With this in mind, Tom Bombadil is possibly an unexplained, inimitable curiosity in the Lord of the Rings world. Part of Tom Bombadil's appeal in The Fellowship of the Ring is his irreverent, enigmatic nature, fading out of the story as easily as he slips in. The lack of a straight answer strongly suggests there is no answer. Tolkien is known for his commitment to minute detail, from maps and family trees to languages and dates, so it's odd that the nature of Tom Bombadil would go entirely unexplained in the iconic author's canon. The great Elrond, who lived in the Second Age, suggests as much when he refers to Tom as a "strange creature." Elrond's knowledge of the Ainur suggests he would've recognized Bombadil if he were one of them, so it's strange that even the wise old elf can't guess at Bombadil's nature. During the discussion, Galdor the elf states " the p ower to defy our enemy is not in him, unless such power is in the earth itself," which hints that Tom and nature are one and the same.ĭespite the plethora of Tom Bombadil theories out there, it's possible that there is no hidden identity behind the character - that Tom Bombadil is simply an entity unto himself, unlike anything else within Tolkien's world. In a town like Bree or the desolate landscape of Mordor, Bombadil's influence would likely fade, which wouldn't be a problem if he were Eru or one of the Ainur. A major clue in this theory comes during the Council of Elrond, as the concerned attendees contemplate using Tom as the Ring-bearer for the journey to Mordor. Moreover, The Lord of the Rings suggests that Tom's power only extends as far as the Old Forest, where nature is particularly bountiful. Bombadil also remains neutral in the War of the Ring, and it could be said that his only concern is preserving the natural order. The living world responds to Tom's commands - a power that even the Ainur don't possess. Tom's abilities are largely based around nature. Unfortunately, Tolkien rejected the notion that Eru might have a physical presence in Middle-earth, but theories of Tom Bombadil's divine nature have continued nonetheless.Ī more out-of-the-box theory suggests Tom Bombadil is a physical embodiment of the world itself. Tom describes himself as the " eldest" who remembers the " first raindrop," and the ancient elf Elrond labels him as " fatherless," which some have interpreted as meaning he was the first being in existence - the fabled Eru. The character also aids Frodo without directly joining his quest, which fits Eru's detached relationship with Middle-earth. Bombadil boasts seemingly unlimited power, and a deep connection to nature. Since Tolkien's Eru is as mysterious as Tom Bombadil, it's only natural that fans would connect the two. Predictably, Eru doesn't involve himself in the day-to-day events of the world. Despite his omniscience, Eru only intervenes directly on a handful of occasions throughout Tolkien's entire history - one example (potentially) being Gollum tripping in Mount Doom. This primordial entity shares many traits with the monotheistic gods of the real world, and was responsible for creating all life with the help of his first children, the Ainur. Though he's not mentioned in The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, Tolkien's world is presided over by a God known as Eru. Although Tom and Goldberry are kind and welcoming hosts, it's clear the couple are no mere wood-dwellers. Along with his wife Goldberry, Tom Bombadil invites the Hobbits into his home, where they spend several happy chapters recovering from their journey thus far. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring, Tom Bombadil dwells within the Old Forest just to the west of Bree and rescues the four main Hobbits as they travel from the Shire to the Prancing Pony. However, even with this slew of new content, there haven't been any clear-cut answers for questions surrounding who Tom Bombadil is supposed to be, who Tom Bombadil's based on, or even what type of magical being Tom Bombadil is. Making his sole appearance in J.R.R. Here are all the best Lord of the Rings theories that seek answers to the question, "Who is Tom Bombadil, really?" In a world of ever-hungry Hobbits, giant spiders, undead knight-kings, and immortal elves, Tom Bombadil is the strangest creature in Tolkien's world. Indeed, over the years, the Lord of the Rings franchise continues to branch out into various new movies and series, most recently via the upcoming The Rings of Power.
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