Character Guide: Tom Bombadil | The Lord of the Rings
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- Who is Tom Bombadil? A look at who he is, who he is not, and who he might be... based on how Tolkien described him in The Lord of the Rings and his letters.
Cover artwork: Hildebrandt
I prefer to explain Tom Bombadil's origin by combining these two theories: his formation during the Music of the Ainur + his being a nature spirit.
Inference: In a 1937 letter to his publisher, mulling a possible sequel to The Hobbit, Tolkien described Bombadil as "the spirit of the (vanishing) Oxford and Berkshire countryside." Although Tolkien later stated that he regretted himself for making an allegory here, we see a reflection of his mental infrastructure: These statements are a reference to Tom Bombadil being a nature spirit.
Theory: In accordance with the third theme of Eru, the sub-visions of harmony and disharmony in the Music of the Ainur represent spiritual images (benevolent and malevolent), and the pattern of these visions forms the overall vision of Arda in the broader perspective. These images are realized as a result of Eru creating this vision with Secret Fire. Spiritual images acquire a metaphysical existence. These are nature spirits. His natural relationship with the forests makes one feel that Yavanna's musical melody had a part in his creation.
Like the Ainur who caused its formation, it takes on a body in the person of Tom Bombadil, with an incarnated existence almost in the form of the Children of Ilúvatar. This is the soul-body (fëa-hröa) metaphysics.
As the forests of Middle-earth diminished over the ages due to various factors (human influences such as wars, the colonization of Númenor, etc.), it seems possible that Tom's power was reduced in its reach to an existence limited to the Old Forest by the end of the Third Age.
This is so interesting, thank you for taking the time to explain it!
Ultimately I think Tom Bombadil was meant to be, and to remain, an enigma. However, that shouldn't mean we should not try to speculate.
I am fond of the theory that he is the spirit of the Music of the Ainur.
However, I also have a theory of sorts. Notice how many of his characteristics are in common with a certain jolly fellow who is associated with the winter season, and is said to live up in the farthest North? Bearded, and decidedly family-friendly. He doesn't stay up there all year round, but spends Springs, Summers, and Winters in countrysides, hills, woods, and riversides, in temperate climes. Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow, but not in winter when it is time to report back up to the workshop. In that setting, he puts on his suit of office: bright red, and boots of black, to stand out against the snow. Like the arctic hare whose brown fur turns white in the snow of winter, he has his own special way of getting into the spirit of the season.
Tom Bombadil is Tom Bombadil.
So true king
He is
So true!
He is as you see him, says the River Woman's Daughter.
About the "Enigma". It was an enigma to the reader , but not to Tolkien.
It is in the very same Letter 144:
Here is the full letter (I put *** by the two quotes)
Dear Mrs. Mitchison,
It has been both rude and ungrateful of me not to have acknowledged, or to have thanked you
for past letters, gifts, and remembrances - all the more so, since your interest has, in fact, been a
great comfort to me, and encouragement in the despondency that not unnaturally accompanies the
labours of actually publishing such a work as The Lord of the Rings.
But it is most unfortunate that this has coincided with a period of exceptionally heavy labours
and duties in other functions, so that I have been at times almost distracted.
I will try and answer your questions. I may say that they are very welcome.
*** I like things worked out in detail myself, and answers provided to all reasonable questions.
Your letter will, I hope,
guide me in choosing the kind of information to be provided (as promised) in an appendix, and
strengthen my hand with the publishers. Since the third volume will be rather slimmer than the
second (events move quicker, and less explanations are needed), there will, I believe be a certain
amount of room for such matter. My problem is not the difficulty of providing it, but of choosing
from the mass of material I have already composed.
There is of course a clash between 'literary' technique, and the fascination of elaborating in
detail an imaginary mythical Age (mythical, not allegorical: my mind does not work allegorically).
*** As a story, I think it is good that there should be a lot of things unexplained (especially if an
explanation actually exists);
and I have perhaps from this point of view erred in trying to explain
too much, and give too much past history. Many readers have, for instance, rather stuck at the
Council of Elrond. And even in a mythical Age there must be some enigmas, as there always are.
Tom Bombadil is one (intentionally).
Yeah I appreciate how he left it a mystery to the reader, I think it makes it fun. He’d probably be amused by the fact that we’re all still discussing him so many years later.
In the poem: The Adventures of Tom Bombadil - Tom forcibly removes Goldberry from her habitat and then coerces her to be his wife. You are cheering for a character that kidnaps, brainwashes, and rapes a woman????? WOW! How do you completely leave this fact out of you Character Guide??? The mind gymnastics and the extent of suspending belief/ disbelief whatever you're doing for this damn story is ...Just Wow!!! Sad thing Goldberry is one of many females that have endured this treatment in Tolkien's stories.
Comments like this remind me why I like to stay off the internet. Just unhinged insanity.
This is why there are no woke people in Middle Earth. Not even the orcs are so vile.
Part of the delight and treasure Bombadil represents is simply a profound being of simple acceptance, not to worry at or try to defign, but rather just celebrate his being, and perhaps sing of to yourself when pressed with troubles outside your means to affect. Take a careful occasional trip south from the East Road, with a simple gift, say some mead or whatever such your people have that pleases you and some stories, and visit a while. 😊
9:35 Sunday, in the novel The Man Who Was Thursday?
Chesterton specifically was asked and denied he was meant to be Christ.
I know but I’m not going to say…
Unfinished Tales!
Must have missed that one?