The White Council

Re: Radical New Bombadil

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

As you say, noone really knows. But I like that idea! It's got some flavor to it.

: Who was Tom Bombadil? The correct answer to that question is: We don't know, Tolkien didn't know. But, we all have our theories ...

: Robert Foster in his Complete Guide suggests that Tom was a Maia "gone native." An idea that has a lot going for it. Eugene Hargrove has suggested that Tom & Goldberry were that Valar Aulë and Yavanna. This is more controversial - it explains Tom's apparent power over the One Ring - but what were Aulë and Yavanna doing living on the edge of the Old Forest?

: One the basis of a late note published in HoMe XII, I now propose a radical new Bombadil theory: Tom was one of the two Blue Wizards living out his retirement.

: In HoMe XII it is noted that Tokien decided to move the arrival of the two Blue Wizards (the missing two out of five) back from the Third Age to the Second Age. This was a good move, as there is not room for five Wizards in the Third Age. Indeed there is barely room for three in the LOTR (Radagast only makes a cameo appearance).

: Lets then say, that at the end of the Second Age, one of the Blue Wizards, his official duties completed, retires from the Order, lays down his staff, but remains in Middle-earth - retiring to a quiet country cottage in the West of Eriador, taking the psuedonym Tom Bombadil. His wife, another Maia (probably of the train of Yavanna) comes to Middle-earth and joins him in his retirement.

: In his retirement he takes no part in the affairs of Middle-earth, except when trouble comes knocking at his door - or running thru the reeds crying for help.

: Evidence for this idea: : (1) Gandalf's words towards the end of the LOTR that: "He [Bombadil] is a moss gatherer, and I have been a stone doomed to rolling," suggests a degree of fraternity between the two. : (2) Tom wore a blue coat.

: Which of the two Wizards was he? Alatar or Pallando (both of the people of Orome)? I don't know. Rómenstámo (Quenya: east-helper) probably describes him better than Morinehtar (darkness-slayer). But you can't judge a man by what he does in his retirement.

: Just a theory. Any thoughts?