Bombadil and Gandalf

[Legolas]

It seems to me that Gandalf was sort of handing over his guardianship of the Shire to Tom Bombadil. I mean, he had no reason to keep guarding it. He stayed to keep a watch over the Bagginses, especially Bilbo, and later Frodo, because they had a Ring of Power.

The first seems very odd, and the latter isn't true.

The first: Bombadil wasn't anymore interested in keeping watch over the Shire than he was keeping watch over the Ring - he is quite aloof; that is, detached. He thinks only of himself and his neck of the woods.

Gandalf studied hobbits and their lore before he met Bilbo. Perhaps you missing the Scouring of the Shire and the following chapters? One of the major reasons for the four hobbits going along on the journey to prepare themselves to fight their own battles - Gandalf knew his time would be up when Sauron fell, and that evil spreads everywhere (including the Shire, whose time would come). Gandalf couldn't/wouldn't going to watch over the Shire forever, nor would/should anyone else when he left. This is the entire point of those final chapters where the Shire is in danger.

Note Gandalf's words towards the end of Homeward Bound (7,VI). He spells it out:

‘Deep in, but not at the bottom,’ said Gandalf. ‘You have forgotten Saruman. He began to take an interest in the Shire before Mordor did.’
‘Well, we’ve got you with us,’ said Merry, ‘so things will soon be cleared up.’
‘I am with you at present,’ said Gandalf, ‘but soon I shall not be. I am not coming to the Shire. You must settle its affairs yourselves; that is what you have been trained for. Do you not yet understand? My time is over: it is no longer my task to set things to rights, nor to help folk to do so. And as for you, my dear friends, you will need no help. You are grown up now. Grown indeed very high; among the great you are, and I have no longer any fear at all for any of you.’

[ June 19, 2003: Message edited by: Legolas ]