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NEW LOTR THREAD 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚨" title="Polizeiautos mit drehendem Licht" aria-label="Emoji: Polizeiautos mit drehendem Licht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚨" title="Polizeiautos mit drehendem Licht" aria-label="Emoji: Polizeiautos mit drehendem Licht"> As per request via poll; here is my take on Tom Bombadil. Bear in mind I have taken an official position on this character and not everyone is in agreement.
This will be a thread on why everyone else is incorrect.
This will be a thread on why everyone else is incorrect.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚨" title="Polizeiautos mit drehendem Licht" aria-label="Emoji: Polizeiautos mit drehendem Licht"> As per request via poll; here is my take on Tom Bombadil. Bear in mind I have taken an official position on this character and not everyone is in agreement. This will be a thread on why everyone else is incorrect." title="NEW LOTR THREAD https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚨" title="Polizeiautos mit drehendem Licht" aria-label="Emoji: Polizeiautos mit drehendem Licht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚨" title="Polizeiautos mit drehendem Licht" aria-label="Emoji: Polizeiautos mit drehendem Licht"> As per request via poll; here is my take on Tom Bombadil. Bear in mind I have taken an official position on this character and not everyone is in agreement. This will be a thread on why everyone else is incorrect." class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
I’m also assuming that everyone is familiar with Tom’s actions during the book so I don’t have to explain the story from the top because that’s too much for a twitter thread.
If you haven’t read the Fellowship go read it before going through this thread.
If you haven’t read the Fellowship go read it before going through this thread.
To understand what Tom Bombadil is one must understand first what he definitely is not, due to the lack of definitive notes from Tolkien on the character.
There’s mainly 4 prevailing theories and I’m going to go over the 3 that are wrong first.
There’s mainly 4 prevailing theories and I’m going to go over the 3 that are wrong first.
The main conundrums we’re faced with as the reader is explaining the two major questions of Tom’s character.
1. How is he the oldest creature in Middle Earth?
2. How does he resist the ring, even as he places it on his finger, and pulls it off as if it’s nothing?
1. How is he the oldest creature in Middle Earth?
2. How does he resist the ring, even as he places it on his finger, and pulls it off as if it’s nothing?
Theory 1: Tom is the embodiment of Eru Illuvatar (god of the Tolkien universe)
Wrong.
Tolkien expressed in letters that Eru has never taken form in the world.
Also, Tolkien made a point to mention that Tom could be defeated by Sauron and had serious limits on his power.
Wrong.
Tolkien expressed in letters that Eru has never taken form in the world.
Also, Tolkien made a point to mention that Tom could be defeated by Sauron and had serious limits on his power.
Theory 2:
Tom is Tolkien himself.
This theory is cute but it’s nonsense.
If Tolkien placed himself inside his own story as an observer he surely wouldn’t be a character that could be beaten, destroyed, or take any active role in its events; qualities which Tom possesses.
Tom is Tolkien himself.
This theory is cute but it’s nonsense.
If Tolkien placed himself inside his own story as an observer he surely wouldn’t be a character that could be beaten, destroyed, or take any active role in its events; qualities which Tom possesses.
Theory 3:
Tom is a Maia.
An attractive theory because it’s simpler but not correct. This is because Maia were susceptible to the ring i.e. Gandalf, Saruman, Sauron—doesn’t hold up.
Tom is a Maia.
An attractive theory because it’s simpler but not correct. This is because Maia were susceptible to the ring i.e. Gandalf, Saruman, Sauron—doesn’t hold up.
Bonus fact: In the Unfinished Tales Tolkien states that Melkor was the first Valar to enter the world and this quote from the Fellowship states that Tom was there “before the dark lord” so it wouldn’t make sense for a Maia to have arrived before the Valar they served.
And that brings us to the correct theory.
Tom Bombadil is the physical embodiment of nature and the earth. A “father nature” type character if you will.
Here’s why:
Tom Bombadil is the physical embodiment of nature and the earth. A “father nature” type character if you will.
Here’s why:
He has control over plants, trees, the river and nature in general; Tom displays this by saving Frodo and company from the angry Willow Tree.
But Tom’s power doesn’t go beyond the qualities of nature. I’m basing the majority of my assertion on this quote from Gandalf.
But Tom’s power doesn’t go beyond the qualities of nature. I’m basing the majority of my assertion on this quote from Gandalf.
Tom puts the ring on and absolutely nothing happens.
He is utterly indifferent to the conflicts of the world, whether or not the ring is destroyed, whether Sauron wins or loses.
He doesn’t care about the Ring any more than a rock, or a patch of grass would.
He is utterly indifferent to the conflicts of the world, whether or not the ring is destroyed, whether Sauron wins or loses.
He doesn’t care about the Ring any more than a rock, or a patch of grass would.
Also, referring back to this quote from the Fellowship. If Bombadil is “the last to fall” it would only make sense that he is nature itself succumbing after all the other beings have fallen to the shadow.
Being a spirit of nature wouldn’t be a rule violation for Tolkien’s universe. Ungoliant, the shapeshifting giant spider who assisted Morgoth/Melkor, was the physical embodiment of darkness and the void; example of a being that doesn’t fit neatly into a particular category.
Tolkien loved nature and song. A constant theme in the books is the deterioration of the natural world and beautiful things. I believe Tom represented the beautiful parts of nature that Tolkien beloved.
This is shown through his mastery of the wood and his constant song
This is shown through his mastery of the wood and his constant song
I like to believe Tolkien designed Tom to be a physical representation of the portions of Illuvatar’s song uncorrupted by Melkor’s discord.
Full of joy, utterly indifferent to the conflicts of Middle Earth and the evil threatening it.
Full of joy, utterly indifferent to the conflicts of Middle Earth and the evil threatening it.
I’m either correct in these assertions or Tom’s character is just an elaborate troll job from Tolkien, which knowing the writer he was, seems unlikely.
