Derry Dol, Indeed

[lindil]

But, is it not the case that the marring of Arda taints both the Hroa and the Fea of those who inhabit it? Surely they would not be capable of committing evil if their Fea were not marred. And, if the Fea of Arda's inhabitants is marred, then the Fea of the embodiment of Ea (which encompasses Arda) would surely also be similarly marred.

I agree with this view completely Saucepan, what I was pionting out however that in some strains of Catholic Theology, the mind [and thus one can reasonably asssume the spirit as well] is unfallen, and that JRRT may well have subscribed to it.

Underhill is of course quite right, I think, in stating that JRRT 'clunked' Bombadil into the LotR and that much of his mystery is really obfuscation!

I don't think JRRT posed a riddle, does not one of his letters actually discount the idea? [sorry no reference books at hand].

However I admit I have fallen prey to aspects of Burrahobbits theory and find that with only a little bit of force, the shoe fits.Oh and a blind eye to the external history and context of Bombadil too. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]


I think however the urge to locate TB more exactly into the Legendarium is due to JRRT's own meticulous attempts [not always realized] at finding a home/position in the various heirarchies for everyone/thing.

Bombadil more or less breaks JRRT's own pattern of fitting everthing/one into a pattern. This of course is like a splinter in the mind for some, and thus we post...