[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

To know for sure we have to wait till next week - ! No seriously, there's a discussion on this in the "A serious problem with the removal of Tom Bombadil" thread. I've said it elsewhere, but it's very hard to include Tom and not have him come off looking like an idiot. <P>The drawback (should he be removed that is) is that the story becomes much darker without that bright moment of safety between the Shire and Rivendell. <P>Also, in the Barrowdowns Frodo undergoes a major change, there is a foreshadowing of his courage to come in Mordor. <P>Without this moment, we lose the character development: Frodo becomes somehow "innately heroic" instead learning to chose the harder, braver course in cutting off the barrow-wight's hand <I>(all due apologies to his namesake on this site, hope the hand's feeling better?)</I>. <P>I think people who protest the removal of Tom Bombadil sense the importance of that section without really seeing why. We love Tom, but a major turning point in the central character is what will pose the problem. Er.. should Tom be removed that is. Ahem.<P>-Maril<p>[ December 11, 2001: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]