Due to the growing popularity of this page and the responses I have been getting I decided to post an outline which describes each of the eight sections (with links) for easy navigation and so that if you have any questions you can first read the related section to see if it is addressed there. (FYI this theory is an attempt to explain Tom's origins from within the created work of Middle Earth as found in the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, etc. Theories which try to explain his significance outside of this world are not addressed.)
Thank you all so much for taking time to read this theory and to interact with it. Please feel free to share this theory with other Tolkien fanatics if you feel led to do so.
OUTLINE:
1. Introduction: In this section I introduced the three major theories and I also establish a method to evaluate any theory of Tom Bombadil's origins by establishing three facts or questions that any theory must attempt to answer. These three questions are: Tom's unique power and his unique limitations, Tom's relationship with the Ring, and Tom being described as eldest, fatherless, or first.
2. Valar Theory: In this section I weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the Valar theory in light of the three questions. In the end, I argue this theory though strong on some points is ultimately flawed.
3. Maiar Theory: Here I put forth the case against the Maiar theory. Again, the three questions are applied to this theory and I argue that there are problems for this popular theory.
4. Nature Spirit: In this section I weigh the strengths and weaknesses of viewing Tom as either a spirit of the forest or as the Spirit of Arda. Again, the three questions will be applied to this theory and I argue that is the strongest of the major theories yet it possesses great weakness and cannot fully answer all of the questions.
5. A Way Forward: In this section I argue for the legitimacy of this conversation and suggest that Tolkien knew exactly who/what Tom was. I introduce Tolkien's description of Tom as an enigma and our theories should view Tom as a one-of-a-kind creature. In the end I introduce my theory.
6. Music Theory: In this section I begin by defining my theory. Then I move on to address initial objections. And finally, I build my theory by looking at what Tolkien has revealed to us about Tom in his writings and what we know of the Music of the Ainur, Ungoliant, and Goldberry.
7. Answering the Questions: Now that the theory has been established I apply the same three questions I applied to the other major theories and I answer them. Here is where it is demonstrated that this theory can answer all three in a fuller fashion than the other theories with less baggage.
8. Conclusion: I summarize what we have discovered about Tom and add some closing reflections.
P.S. If any want a great read on the debate over the origins of dragons in Middle Earth here is the work of my good friend. It is the best and most complete work on this topic I have ever seen
http://cogitemusaccurate.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Who is Tom Bombadil: Three Views & Three Questions
(What follows is the first post in a series of eight posts exploring the greatest mystery in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: Who or what is Tom Bombadil? The major theories will be explored and a new theory will be suggested.)
Introduction: Setting the Stage of How to Approach Bombadil
Tom
Bombadil is a merry fellow but beneath his amusing character and actions lie a
deep and passionately debated issue. Who is he? Tom Bombadil is perhaps the
biggest mystery in all of Tolkien's thoroughly detailed world. The question that
Frodo asks in Tom's house "Who is Tom Bombadil?" is one that has elicited
many responses from the Tolkien faithful. There are the outlandish theories
such as Tom is really the Witch King of Angmar to the more faithful theories
such as Tom is really Illuvatar, which Tolkien himself firmly rejected.[1]
Any
sound theory of who or what Tom Bombadil truly is must be able to account for
at least three major questions/facts of Tom's Character as found in Lord of the
Rings. The first of which is his unique
power and its limitations. He has power over the Forest and Barrow-wights
and yet his power seems to also be limited to his current location. What kind
of creature can exercise power over both the forest and demons?[2]
The Second fact any legitimate theory must wrestle with is Tom's relationship to the Ring. The Ring has no power over him, yet
we are told Tom would not see the need to protect the Ring if asked to
do so. This is indeed a very strange contradiction. The third truth of Tom that
must be accounted for is him being referred to as eldest and as being existent before the Dark Lord entered. His age
and being referred to as "fatherless" is a crucial hint to what Tom
is. There are many facts within each of these three areas which must be
carefully weighed when considering the validity of any theory of who/what Tom
Bombadil is.
There
are three major theories within Tolkien fandom which bear serious consideration
when they answer "Who is Tom Bombadil?" The first theory is that Tom
is one of the Valar. This theory has gained wide support in recent years and
most people who hold to this theory would assert that Tom is Aule and Goldberry
is Yavanna. The second major theory is that Tom is one of the Maiar much in the
same way that Gandalf, Saruman, Sauron and Balrogs are. The third theory is
that Tom is a nature spirit. This theory holds either that Tom is the Spirit of
the forest or that he is the Spirit of Middle Earth. I will argue that each of
the three major theories has irreconcilable flaws to at least one of the three
facts above and therefore each of these theories must be firmly rejected. In
addition to the three major questions listed above I will demonstrate through
Tolkien's writings, his letters, and Tom Bombadil himself that a fourth option
better explains all the known data. With that in mind we will begin by
examining the three major theories concerning Tom Bombadil and demonstrate how
they cannot adequately answer the above questions.
First a look at the Valar Theory
[2] Tolkien describes the
barrow-wights as evil spirits who embodied dead corpses ie demons: (FOTR, In
the House of Tom Bombadil, 181) and (ROTK, Appendix A, The North Kingdom and
the Dunedain, 1041).
The Case Against: Valar Theory
(What follows is post 2 of 8 exploring the mystery of Tom Bombadil)
Tom as One of the Valar?
The
theory that Tom Bombadil is a Vala is a popular one that's has strength but as
we shall see its weaknesses make it near impossible because it is inconsistent with what we know of both Tom and the Valar. The Valar are
all accounted for in The Silmarillion
(15-21), and of those only one couple can even remotely fit with Tom and
Goldberry: Aule and Yavanna. This is indeed the most popular Valar theory. Aule
is the chief craftsman of the Vala; he made the dwarves and many
of the great works in Middle Earth. Sauron was originally a Maiar underneath
Aule and Sauron learned much of his craftsmanship (ring making) from Aule. Aule's wife on the other hand is the Vala over
everything that grows on Earth which is not a Child of Illuvatar (i.e. nature). Yavanna is
the one who requests for the Ents to be made to help protect her creation from
the Children of Illuvatar. While Goldberry and Yavanna do share some
similarities Tom and Aule pose more of a challenge.[1]
One
of the strengths of this theory is that it does adequately answer why the Ring
has no hold over Tom. As Aule, Tom would be the master
craftsmen, and thus he may have power over the Ring. It can also explain the age of Tom and him as “Fatherless” or
“Eldest” being that Aule is a Valar. Unfortunately, this is where the
strengths end.
The
weaknesses of this theory are many and in my estimation irreconcilable.[2]
First, Tom is described as nonsensical on several occasions in the Lord of the
Rings and this is hardly an apt description of one of the mightiest of the Valar.[3]
Second, while this theory adequately answers why Tom is not affected by the
Ring it does not answer the reverse side of Tom's relationship with the Ring,
his carelessness and disinterest. Surely Aule, the chief craftsman, would recognize the value and importance of the
Ring and would never lose the Ring as Gandalf says, “He [Tom] would soon forget it [the
Ring], or most likely throw it away. Such things have no hold on his mind” (FOTR,
Council of Elrond, 348). Aule is the
one who Sauron learned his craftsmanship from so surely Aule recognizes the importance
of the One Ring. The Ring is exactly the type of thing that Aule, the god of
craftsmenship, would hold onto in his mind.
Another
weakness found in this theory is the lack of power Tom would have to resist Sauron the
Maia. Surely one of the most powerful of the Valar could resist Sauron but the Elves
say Tom could not defeat Sauron (even if Tom still had the Ring remember even is hinted at as being able to Gandalf defeat Sauron if he possessed the Ring). Also, Tom has said his knowledge fails out
east, but that would not be true of one of the Ruling Valar.
Even
if the argument that Tom as Aule adequately answers him as "Fatherless"
it does not answer him as being "first" and as him being the last to
fall in Middle Earth if Sauron wins. Of the Valar the first is most definitely
Manwe, not Aule.
For
these reasons it is simply unthinkable to suggest that Tom is a Valar for he is
not powerful enough to be one. Indeed, Tolkien puts the nail in coffin in
letter 144 where he writes of Tom, "Ultimately only the victory of the
West will allow Bombadil to continue, or even to survive. Nothing would be left
for him in the world of Sauron." If the West does not prevail Tom will
cease to be, this could not be the case if Tom was Aule. Tom needs the
West, but the Valar have withdrawn from Middle Earth to the Undying Lands. The
Valar do not need the West to continue but Tom on the other hand does.[4] It
should be noted that even after his defeat Morgoth still survived, being a Valar,
he is just imprisoned not destroyed.
Also
any suggestion that Aule would not take the Ring seriously is nonsense.
Moreover, Tom's relationship with the woods does not fit well with the
character of Aule the craftsmen. This theory must be acknowledged as fatally
flawed in reconciling what we know of Aule, the Valar, and Tom. It would be rather
silly to hold to Tom as Aule knowing what we know of Tom’s relationship to the
Ring and his potential matchup with the Ringless Sauron. So now that this theory has been carefully considered and found lacking
we can move on to consider Tom as one of the Maiar.
[1] Yavanna cannot be Goldberry
for Yvanna is one of the Eight mighty Valar and her reign over plants and
wildlife is well known, yet Goldberry we are told is the “Riverwoman’s
daughter.” This description does not fit with Yavanna the Vala for she is no daughter of anything.
[2] For instance, Tom appears in the likeness of a
man, yet the Valar are said to appear in the likeness of the Elves.
[3] Aule is described as one of the
Eight of the mightiest Valar whose majesty is unmatched and who rule over the
other Valar and Maiar. Tom does not fit well with this description.
[4] Aule, as stated in footnote 3,
is one of the eight ruling Valar and his existence should not be tied to the
victory of the West over Sauron.
The Case Against: Maiar Theory
(What follows is post 3 of 8 exploring the mystery of Tom Bombadil)
Tom as One of the Maiar?
Tom as One of the Maiar?
The
theory that Tom is one of the Maiar is a theory with much strength yet in the end it
possesses such great weaknesses it also must be discarded. Of the three questions about Tom listed above none are adequately answered by this theory. From
what we know of the Maiar and what we know of Tom it becomes rather tenuous to
hold him to be one of the Maiar.
The
first area is Tom's unique power over the
Forest and over demons (Barrow-wights). It is conceivable that a Maiar
would possess power over both dynamics (Forest & Demons) so here we find a
possible strength for this theory. But once one looks deeper into what we know
about the Maiar already in Middle Earth it seems that Tom is too powerful to be
one. Gandalf, though never faced with a Barrow-wight or Old Man Willow, faces many
battles against similar creatures. In none of these battles does the power of
his voice through singing ever affect a creature the way Tom's does. Gandalf
and Saruman use spells to combat challenges, Tom uses song. By a mere song Tom
gets a demon to no longer exist, Gandalf on the other hand often has to resort
to his sword and staff to combat evil forces. This is indeed circumstantial
evidence but what we know of the Maiar in Middle Earth should inform our
opinion of the possibility of Tom being one. So the first point is neither an
area of great strength for this theory nor it is too great of an area of
weakness as to not be overcome. So in the spirit of charity we will call this
question a draw with both strengths and weaknesses.
The
second area is Tom's relationship with
the Ring. This area presents perhaps the biggest blow to any suggestion
that Tom is one of the Maiar. Tom places the Ring on his finger and is not affected
by it. The Ring has no power over him as Gandalf at the Council of Elrond states,
“Say rather that the Ring has no power over him” (384). Tom also has no desire
for the Ring and he would not see any need to keep it nor protect it. All of what
we know about Tom and the Ring flies shockingly in the face of what we know of
other Maiar their relationship to the Ring. Gandalf, Saruman, and Sauron are
all under the power of the Ring and all three to varying degrees are tempted by
the Ring. Tolkien himself puts it this way, “The power of the Ring over all
concerned, even the Wizards or Emissaries, is not a delusion - but it is not the whole picture, even of the then state
and content of that part of the Universe" (Tolkien Letter 153). The power the
Ring has over any embodied Maiar must be recognized. If Tom were a Maiar he
would not be free from the influence of the Ring as we are plainly told he is.
Let us not forget Gandalf’s plea to Frodo to not tempt him with the Ring!
Question two leaves the Maiar theory greatly weakened.
Also,
the fact that Tom would see no need to protect the Ring and that he would lose
it flies in the face of what we know of other Maiar. Most definitely a Maia
would know the significance of the Ring and would not lose it due to
absent-mindedness. A Maiar would recognize the threat Sauron, a fellow Maiar, would
present if he had the Ring.
The
third area yet again presents severe difficulties for the idea that Tom is a
Maiar, Tom’s age. The idea of
presenting a Maiar as "Fatherless" is not troublesome[1]
yet the other comments of his age and role present insurmountable difficulties
to this theory. Tom says of himself:
“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, and saw the
little People arriving. He was here when…the elves passed westward, Tom was
here already, before the seas were bent. He knew dark under the stars when it
was fearless—before the Dark Lord came from the Outside” (In the House of Tom Bombadil, LOTR, 182).
Tom
states that he was here before Morgoth[2]
which means it is clear that he cannot be a Maiar. For we know from the
Silmarillion that the Valar[3]
were first to Middle Earth. Indeed, the elves in the Council of Elrond say that
Tom will be "last" as he was "first" if Sauron should win.
This description does not fit well with that of a Maiar. Indeed, Gandalf
himself puts the nail in coffin when he says of Tom, "He belongs to a much
older generation, and my ways are not his" (The Treason of Isengard, 158). While this passage is not canon it
is interesting that Gandalf goes out his way to draw a distinction between
himself and Tom. Gandalf goes out his way to draw a distinction between himself
and Tom. Gandalf clearly tells us that his generation and
Tom's are different. Tom’s is much older.
Also, their ways are different. Gandalf
has drawn a stark distinction between Tom and himself. If Tom were a fellow
Maiar there would be no need for Gandalf to draw such a distinction.
Tolkien here, through the mouth of
Gandalf, tells us that Gandalf is a different creature than Tom is.
How about a Maiar being first and last as Tom is described? Is this a good description of a Maia? No. The Valar are plainly stated to be the first creations in the thought of Illuvatar and are thus the first of the Ainur (Valar & Maiar). Would a Maiar be eldest? No. The Valar are. The theory can only partially answer this questions and the lack of depth and the difficulties of the facts this theory ignores leaves its answers very unsatisfying.
How about a Maiar being first and last as Tom is described? Is this a good description of a Maia? No. The Valar are plainly stated to be the first creations in the thought of Illuvatar and are thus the first of the Ainur (Valar & Maiar). Would a Maiar be eldest? No. The Valar are. The theory can only partially answer this questions and the lack of depth and the difficulties of the facts this theory ignores leaves its answers very unsatisfying.
What
Glorfindel says about Tom at the Council of Elrond should also give us pause. Glorfindel is one of the
High Elves who have been in Valinor and spent time with both the Maiar and the
Valar. Yet he has no idea what Tom is.
Surely if Tom was a Maiar or a Valar for that matter, Glorfindel would not be
so perplexed. This, coinciding with Gandalf’s distancing of
himself from Tom, should give us great pause in considering Tom to be a Maiar. From
what we know of the Maiar in Middle Earth in this time, what we know of Tom, it
becomes clear that this theory amounts to trying to fit a square peg into a
round hole. If we change what we know of the Maiar and make all kinds of adaptations
to make what we know of the Maiar more like Tom, then sure Tom could be one of the Maiar, but that is
not how Tolkien has revealed the Maiar nor Tom in the text. With a lot of
effort one can try to forcefully get that square peg into the round hole but
there are better options available which can better explain what we know of
Tom.
So
we are left with only one response to the suggestion that Tom is one of the
Maiar, we must firmly reject it because it simply cannot account for the all
the data we know about Tom and about the Maiar. Sadly, this theory falls short
of explaining the mystery that is Tom Bombadil. Now we will explore the
possibility of Tom being a Nature Spirit.
Continues with the Nature Spirit Theory
[1] Admittedly “Fatherless and Eldest” better describes the Valar than the Maiar but for sake of argument we will overlook that for now.
[2] Because Tom lists himself as
being here before the Elves and Men, plus before trees, rivers, rain, acorns,
and oceans it is necessary that the Dark Lord in reference here is none other
than Morgoth at the beginning of time before darkness entailed evil and fear
when the Dark Lord came from the Outside. Sauron came from the outside with
Morgoth and then remained in Middle Earth never leaving and returning again. So
this reference must be to Morgoth not Sauron.
[3] Ainulindale, 9-11, recounts darkness entering the world and when
Melkor enter Ea while the Valar worked on forming Ea. Also we are told in the
Silmarillion (27) that at the beginning of time Yavanna planted seeds and
brought life to the Earth, Tom had to be there before that time.
The Case Against: Nature Spirit
(What follows is post 4 of 8 exploring the mystery of Tom Bombadil)
Tom as a Nature Spirit (Forest or Earth)?
Of the three major theories the nature spirit theory is the strongest and most well rounded. Yet this theory is not without its weaknesses. Some would suggest this theory should not even be considered due to the lack of evidence that nature spirits exist in Middle Earth. This is of course wrong, as it will be discussed later, Tolkien does speak of other spirits existing in his world.[1] There are two types of nature spirits that are generally suggested in this theory. The first and weakest, is that Tom is a spirit of the forest. The second, is that Tom is a spirit who really is a representation of Middle Earth. As far as the three questions which must be addressed in any Tom theory there is a lot of strength in this theory but also some weakness.
The first is Tom’s unique power and its limitations. There is significant strength here especially when it comes to Tom’s limited power. For those who suggest Tom is a forest spirit they point to his power ending and being limited to the Old Forest which explains well the seeming location boundaries of his power. Yet it does not explain how Tom has power in the Barrow-Downs.[2] Indeed, with either nature spirit option there is a major obstacle here. Tolkien describes barrow-wights as demons sent by the Witch King of Angmar which entered into the decomposing bodies of former kings of men. The idea that either a forest spirit, and to a lesser extent the spirit of Middle Earth, would possess power over a spiritual demon is rather tenuous. Secondly, there is no need for a spirit over the forest or Middle Earth. The Valar rule Middle Earth and Yavanna is over the forest. Moreover, Yavanna had the Ents created to protect the forest. There is simply no need for another spirit in Tolkien’s world to protect the forest or Middle Earth for those roles are already being filled by others, remember that Tom was inserted to be a unique creature with a unique role. Third, if one is to adopt Tom as the spirit of Middle Earth then why is his power limited to one location? Why does his knowledge fail out East? Is Middle Earth not in Mordor as well as in the Shire?
The problems do not end here. If Tom is a spirit of the forest then why was he on Middle Earth before the first acorn and rain? He was literally there before the forests so the forest spirit option seems silly. Still Tom’s actions within the forest show him to be at odds with the Old Forest. The Old Forest is described as angry and hateful while Tom is the antithesis to this as he is joyful and well wishing. The trees are described as hating those who walk about freely, this includes Tom.[3] Tom even fights against one of the trees. He sides with those who roam free (people) instead of the trees something that would be odd for a nature spirit to do. Indeed, Tom does not limit himself just to Middle Earth for he teaches the Hobbits to summon him by words that not only include forests and hills but also more cosmic things, “By fire, sun and moon, hearken now and hear us” (In the House of Tom Bombadil, FOTR, 186). Tom is summoned not only by water, wood, and hill but also by fire, sun, and moon. This reality should not be overlooked, Tom tells us something about himself by how he is to be summoned. He does not see himself as limited to the earth only, but also to the cosmic realties of all creation.
The Second fact any legitimate theory must wrestle with is Tom's relationship to the Ring. Admittedly, here there is little evidence to discuss. One can understand why the Ring would have no power over either a forest spirit or the spirit of Middle Earth. Yet one has wonder why it would not? If the Ring holds sway over Sauron, Saruman, and Gandalf surely it would affect a nature spirit? Yet some considerations should be made. The three Rings of the Elves are the Rings of fire, water, and air. In other words, they are rings of natural elements, and they were meant to wield and control nature. It is Galadriel’s ring which preserved and helped to create the natural beauty of Lothlorien. It was Elrond’s ring which raises the river in protection of the Ring Bearer. It is Gandalf’s ring which battles against the fire spirit in Moria. Celebrimbor was said to have created these three rings to help heal the natural damage caused by Morgoth. Now, the One Ring is more powerful than these three, and was meant to control them, so the idea that the One Ring has power over the natural realm, including nature spirits, is extremely likely. Indeed, when the One Ring is destroyed mountains in Mordor crumble alongside Barad-dur because they were sustained by the Ring and Sauron.
Some may protest, “But if Tom is the spirit of Middle Earth he may not be fallen, he may not be inclined to evil, he may be totally pure, and therefore the Ring would not have a hold of him.” This is a legitimate concern, for I believe Tom is pure and unfallen, but Tolkien does not see nature nor spirits as so:
"To gain dominion over Arda, Morgoth had let most of his being pass into the physical constituents of the Earth—hence all things that were born on Earth and lived on and by it, beasts or plants or incarnate spirits, were liable to be ‘stained’." (Morgoth’s Ring, 394-5)
Not only does Toolkien reference incarnated spirits born on and connected to the Earth (i.e. Nature spirits) all of these spirits are said to be ‘stained’ by Morgoth, they are stained by evil. What effect does it have on these spirits? Tolkien makes it plain:
"Melkor ‘incarnated’ himself (as Morgoth) permanently. He did this so as to control the hroa [physical material], the ‘flesh’ or physical matter, of Arda. He attempted to identify himself with it…Thus, outside the Blessed Realm, all ‘matter’ was likely to have a ‘Melkor ingredient’, and those who had bodies, nourished by the hroa of Arda, had as it were a tendency, small or great, towards Melkor: they were none of them wholly free of him in their incarnate form, and their bodies had an effect upon their spirits." (Morgoth’s Ring, 399-400)
It is clear, all of these spirits where thus stained by Morgoth and are therefore perceptible to evil. They all have a tendency, great or small, in their incarnated bodies and in their spirits, towards evil because of the work Melkor did. Therefore, if Tom was a nature spirit we cannot hold that the Ring would not have any power over him because of what we know of the Rings and what we now see about the corruption of all of Middle Earth. Morgoth Stained everything in Middle Earth so now everything is inclined towards him, towards evil.
Tom therefore cannot be a nature spirit. Tom has no inclination to evil for if he did the Ring would have some power over him. If he is a nature spirit then he would indeed have an inclination towards Morgoth, towards evil. It is near impossible to make a case that the Ring would then have no power over him. Especially when we realize the Rings of power were made to rule the natural elements of the earth in an attempt to heal the harms Morgoth did to the earth. In the end, the Valar theory is correct in trying to answer this question by removing Tom’s origin from Middle Earth entirely because the Ring belongs to Middle Earth.
The third area to be addressed is Tom being described as eldest and as being in existence before the Dark Lord entered. This presents issues if Tom is a nature spirit of the forest variety. Besides Tom being there before the forests were created, it should be noted that he was there before Morgoth. The Forests were not. If Tom were the spirit of Middle Earth then it may be wise to say that he was there before Morgoth. Yet how does this fit with Glorfindel saying, “I think that in the end, if all else is conquered, Bombadil will fall, Last as he was First; and then Night will come.”[4] Tom would be the last to fall after all else is conquered, including the earth. Sauron’s goal is to rule/corrupt Middle Earth and if Tom’s existence is tied with Middle Earth why would he cease to be (as Tolkien states) if the west should fail? Again Tom’s age is tied to the darkness entering which started before the earth with the Discord of Melkor. Would Tom truly be fatherless, eldest, first, and last if his is the spirit of Middle Earth? I think not. There is a better explanation to all of these questions. My suggestion is admittedly in the same vein as the nature spirit theory but takes it a step further.
Next Section: A Way Forward
[1] This will be explored more later in the paper.
[2] Steuard Jensen, a nature spirit theorist, rejects the forest spirit theory for this very reason, Tom’s location used to be much larger, but he has self contained himself to his current location as described by Gandalf. So the Forest spirit theory is flawed in this area. Jensen sees Tom as a spirit of all of Arda. http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil5Theory.html
[3] “Tom’s words laid bare the hearts of trees and their thoughts, which were often dark and strange, and filled with hatred of things that go free upon the earth…” (FOTR, In the House of Tom Bombadil, 180).
[4] FOTR, Council of Elrond, 348.
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