Posted: September 27, 1998 at 20:09:07: by Jon
Most of the time all of us argue over what Bombadil is, but their are some interesting questions about him that lead up to the big question, "what is he?".I thought I'd list some and see what you think. 1) Frodo asks Goldberry who Tom is, she correctly responds "he is" because Frodo asks who, not what is Tom. But Goldberry knowing what the true question is expands in a riddle-like fashion. She says he's master of water wood and hill. When Frodo questions if he owns the forest it seems to disturb Goldberry. She says none have ever caught him in these places, she proceeds saying he has NO fear. Then she once again says he's master. This begs the question HOW POWERFUL IS HE? 2) Later Tom says he is the eldest. "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 came and saw the little People arriving. He was here before the Kings and the graves and the Barrow-wights. When the Elves past westward, Tom was here already, before the seas were bent. He knew the dark under the star when it was fearless-before the Dark Lord came from Outside." This is my opinion is one of the most confusing things Tom says because each little part could mean more than one thing. The trees and river Withywindle and Old Forest probably but who knows. First raindrop and acorn could mean the same or maybe they could be the primeval ones. The Dark Lord could be Morgoth or Sauron and even if you figure out who it was you can't find out which return from the Outside he' talking about. So HOW OLD IS BOMBADIL? 3) Gandalf says, "I am going to have a long talk with Bombadil: such a talk as I have not had in all my time. He is a moss-gatherer and I have been a stone doomed to rolling. But my rolling days are ending, and now we shall have much say to one another." This begs the question WHY IS TOM SO IMPORTANT THAT GANDALF WILL HAVE THE GREATEST TALK OF ALL HIS LIFE WITH HIM? Gandalf is ancient, and older than the world, why would he want to speak to Bombadil so badly. I think this eliminates Bombadil as just some Maiar. I would suggest Bombadil to be Lorien or Irmo but they don't fit the description close enough. I also think this makes Bombadil a heck of a lot more important than we
all thought. Thanks for your time Jon
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