Mary Grace
asked:
What is Tom Bombadil? Is he The Witch King, like the theory on dorkly.com says? Is he a demonic being, the most evil creature ever concieved, like another theory states? Or is he just a jolly old man? Honestly I don't know what to think of him. The Ring had no effect on him...and he saw Frodo wearing it...
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Brenda Paull
Tom Bombadil is definitely not an evil spirit or being. When it says that he was Eldest and fatherless it means that he was the first being to walk on middle earth. He was deeply connected to the earth, and the earth only, and that's one of the reasons why no evil had any influence over him. In him there are none of the bad virtues of others like hate, greed, and the desire for power. This makes the ring have no effect upon him as it draws strength from people's weaknesses. He was able to see Frodo while wearing the ring because it had no hold upon him but don't take my word for it as I'm no Tolkien scholar.
Super Colin Blow
Tom Bombadil is better explained in Book II, ch 2 (The Council of Elrond). He's a good guy, but one of the ones that is so good that he can't be a main character, if you follow me.
Peekablue
When I first read it, I felt that Bombadil was Tolkien himself. Now, I don't know. I don't think he was the Witch King or anything evil.
Mike
He appears to be a Celtic wood sprite. Goldberry is a river sprite. I think Tolkien's comment that he was "first" was just a reference to him being created first by Tolkien as a character before the others in LOTR. Bombadil, Old Man Willow and Goldberry were all created in a set of poems written before LOTR. As such, Tom is out of place and violates Tolkien's rule of internal consistency. However, he somehow feels like he should be there. He also sets the atmosphere of LOTR as a Celtic tale.
Mary Z.
As the others said, the story of Bombadil is unexplainable. I do believe he is a Maiar (Wizard). Especially since he wears a blue feather in his hat, which is associated with the order of wizards. If you read the adventures of Tom Bombadil, it can give you a slight idea to what he may be. Only Tolkien knows.
Jingizu
Now you ask a question for the ages! Nobody knows for sure who and what Tom Bombadil is. That he is good and not evil, is however the truth.
Tolkien said that there must always remain something unexplained in a good story, and Tom Bombadil is his unexplained part.
The most popular theory is that he is an avatar or physical form of the ultimate god Ilu. Or that he is a very powerful Maiar spirit.
Yet he is called Eldest, and Fatherless and that he will be last, as he was first.
So welcome to the Middle-Earth mystery! ;)
Tolkien said that there must always remain something unexplained in a good story, and Tom Bombadil is his unexplained part.
The most popular theory is that he is an avatar or physical form of the ultimate god Ilu. Or that he is a very powerful Maiar spirit.
Yet he is called Eldest, and Fatherless and that he will be last, as he was first.
So welcome to the Middle-Earth mystery! ;)
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