But those fans are wrong. Jackson was definitely right to not film Bombadil as he is completely unfilmable. Very little action, silly non-sensical songs as a main method of communication, and absolutely no backstory or explanation. Folks watching the movies would've hated it, and probably rightfully so. It was my 3rd reading of LOTR and after I dabbled in the Silmarillion that I really appreciated the character and began to understand what Tolkien is doing here.
This chapter is fairly slow in terms of what happens. Essentially, they hang out at Tom's place in the Old Forest for a few days before leaving for the Barrow-downs and the path to Bree. But this time of little action tells an awful lot about Bombadil, the world at large, and what is powerful in Middle-Earth.
This is Part 1 of 2 where I discuss the broader question "Who is Tom Bombadil?" Part 2 will focus on other themes such as how Tom interacts with the Ring, and interacts with other parts of Middle Earth.
Who is Tom Bombadil?
The $1 million question, and one with a simple answer.
"He is."
Goldberry announces this simply, as if it was obvious and unimportant. He just is.
Frodo pushes on a bit, "does this land belong to him, then?"
Goldberry laughs, "The trees and grasses and all things growing or living in the land being each to themselves. Tom Bombadil is the Master." Note the capital M, it's meant to be a title.
When asked directly by Frodo, Tom throws down a long quote full of interesting tidbits
Eldest, that's what I am.
Mark my words, my friends: Tom was here before the river and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn. He made paths before the Big People, and saw the little People arriving. He was here before the Kings and the graves and the Barrow-wights. When the Elves passed westward, Tom was here already, before the seas were bent. He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.
Well, shit.
So I think it's clear that Tom isn't some wayward Hobbit, or powerful wizard, but is something else entirely. Tom could be speaking hyperbolically, but nothing he has done up until this point indicates he would. Also, why? To impress the Hobbits?
Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn, meaning he had a consciousness before the Elves and Men awoke from their slumber at the dawn of time. The world was full of life, but not the humanoid races, and it seems like Bombadil was there.
Additionally, he mentions that he was there before the Dark Lord came from the Outside, which likely implies Melkor (the original big bad ass of Middle Earth) and not the new-kid-on-the-block Sauron. Melkor came into Middle-Earth from the Outside, as in the void outside of Middle-Earth itself. This is Tolkien stretching deep into his mythos for a reference that most will miss but really is impactful to those who get it.
So what could Tom be?
Is he an Ainur? (one of the "pantheon" that helped Eru create the world and now rule it from Valinor)? Unlikely. These are nearly all accounted for, and only a major Ainur (Valar) could have the power Tom does. Gandalf is a Maiar (a "lesser" Valar) and he is very fearful of being given the Ring, afraid it would corrupt him. Saruman, another Maiar, is driven mad by his pursuit of the Ring and by fellow Maiar Sauron. Tom laughes at the Ring, throwing it on casually and not being overly concerned about it. Also, he wouldn't really be able to live on Middle Earth without the most powerful Valar Manwe approving it and that's not likely.
Is he a manifestation of Eru himself? Eru is the closest thing to God in Tolkien and is never directly interacted with outside the Silmarillion. However, Tolkien was a very religious man and it stands to reason that some religious tropes made it into the books. Bombadil is vastly powerful and also aloof, as if he has a higher concern than what happens on Middle-Earth. He measures time in millenia and even then, it's not that long. He has no fear or regard for the Ring, or any of the numerous cataclysms of Middle-Earth's history. He didn't fight against Melkor, or Sauron, and pretty much just hung out. This was my favorite theory, until I read a letter where Tolkien dismissed this idea.
Is he a representation of "nature"? Probably. Bombadil is a way for Tolkien to engage with the fact that the modern world is creeping up everywhere and even old, dark forests cannot be immune to the effects. He's "Mother Nature" in a sense, the physical embodiement of the soul of Middle-Earth.
Can he be known? No and Tolkien is pretty clear in his letters. Bombadil is meant to be an enigma, and not to be unraveled because in all things there should be a sense of mystery. Not everything can be known, and accepting that is very important in Tolkien's mind.
My current favorite theory?
Tom is us. He is the "reader" transposed into Middle Earth.
- He exists seemingly outside the normal boundaries of space and time (Eldest, etc
- His clothes are very unique and not a fit anywhere in Middle-Earth
- He is immune to the effects of the Ring, much like the reader knows the risks and also knows they cannot be harmed by it.
- Spoiler for the next chapter: Tom saves the Hobbits in the Barrow-downs after they sing a song to call him. He just appears and saves them as a reader can just appear, come in, and the story goes on
It's certainly not perfect but I like the idea that Tolkien painted a little window into his world where we can insert ourselves.
What are your favorite interpretations of Tom Bombadil?
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