause of the Valar. However, he is not at odds with that cause; he merely "is", meaning he's happy with what he does and does not do. He is opposed to evil but does not actively fight it. Again, he just wants to be left alone to breath the air and tend to his little bit of forest, not unlike Treebeard.

In my prior post I called him a "free agent". This is a good description. JRRT, rather than calling him an enigma, could easily and simply have said "He is one of the Maiar who chose to simply live in Arda out of love, without becoming involved in 'politics' or working under the guidance of the Valar. He rejects power except to the extent he must use it and for this reason the Ring does not affect him." This is a description that fits within the Mythos. Tom is not outside the paradigm. Its just that JRRT intentionally decided not to so describe him. Maybe JRRT was having a little fun at the expense of those who he perceived were taking his work a little too seriously.

I have never considered Tom to be either odd (except his personality) or unexplainable. Beorn is far stranger, a man who can change his shape fits far less within the parameters of JRRT's Legendarium than does Tom.

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>

11-24-2000, 12:34 PM	#24
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,394	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Shade of Carn Dûm Posts: 340</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: Tom Bombadil The reasons that Bombadil is so often discussed are: 1. He is not stated as belonging to any race or order by JRRT; 2. He possesses power evidenced by his actions concerning Old Man Willow and the Barrow Wight; 3. He is stated to be "eldest"; 4. He does not wield his power except at need and has no aspiration to use his power to dominate; 5. The Ring has no power over him; and 6. JRRT in Letters says he is an "enigma" and declines to fit him into any category. A bit of history. The poems making up the Tales of Tom Bombadil predate LoTR (and if I recall predate The Hobbit). Tom was the subject of stories told by JRRT to his kids. JRRT liked the character and included him in LoTR. Almost a bit of "comic relief". The controversy, such as it is, arises because JRRT consciously chose not to define him for whatever reason. This should not be confused with Tom not being definable within the Mythos. He easily could have been. He is an old power and the only such powers which existed are the ainur/valar/maiar and similar "spirits" to the extent such spirits other than ainur/maiar existed (separate issue -- were all non-earthly spirits ainur or maiar?). He loves the earth, the trees, etc. but is not specifically affiliated with the cause of the Valar. However, he is not at odds with that cause; he merely "is", meaning he's happy with what he does and does not do. He is opposed to evil but does not actively fight it. Again, he just wants to be left alone to breath the air and tend to his little bit of forest, not unlike Treebeard. In my prior post I called him a "free agent". This is a good description. JRRT, rather than calling him an enigma, could easily and simply have said "He is one of the Maiar who chose to simply live in Arda out of love, without becoming involved in 'politics' or working under the guidance of the Valar. He rejects power except to the extent he must use it and for this reason the Ring does not affect him." This is a description that fits within the Mythos. Tom is not outside the paradigm. Its just that JRRT intentionally decided not to so describe him. Maybe JRRT was having a little fun at the expense of those who he perceived were taking his work a little too seriously. I have never considered Tom to be either odd (except his personality) or unexplainable. Beorn is far stranger, a man who can change his shape fits far less within the parameters of JRRT's Legendarium than does Tom. --Mithadan-- "The Silmarils with living light were kindled clear, and waxing bright shone like stars that in the North above the reek of earth leap forth." </p> __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.