I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess.
He is a strange creature.
Tom Bombadil's mythological origins in the internal cosmology of Middle-earth have puzzled even erudite fans. For example, the fact that the Ring had no power on Tom would either suggest that Tom existed in both the Seen and the Unseen realms or that the Unseen had no effect on him since "He is his own master".
Speculative ideas about his true nature range from simply a wise Elven hermit to a Maia or Vala, to even Ilúvatar himself.
Tolkien's words
Even during his lifetime, J.R.R. Tolkien was asked directly about Tom, but he dismissed these questions, clearly indicating that Tom is a living enigma, part of a wider, incomprehensible world:
Even in a mythical Age there must be some enigmas, as there always are. Tom Bombadil is one (intentionally).
I don't think Tom needs philosophizing about, and is not improved by it. But many have found him an odd or indeed discordant ingredient.
Bombadil is just as he is. Just an odd ‘fact’ of that world. He won't be explained, because as long as you are [...] concentrated on the Ring, he is inexplicable. [A reminder] that the world is so large and manifold that if you take one facet and fix your mind and heart on it, there is always something that does not come in to that story [...] and seems to belong to a larger story.
Tolkien suggests that even in the secondary world, the characters, primarily Hobbits, who interacted with him were not fully aware of his nature.
The Bucklanders knew Bombadil, though, no doubt, they had as little understanding of his powers as the Shire-folk had of Gandalf's: both were regarded as benevolent persons, mysterious maybe and unpredictable but nonetheless comic.
Tom as Eru Ilúvatar
When Goldberry was asked by Frodo Baggins who he was, she simply said "He is" which parallels the scriptural name of God in Christianity, "ὁ ὤν" (the Being, the One who is). Goldberry also said that Tom is simply "the Master",[4] and the theory that Tom is an incarnation, embodiment or "avatar" of Ilúvatar has been favored by the fans.[5]
Tolkien, however, later remarked that this dialogue was not a reference to God, in the same way that the title of "Father" in reference to a priest does not allude to God.[2]
In the Council of Elrond, it was mentioned that Tom has limited knowledge and understanding of the powers of the Ring, which would suggest that he is not Ilúvatar.
Elrond calls Bombadil "a strange creature" [emphasis added] which would not be a correct description of an uncreated Creator. It is possible, however, that unless Elrond also was ignorant about Bombadil's nature.
Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic, and he specifically stated that the idea of God's incarnation was too large to fit in his work.[6][7] Tolkien would later go on to experiment with this idea in the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, which is about a future incarnation of Ilúvatar.
Tolkien specifically hinted that Tom, unlike Ilúvatarr, is a part of this world, and he would be destroyed along with everything else if evil triumphed.[3]
Tom as an Ainu
Another possible explanation is that Tom is an Ainu.[5]
Since all seven Valar are named and accounted for,[8] then one would have to be manifesting as Tom. For instance, a theory identifies Tom with Aulë and Goldberry with Yavanna.[9]In contrast to the seven Valar, the Maiar are of an unknown number,[8] so it is easier to group Tom among them. Importantly, however, Tom was in Arda before the Valar,[10] making it harder to support Tom's identity as an Ainu.
Tom remembers himself to be the "Eldest, that's what I am...Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn...He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside". "Eldest", incidentally, is also a title given to Treebeard.
After the destruction of the One Ring, Gandalf goes to talk with Tom, suggesting a deep bond between the two. Gandalf's visit to Tom, at the very least, shows an important association with the Maiar. The Ring, however, had no effect on him, although it had some effect on Saruman and Gandalf, both of whom are Maia. Also, Gandalf in the Council of Elrond said that Tom is "neutral" and would not understand the cause of the Free peoples, while all other known Maiar had taken sides.
Tom as the embodiment of Arda
The spirit of this earth made aware of itself.
A more radical and abstract theory is that he is possibly the embodiment of Arda itself, a "Father Nature." Tom, though close to nature, at times separates himself from it. One such instance is in the Old Forest while battling against Old Man Willow and by having a different disposition than that of the Old Forest which is described as dark and full of hate for everything that goes about freely. Tom on the other hand, sings constantly even when fighting the barrow-wight: "None has ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the Master: His songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster".[11]
Beings like him
Whatever his nature, another question about Bombadil is whether he is one-of-a-kind being, or if he has other colleagues in other parts of Arda. Bombadil could be for example the one and single "spirit of all Arda", or just the "spirit of the Old Forest" with other such beings in other forests.
The nature of Goldberry (and River-woman) is also obscure. They could be the same kind of being like himself, or his female counterpart.
Gandalf, when narrating his fight with Durin's Bane, mentions tunnels made by nameless things whose existence Sauron knows not, since they are "older than he".[12]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 144, (dated 25 April 1954)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 153, (dated September 1954)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Letter to Nevill Coghill (Excerpt reproduced here
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tolkien Meta-FAQ, "What is Tom Bombadil?", last updated 27 October 2002 (accessed 23 October 2010)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 181, (undated, written January or February 1956)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 211, (dated 14 October 1958)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Account of the Valar and Maiar According to the Lore of the Eldar"
- ↑ Gene Hargrove, "Who is Tom Bombadil?" (accessed 23 October 2010)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
- ↑ . "Who is Tom Bombadil?". www.whoistombombadil.blogspot.com. Retrieved 12 January 2013
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The White Rider"
External links
- Entry in the Encyclopedia of Arda (a concise overview of the discussion)
- What is Tom Bombadil? by Steuard Jensen (a detailed explanation)
- Who is Tom Bombadil? by Gene Hargrove (a somewhat unorthodox but well-presented essay)
- "Who is Tom Bombadil?" by Ranger from the North (an extensive argument for the Music Theory)
- Love in the Trees by Michael Martinez