I love that, he can be basically the manifestation of the desire of Arda of goodness, like ok there's evil here and I'll balance things with untouchable innocence and kindness, so evil can't dominate because goodness also is domination, far from the eye of the evil, so the evil becomes a kid play, because love is strongher
I do legit believe it he was there to comfort the writer from the struggles in the wars of the ring. And yes , he was there before them, in his poems, and from.another book, he couldnt care less about this new universe's corruption.
The house of Tom bombadil is one of my favorite chapters. I would have been totally fine with fotr extended version being 6hrs long to include him and more footage of the rivendell chapters as well. I also love goldberry. For me Tom bombadil isn't out of place, technically evil is out of place and Bombadil is how the world should have been. We are so use to evil, despair and darkness that someone jolly, singing and fearless seams surreal to us.
One thing, in removing Bombadil, the swords the Hobbits carried were merely swords, gifted them by Strider, not swords buried with ancient kings from the North whose mortal enemy was the Witchking of Angmar and specifically designed to undo the spells that knit him together. By skipping Bombadil, you skip the barrowdowns and Tom's rescue of them and retrieving the ancient swords.
Ah, but maybe, in the alternate universe of the movies, perhaps Strider was the one imprisoned in the Barrow and rescued by Bombadil, in a sequence of events that took place just before Strider met the hobbits in the Prancing Pony. Perhaps Strider, concerned by rumours of the Black Riders, had planned to meet the hobbits before they left the Shire and escort them to Bree, but was delayed by events in the Old Forest. If so, that would explain how Strider came by the ancient daggers that he gave to the hobbits as swords. And this wasn’t told as part of the ‘movie story’ because it happened to Strider in his last days as a lone wanderer, not Strider as a companion of the hobbits.
The movies simplify it by allowing movie goers to assume no magic is needed, other than the fact the Witch King can’t be killed by a man…thus a woman and a hobbit can.
I understand removing Tom Bombadil from the movies and even agree with that, but I would never understand how Peter Jackson didn't make a small scene telling the hobbits something like "these blades are relics from the past, made by those who fought the Nazgul and their armies. Use them well, they will protect you" and bam... You have an amazing callback in the death of the witch king.
"And most amusing for me" Personally I think Tom is a reminder to the reader that evil and darkness are not all powerful. We forget him in the third book but the contrast is staggering. He's a strange reminder albeit but his joy and carefree nature makes me wonder if he is the overall representation of what life should have been for the peoples of middle earth. Goodness knows we would all b alot happier with a theme song as we go about our day 😂 And glad he wasn't in the films but that doesn't mean he shouldn't have one of his own 😃
He also made sure Marry took the Barrow Blade, which was the only way the Witch King could die. Without Tom, the Witch King lives, which could have very bad results. Whether he meant to or not... well, I guess that's just part of his mystery.
@@radagast7200 certain scene's in the LOTR are also just pure magic to let you know we are not in Kansas anymore. Toms is the best of those in setting that context in my opinion. You are right of course. Seemingly small things early in the story have great consequences later on
@Allen Saunders I definitely agree with Tom representing the shift from the mundane to magical. I think this is further highlighted in the similarities between their stay with Farmer Maggot and Bombadil, which have some very clear similarities. In each case, they are aided and given shelter and food in a pleasant home. One is more mundane and the other is magical, but they are almost mirror images, down to them being escorted to the next leg of their journey. It's even revealed that Maggot and Bombadil are friends.
@@radagast7200 yes sir a few other instances of this also. The very first time the hobbits meet elves. That scene has a wonderful magical quality the first time in the books I remember saying wow atleast for me
I always took him as a perspective character, that no matter how big and world ending you think your problems are their is someone in the world who knows life is still going to continue on. There is a great Tom Bombadil quote about this, "For you, the day the One Ring graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday."
I’ve seen multiple videos from Tolkien TH-camrs addressing “Who is Tom Bombadil?” But I believe this is the first video I’ve seen trying to address solely his importance to the story as a whole. Thank you for this addition! As for me I do believe he is important. The presence of Tom shows early on in the story that there are limits to the Rings power. He can see those who wear it; it has no effect on him. He is the good that cannot be touched by evil.
I would agree that leaving him out of the films was wise. To do him justice and cover the Barrow Downs could easily have added an extra 30 minutes. Any less would have been a waste. However in terms of the books, i feel he adds to the story and I wouldn't have been without him. The Barrow Downs is a favourite episode. One in which Meriadoc receives the blade which undoes the Witch King. Others may disagree for any number of reasons but i look forward to Tom with every reread. I guess run 57 ( or 58 if you include my one Audible run) is overdue.
In the canon Tom Bombadil saved the lives of the hobbits twice, from Old Man Willow and the Barrow Wight respectively. They would never have made it as far as Bree without his protection and guidance and the Ring would have become part of an undead's hoard. There is no telling where the story would go from there but its doubtful it would be a happy tale. From the perspective of canon I believe he is very important, not to mention that the chapters containing him are fascinating and enjoyable sections of the Text. I certainly missed his inclusion in the latest films.
Glorfindel got the importance of Bombadil to the world: "I think that in the end, if all else is con¬ quered, Bombadil will fall, Last as he was First; and then Night will come.’ ". I think there is also a deep sadness in Bombadil also. He used to wander the Great Forest when it covered all Eriador, before the Numenoreans came. No wonder Willow's heart turned black.
As you say, Bombadil is not essential to the narrative of the destruction of the Ring, but he is important in the LOTR story. Just Like Tolkien's descriptions of the landscapes at times, this all adds a depth to the story.
I think Tom Bombadil was a result of the first song of the Ainur. In this time, Melkor added discord to the song and Eru stopped the song. They started again the Second song of the Ainur. During these songs, Middle Earth is being created and formed.
Tom is not an elf, nor a man. The most popular theory among readers seems to be he is a Maia. But IF he is that, ALL the Ainur (Valar and Maiar) were created in the mind of Eru BEFORE the music. They were taught to sing the music. Are the Ainur offspring of Eru? Why do the elves refer to Tom as Fatherless and First? When Tom rescues the Hobbits from the wights, he magically appears (teleported) as soon as Frodo calls, travelling miles in an instant? No one else in ME seems to be able to do this. Tom seems to be singular and cannot be explained. Who else in Arda possesses these traits?
Tom is an exemplar, a Jesus figure if you will. All the Maiar we meet (except Tom) fear the Ring. If the Ring represents temptation and sin, and Tom is not influenced by these, what does that say about Tom's nature?@@shadowofchaos8932
I agree. It was a good idea to cut him from the films, it wouldn’t have fit and killed the film’s momentum (similar to how the timeline is hugely compressed, overall) but I love him in the books
Exactly. I hadn't read any of it before I saw the first film, and I was blown away by the timeline in the books. Practically every change PJ made, I agree with. It'd have been great if he'd figured a way around the whole army of the dead.
Great video on an intriguing character from the books. There seems to be a series of helpers ready for Frodo in the first part of FOTR--Gildor, Farmer Maggot, Tom, Strider, Butterbur to some extent, Glorfindel. I get why Jackson left most of this out of the film but it's part of the friends where you don't expect them theme that lingers through the books. Anyways, great work here on the video.
I'm reminded of Basil King who wrote "Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid". That's what Tom and other characters represented. Such as Beorn in the Hobbit. On his mission Frodo needed help. He needed to know that the world has beings that are helpful, good, and kind. Those experiences would help fortify his spirit along the way. Those dreams and memories in his darkest hours would give him the courage to take one more step.
What a lovely, delicate take on Old Tom. If Amazon has the rights (and the talent) I would love to see a two-part episode on Tom with the Hobbits in the Old Forest and in Tom's home. The Barrow Wrights deserve a few episodes on their own and that could be spooky, epic.
Given that he saves Merry and Pippin twice, and all the hobbits at the Barrow Downs, he is essential to the story as a teacher and protector at the beginning of the story. Btw it’s rather amazing that there is no visit to Tom and Goldberry by the hobbits after the scouring of the Shire to say thank you and hello again. Especially given that farmer Maggot and Tom are in contact before the beginning of the story.
This is going to sound strange, but to me Tom Bombadil and Goldberry always represented the archetypical wholesome married couple. Perhaps an unlikely pair to any onlookers, but actually made for each other and having their own understanding and appreciation between themselves. After my divorce, whenever I get to those passages, it's always a strange mix of regret, admiration and longing for that sort of relationship.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it. To be honest, I think I’m going to skip that one. I haven’t played Magic the Gathering and with all the controversy around it, I think I’ll pass on it.
Can you do a what if video on what would happen if Bilbo killed Gollum in the hobbit because there is many interesting points where Gollum is important such as Sauron would never know where the shire is and Gandalf knowledge would be greatly diminished on the ring
@@dimitrilitovsk2372 Agreed, I think it might have also changed some aspects of The Hobbit as well; would Bilbo's slaying of Gollum been some sort of accident? Would he have deliberately killed him before learning of the back door to the misty mountain caves? Would Bilbo be more willing to fight and possibly kill others after taking Gollum's life?
"What if Deagle killed Smeagle instead" would also be fun. It would have to be far more hypothetical though. Smeagle used it to spy on his community and made them fearful. If Deagle ended up with it. Perhaps he would have used it more like Bilbo did.
@@radagast7200: If Deagol killed Smeagol, even in self defence, he would have ended up as Gollum eventually, although it may have taken longer for him to be corrupted. Guilt would have eaten away at him, along with the desperate need for the ‘Precious’.
@@Gigas0101: Bilbo would definitely have been corrupted if he’d stabbed Gollum while invisible. That’s not combat, it’s murder. Stabbing a spider while invisible is one thing, doing it to a person (and after talking to him, Bilbo knew in his heart that Gollum WAS a person, not merely a monster) is something different. Bilbo would have begun to fall into evil before the end of The Hobbit. At the very least, he would not have gone back to Thorin’s Company after stealing the Arkenstone. At worst, he might even have kept the Arkenstone for himself and not tried to make peace with it.
Tom Bombadil, whom the author could never seem to settle on a rationsle for may represent the intrusion of the hyperstitial into the novel. Tolkien and later more especially his son became more concerned to write out all the original faerie influences and substitute explicitly english catholic ideas. Once Tom was in, he could no long be written out, though JRR groused about it. The trickster remains.
I really liked the Tom Bombadil character, and while it would've been nice to see him in the LotR movies, I can see why he was left out. What I would find interesting is an alternate, dystopian story where Sauron gets the one ring back and manages to conquer all the peoples of Middle-Earth. I'm curious about how exactly Sauron would approach trying to overcome Tom Bombadil and his little corner of the world in such a scenario. Maybe he couldn't, and maybe he wouldn't even attempt to. Considering Sauron's nature, I have to assume he would definitely try, or spend nearly all of his time & thought, after dominating the rest of the world, in coming up with a plan to do so. That's part of what I like about Tom Bombadil, the shroud of mystery that surrounds who he is, where he came from, and what the limits of his power are, if any. So could Sauron, after successfully conquering everyone & everywhere else, defeat Tom Bombadil? I like to think he couldn't, and that failure would eternally gnaw at him, not allowing him to savor his near-total rule over everything but.
@@giningmos2338: I think both of you may be correct. I think Bombadil is powerful enough to resist any of Sauron’s servants, even the Nazgul. I also think he is powerful enough to resist even Sauron himself, in person, provided that Sauron doesn’t have the Ring. But if Sauron has regained the Ring, then the Dark Lord at the very pinnacle of his power would be too much for Bombadil.
I think Bombadil is important in that he gives a glimpse into the beginning ages when the shadows were either not so deep or not so dangerous. Back when not so much sorrow had been seen. Like the time with Galadriel, her words of advice, and the gifts she gave Tom’s time with the hobbits helps to bouy them along the path. He also shows the magic that once existed and still exists in corners of Middle-Earth even though magic has been waning as the Ages pass.
This video perfectly summarizes my thoughts on old Tom Bombadil. I love his character and how he functions in the story, while I would’ve loved to see a depiction of him in the films as well as the book version of the beginning, the edit for film was necessary and done well I think
While I completely agree Tom Bombadil's part of the story can be skipped for sake of brevity, as it has been in just about all adaptations including the 1981 radio series and the animated versions, at the same time his chapters provide a rhythmic similarity to the story. The Hobbits leave the shire and enter the wilds, and the first things they encounter are wild things, threatening like old man willow and the barrow wites, and mysterious and ancient like Bombadil. It's a taste of what's to come, and an indication of how strange middle earth is. also the Barrow Wites are the first sign we get of Frodo's bravery, confronting the spector, not willing to put on the ring and abandon his friends, even hacking at it with a sword. This is doubly important before Aragorn enters the story and provides something of a leader figure for the hobbits, and foreshadows Frodo's fortitude in walking to Mordor, it's character based setup, and world building setup, and some excitement after the at times draggy chapters of the Hobbit's flight through the shire.
I think that Tom might be: 1) The polar opposite of the Nameless Things of the dark. While the darkness coalesced into the terrible creatures that lived in the deep, Tom is comprised the light that was created by the making of the world. 2) An aspect of Eru that the creator put upon the world to, as you said, show that there is not only darkness and evil in the world. Even if many don't know about him, his presence is still there to give hope and show that there is good that evil cannot overcome. This might also explain why he doesn't get directly involved.
Also, I think that Tom Bombadil is like the 5 Wizards, a protector of life in Middle Earth. But instead of protecting the Children of Iluvatar like Gandalf, or even the animals like Radagast, Tom Bombadil’s role, with Goldberry, is to protect the life of plants - trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers and all growing things, which cannot defend themselves or flee. (Except for the Ents). So perhaps Bombadil’s power extends far beyond the Old Forest, helping in some magical way to help the defenceless plants of Middle Earth resist the corruption and disease of Melkor’s and Sauron’s evil.
Yoystan, you are the man. My brother is a huge Tolkien guy and I was always ASOIAF guy. Anytime I have a random lore question, you always have a video.
In the books I liked the section of Tom Bombadill because it emphasizes the hobbits were entering a world far stranger that they had known before. Remember that the movies were a gamble - a 3 movie fantasy series - and they were already very long. But a diversion into Tom Bombadil’s world would’ve been a sideshow for most of the movie viewers unfamiliar with the book. Also, He may have been so strange he would have just been silly to many viewers.
The encounter with Bombadil at the very least provided Merry with the dagger he struck the Witch King with..a dagger specifically forged, and wound about with spells, to do him real damage. That dagger played a rather impotant role in the battle of Pellenor Fields. Without Bombadil the journey through the old Forest may have ended even before the hobbits reached the barrow downs. So...yeah. Hes a forest hippy but his presence plays a central role in the outcome of the tale.
I actually hadn't read the books until after the movies had come out so, I didn't know he was missing and I read the LOTR so many times after watching the trilogy that I didn't realize that he wasn't in the movies until I was talking with my oldest daughter about the movies (years after they'd been out on DVD) and I asked her what she thought about Tom Bombadil. She had no idea what I was talking about. The images of Tom that filled my head as I read the books were so vivid to me that I remembered those images as if I had seen them in the movies. I think Tom would have been great in the movies and they should have had him in there but, they should have made it a brief encounter with the Hobbits in the beginning and an even more brief scene from when Gandalf met with him. Gandalf's absences could have used a bit of clarity IMO.
Tom's omission from the films was unfortunate but necessary I think. Also, with all this discussion of Tom's "power", I believe that Tom didn't have much in the way of actual power. During the Council of Elrond, it's stated that Tom doesn't have power over the One Ring, but rather the Ring (and, by extension, the other evils of Middle Earth) have no power over him. At least not in the ethereal, magical, mystical sense. But if it came to a straight up sword and shield fight between Tom and, say, a dozen or so Orcs, then things would end badly for Bombadil. I agree that he is antithetical to Sauron, but mostly in a moral, philosophical way. Anyway thanks for another great video Yoyston!
I think Tom was more than Tolkien would admit in his other works and letters. As a devout Catholic he would know the weight of describing someone as "He is". Tom DID have power over the ring and was completely unphased by it. Or perhaps unimpressed by its feeble power, compared to his. And he knew of "the precious ring" without anyone telling him that Frodo carried it. I notice that when Frodo sang the song Tom taught them if they got into trouble, her did not arrive after some time passed, but appeared almost instantly outside the barrow. Can even Manwe teleport? I wonder what would have happened if Frodo and Sam had sang Tom's song in Shelob's lair?
Excellent VOD. Tom is great in the novel. It's a time out from the name narrative. And he is a most unique character. I understand why he needed to be cut from the film, but I have much bigger issues with the film (Faramir and Arwen, for starters).
I've always had a hard time with the Tom Bombadil parts of Fellowship, as they feel like a weird deviation from what's going on. I think it was wise to leave him out of the movies, as it would be confusing and feel excessive and even alien to the tone of the film. However, I have heard an interesting theory about his inclusion in Fellowship, and it has to do with the difference between Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. The parts in the Old Forest and Barrow Downs have a very Hobbit-like feel. It's a very episodic section, full of whimsy and cheer, and then when the characters get in danger, they're saved by a deus ex machina, as Bombadil shows up at the last second much like Gandalf would do in the Hobbit. Then, when Bombadil escorts them to the edge of his realm, he explains that he can't go any further with them. It's at this point, the book moves on from the one of the Hobbit and into the darker, more serious, come complex tone that dominates much of the Lord of the Rings. By introducing Bombadil and then having him leave for the rest of the series, Tolkien creates a kind of thematic delineation between what his goals were with the Hobbit and what he wants to do with the rest of his legendarium. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that interpretation, but it is an interesting one. As for myself, I see it as more of a cameo, as I know Bombadil was very popular among his children, and so throwing him in is more about having a bit of emotional continuity rather than a literal or historical one.
I like your explanation. Since I don't think I've read anywhere of the mental adjustment JRRT made to transition from the child's story that is the Hobbit to the more serious LOTR, the theory you've promoted makes as much sense as any. Both are fantasy stories NOT of the real world. He doesn't have to explain anything unless he wants to. I don't believe I've ever read of him "explaining" Tom. I'm good with that. After all, what is "the meaning" of OUR world, in 200 words or less? That question leaves me speechless, and with no happy song on my lip.
I understand why he was edited out of the movies, but I really like him as a character. Perhaps he started off a bit silly, more like the Hobbit, but his character gained depth the longer the hobbits were with him
I've always (in my own head) figured that Tom Bombadil is actually the avatar of Eru Iluvatar. Ring has no power over him. Just 'happened' to be there on several different occasions; saving the quest. "...he was the first, and oldest of the old..." Doesn't care if people even know he exists. Just happy to let things play out, yet intervenes in dire situations. He's really talented and big into 'music'.... Just like Eru. Super babe of a wife (I mean, because why not, if you're god). Can impose his will on nature and even dead spirits. Seems to know things he shouldn't know. Can see Frodo when Frodo is wearing the ring. Has no will to desire the ring, or even affected by it. Not affected by worldly creations.
I have also considered this. My only issue is that the Valar refused to truly intervene in the war of the ring (with the exception of the Istari). Would Eru intervene? Was it part of the music? It's a mind boggler!
No. TB is Aule and Goldberry is Yavanna. They are observing that part of the world, like on vacation, in disguise. This theory is well documented and supported by logical analysis.
No to you, too. Please provide your proof of where JRRT implies Tom is Aule. The Elves (in the set up of Tolkien's world, they are the ones working out and telling the story). THEY refer to Tom as First and Fatherless. Strange, wouldn't you say, for a being (Aule) that is only one of fifteen differentiated and plucked from the mind of Eru? I don't buy it. Tom may be a mystery, but Aule?? No, unless you can provide "logical" proof.@@jaykay8723
Tom is such a curious, mysterious character. His chapter is more like on “off ramp” in the story.(What did Tolkien have in mind?) But he certainly does come in handy when the Hobbits need help.
Tom is crucial to the story in the books, and the more I read it the more the genius of Tolkien comes through. It was right to drop him from the movies but in the books he is critical in giving Frodo the courage and belief that he can actually do the job, and contributes to him volunteering to take the ring to Mordor. Until this point he’s only seen and heard how dangerous the ring is, so much so that not even Gandalf would take it. What hope would Frodo have? Then he finds Tom who is not the least bit affected or interested by it, showing Frodo that it is not inevitable to succumb to it. Further, when we get to the council of Elrond, we are told that even Tom will fall if Sauron gets the ring, raising the stakes of the task on hand. There are many other important bits from his chapters but Tom himself is critical in both giving hope to the ring bearer and making it clear that inaction, even for Tom, is not an option and so no one in middle earth can stand by and hope to not be affected should Sauron reclaim the ring.
When I was younger I was disappointed he was left out but now i completely understand the choice. The chapters with Tom in them i find dull to read but relaxing to listen to. Am I alone in this?
I agree with your perspective. Tom Bombadil is important to the books and the worldbuilding. That Gandalf goes to have a long talk with him after it's all over, shows that he was that important to Tolkien and strongly hints that he is quite important in Middle Earth. The other beings that was older than time were Ungoliant and "the nameless things". It seems necessary to balance these evil mysteries with a more friendly mystery. It is also important that we understand it is not just orcs & Nazgul that threaten travelers in Middle Earth. There are also deadly trees, barrow wrights, giant spiders, and dumb trolls. These encounters cannot be replaced with more hide and seek with orcs without losing the rich diversity of Middle Earth and gaining redundancy. It also allows the hobbits to "level up" in D&D terms and gain some magic weapons. I wonder if Radagast knew Tom?
I agree! I love his character in the books and understand and agree with omitting him from the films. I don’t think his presence would have translated well into the films. I feel like it would have been a very unnecessary and disconnected scene in the films that people would have been like “Who the hell was that and why did that happen?”. I love when he rescues the hobbits at the Barrow Downs.
Being generally fond of symmetry, I tend to think that Tom is the opposite of Ungolianth. None of them really fits into the taxonomy most other entities fall into, and are also said to be older than the world, they can communicate with others but won't form any permanent allegiance. So if she is the manifestation of death and darkness itself, Tom may be the manifestation of life and light. When his existence ends, life in Eä ends too.
I agree 100% with you and I think the whole part (from old forest to the barrow downs) is missed from the movies due to the world and character building. The movies are too long but also have things that maybe shouldn't be there.
Leaving him out of the movies loses something of the whimsy that the books have, but it was almost certainly the right choice. He never comes back, and introducing him and developing him in a movie that was already incredibly long, for no real payoff other than... whimsy... is just too much for a movie like that. I wish he could have been in there, but it just wouldn't have worked.
Great job offering your analysis of Bombadil and why he was included in the story. I can understand why his part was omitted from the Jackson films. What I can't understand is why the scouring of the Shire was omitted. Still a little salty over that.
Tolkien intentionally left Bombadil a mystery so we'll never know. My personal take comes from the text where Bombadil describes himself as "Eldest." He was there before Melkor entered Arda and in all likelihood any of the Ainur. I think he was a part of the Music of the Ainur and was brought into being when Eru Ilúvatar brought Arda into being. As for what Tom Bombadil is, Goldberry was right when she said "He is." Bombadil is unique; there is no other being like him in Arda.
Perhaps the most important thing that Tom did for Frodo was to show that the ring could be resisted, and that with the right heart it was ultimately unimportant.
Ok, now that I've watched the video I have a question/suggestion for another video: What does one know about the afterlife in Tolkien's world? The different fates of the children of Illúvatar (Elves, Men, and Dwarves - and where do the Hobbits belong)? What about Morgoth's evil creatures and what about the corrupted creatures? What fate would the Nazgûl and the black Númenorians (and all men who had been corrupted by both dark lords) face? What is with Elves like Fëanor? Thanks for all your work in helping us explore the wonderful world of Middle Earth, Valinor, Númenor (and the other continents we don't know very much about)
I would say that perhaps it’s not that he is uncaring but potentially he sees through the play of opposites. He’s sometimes referenced as being inspired by the ancient archetype of the “green man” of the natural world. Nature is not governed by the same laws of man. He may be more oblivious to the threats and concerns of middle earth because he is so old and has seen so much. He’s connected to a very ancient wisdom connected to the natural world (nature). The great forest spirit in Hayao Miyazaki’s “Princess Mononoke” is similar in its approach to morality and the “bigger picture.”
Man, my whole family are Tom Bombadil's Fans, he is probably our favorite not on Screen Character!!! He is the GOAT, Sauron One Ring has no Power over him, and some of the best Songs!!! I wish he does has representation in an adaption of LOTR, in some way, shape, or form!!! Thanks Mellon for "Is Tom Bombadil Important?" Until the Kings of the Noldor...Marion Baggins Out!!! (Also going to try finishing an Essay that in 2 weeks)
I love him in the book exactly as a reminder that people with power can nevertheless choose to live a peaceful (and quite jolly) life. He's almost a contrast of the hobbits: also live an isolated life, also out of a collective choice, but nevertheless not very powerful. I was angry at his exclusion from the films when I first watched them at 10 years old, but with maturity I definitely back Jackson's decision to omit most of the Hobbiton-to-Bree chapters.
I still believe Tom is either a physical manifestation of Eru himself or an aspect of Eru that transcends everything in Middle Earth while still being interconnected with it.
A fun what if video could be, what if Tom didn't exist? Hobbits die early in the adventure with the ring. Who finds it first? What is the new plan for the good guys if they recover it first? Who bares the ring?
Hello. Really good that he stayed out of the movies👏 The best solution for the entire film series💯 Annoying character and plot in the first book. Nowadays, I always skip these chapters in a book!!!
I always thought of Tom as representing the wild nature of Middle Earth as he focuses on his area and doesnt seem to worry about the affairs of mortals or wizards. I agree not having him in the movies was good as he doesnt bring anything important or vital that cant be presented by other characters but I like him in Lord of the Rings Online and done very nicely there
Bombadil’s part was always my favorite in the books. But I’m glad he wasn’t in the movies. I can be critical (and I was especially so with The Hobbit movies), and believe that Bombadil would be very difficult to translate to film.
I agree that Tom character add more life and story to the forest. His light hearted behaviour in a world where everyone is afraid of Dark Lord and Nazgul is quited interesting.
He's at least important in setting the mood for a big adventure, but yes there are plot aspects too.. I don't blame PJ for not including Bombadils story arc, but I'd love to have seen him at least in the extended releases...
The only reason Jackson left TB out is because the writer/s of the 1980's BBC dramatisation for radio 4 did. His is a visual version of their audio work. Not saying that's a bad thing, I love that version. It's of it's time effects-wise but definitely laid foundations for Jacksons work.
Tom sends a powerful message about pacifism and rejecting the desire for power. As Tolkien wrote, his carefree attitude is the reason the Ring can't tempt him - and it's an important perspective to have represented, even though Tom would be defeated by Sauron if Sauron won the war and thus relied on others to save the world.
I was a bit sad Tom and Goldberry, (I kind of think of them as one,) weren't in Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring. I mean I get why they weren't, they were superfluous to the war story. But, unlike in Siddhartha, we don't ever see how Tom and Goldberry became the enlightened beings they are. Bodhisattvas as it were. Could the Hobbits have carried on without having met them? Supped with them and slept and dreamed in their home? Thanks for another nice video.
He's important. He shows the hobbits a deeper secret about the world they are going into. it is more than just orcs and elves and big folk but other powers out there along the road. He would not have worked in the film but in the book he is needed. also literary the closer the hobbits are to the shire them ore calm the writing is, but the further away, like in gondor, it is more high fantasy in epic places. it is a part of their world back home. You can see bopmbadil strolling through the shire, but not on the fields of pelandor
Tom Bombadil and how he gives them a place to stay is reminiscent of priests in the early medieval period and places of rest for religious pilgrims and you could honestly spiral off into a whole essay on Tom being immune to the ring and the incorruptible nature of pure faith in God and Catholic values or whatever because of Tolkien's religion, but also i feel like if Tolkien were ever to read that essay he'd just go "Bruh i just didn't know how to edit him from the final manuscript after it stopped being a Hobbit sequel for kids"
Bombadil is so important for the story of Middle Earth. It's not even sure what kind of creature it is. The complete immunity for darkness of the ring could be a sign of being of a race ancestral to the Hobbits. Hobbits are resilliant to the power of the ring and corruption of the race is slow. He has a bit of a Hobbit himself. Although he is longer than that and way older. For the movies it's indeed a reminder that not all is evil. But that role is taken over by the hobbits and Gandalf. So in that way I understand the choice, although it makes me a bit sad they didn't. Somehow it feels as an opposite to a Balrog as well. As Balrogs are tortured by Melkor/Morgoth and changed to that gruesome beasts, Bombadil more appears as one free fought Maiar, doing his own thing. It makes Middle Earth more fun and more connected to the old days of the first age. That's how I see it.
Pre-watch comment. Bombadil was absolutely crucial. He not only gifted pippin with the dagger that would gravely wound the witch King, he also gave the hobbits figurative growth to start their journey. I shall except no diminishing of the GOAT
Most of these pictures make me want to see Tom Bombadil in a live action production and played by Jack Black. I feel he works in the book, and would've worked in an episodic adaptation of Lord of the Rings such as a TV show. The movies are very hasty, and I feel he would be detrimental to the urgency the movies present in comparison to the books. Honestly, I'd be curious to see if Tom could calm the Huorns of Fangorn or what might happen if Saruman encountered him when he fled to the Shire.
There's a lot of unnecessary side characters in the story, but I like his inclusion. I think one of Tolkien's letters mentions something about getting a glimpse behind the world beyond the scope of the story, which I think makes middle earth feel deeper. Further, my personal theory is that Tom is something akin to whatever Ungoliant is, but pertaining to the light and joy of creation than the self devouring darkness that is the discord of the music.
Tom Bombadil was a comforting being in a world that had grown cold. He was a kind hearted benevolent spirit of nature in his little corner of Arda.
I love that, he can be basically the manifestation of the desire of Arda of goodness, like ok there's evil here and I'll balance things with untouchable innocence and kindness, so evil can't dominate because goodness also is domination, far from the eye of the evil, so the evil becomes a kid play, because love is strongher
I do legit believe it he was there to comfort the writer from the struggles in the wars of the ring. And yes , he was there before them, in his poems, and from.another book, he couldnt care less about this new universe's corruption.
The house of Tom bombadil is one of my favorite chapters. I would have been totally fine with fotr extended version being 6hrs long to include him and more footage of the rivendell chapters as well. I also love goldberry. For me Tom bombadil isn't out of place, technically evil is out of place and Bombadil is how the world should have been. We are so use to evil, despair and darkness that someone jolly, singing and fearless seams surreal to us.
Evil is out of place... very good observation and an excellent point.
One thing, in removing Bombadil, the swords the Hobbits carried were merely swords, gifted them by Strider, not swords buried with ancient kings from the North whose mortal enemy was the Witchking of Angmar and specifically designed to undo the spells that knit him together.
By skipping Bombadil, you skip the barrowdowns and Tom's rescue of them and retrieving the ancient swords.
Yeah but the movies would be 6 hours long each if you explained stuff like that.
Ah, but maybe, in the alternate universe of the movies, perhaps Strider was the one imprisoned in the Barrow and rescued by Bombadil, in a sequence of events that took place just before Strider met the hobbits in the Prancing Pony. Perhaps Strider, concerned by rumours of the Black Riders, had planned to meet the hobbits before they left the Shire and escort them to Bree, but was delayed by events in the Old Forest.
If so, that would explain how Strider came by the ancient daggers that he gave to the hobbits as swords. And this wasn’t told as part of the ‘movie story’ because it happened to Strider in his last days as a lone wanderer, not Strider as a companion of the hobbits.
The movies simplify it by allowing movie goers to assume no magic is needed, other than the fact the Witch King can’t be killed by a man…thus a woman and a hobbit can.
@@Svinfylka I know. But it lost part of the world.
I understand removing Tom Bombadil from the movies and even agree with that, but I would never understand how Peter Jackson didn't make a small scene telling the hobbits something like "these blades are relics from the past, made by those who fought the Nazgul and their armies. Use them well, they will protect you" and bam... You have an amazing callback in the death of the witch king.
"And most amusing for me"
Personally I think Tom is a reminder to the reader that evil and darkness are not all powerful. We forget him in the third book but the contrast is staggering. He's a strange reminder albeit but his joy and carefree nature makes me wonder if he is the overall representation of what life should have been for the peoples of middle earth. Goodness knows we would all b alot happier with a theme song as we go about our day 😂
And glad he wasn't in the films but that doesn't mean he shouldn't have one of his own 😃
I think he is mentioned in the very end of the third book. Isn't it stated that Sam goes and visits him several times? I might need to reread it.
@Radagast same haha
He saved the hobbits twice. The story would of been alit shorter without him. He represents the overall magic of middle earth. I miss him in the films
He also made sure Marry took the Barrow Blade, which was the only way the Witch King could die. Without Tom, the Witch King lives, which could have very bad results. Whether he meant to or not... well, I guess that's just part of his mystery.
@@radagast7200 certain scene's in the LOTR are also just pure magic to let you know we are not in Kansas anymore. Toms is the best of those in setting that context in my opinion. You are right of course. Seemingly small things early in the story have great consequences later on
@Allen Saunders I definitely agree with Tom representing the shift from the mundane to magical. I think this is further highlighted in the similarities between their stay with Farmer Maggot and Bombadil, which have some very clear similarities. In each case, they are aided and given shelter and food in a pleasant home. One is more mundane and the other is magical, but they are almost mirror images, down to them being escorted to the next leg of their journey.
It's even revealed that Maggot and Bombadil are friends.
@@radagast7200 yes sir a few other instances of this also. The very first time the hobbits meet elves. That scene has a wonderful magical quality the first time in the books I remember saying wow atleast for me
I always took him as a perspective character, that no matter how big and world ending you think your problems are their is someone in the world who knows life is still going to continue on.
There is a great Tom Bombadil quote about this, "For you, the day the One Ring graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday."
I’ve seen multiple videos from Tolkien TH-camrs addressing “Who is Tom Bombadil?” But I believe this is the first video I’ve seen trying to address solely his importance to the story as a whole. Thank you for this addition!
As for me I do believe he is important. The presence of Tom shows early on in the story that there are limits to the Rings power. He can see those who wear it; it has no effect on him. He is the good that cannot be touched by evil.
I loved his part in the books. It felt like reading a Ghibli movie; it was so comforting.
I still say the only actor that could have ever pulled that role off was Robin Williams.
Jack Black lol
Fair, if he can do an accent. I'd say Richard Attenborough too
❤️😢 RIP
Rip Robin Williams.
Haha damn that might have actually worked out. Now we’d probably be left with Jack Black.
I would agree that leaving him out of the films was wise. To do him justice and cover the Barrow Downs could easily have added an extra 30 minutes. Any less would have been a waste. However in terms of the books, i feel he adds to the story and I wouldn't have been without him. The Barrow Downs is a favourite episode. One in which Meriadoc receives the blade which undoes the Witch King.
Others may disagree for any number of reasons but i look forward to Tom with every reread.
I guess run 57 ( or 58 if you include my one Audible run) is overdue.
They should have just added another 2 hours to the movie.
In the canon Tom Bombadil saved the lives of the hobbits twice, from Old Man Willow and the Barrow Wight respectively. They would never have made it as far as Bree without his protection and guidance and the Ring would have become part of an undead's hoard. There is no telling where the story would go from there but its doubtful it would be a happy tale. From the perspective of canon I believe he is very important, not to mention that the chapters containing him are fascinating and enjoyable sections of the Text. I certainly missed his inclusion in the latest films.
Glorfindel got the importance of Bombadil to the world: "I think that in the end, if all else is con¬
quered, Bombadil will fall, Last as he was First; and then
Night will come.’ ". I think there is also a deep sadness in Bombadil also. He used to wander the Great Forest when it covered all Eriador, before the Numenoreans came. No wonder Willow's heart turned black.
As you say, Bombadil is not essential to the narrative of the destruction of the Ring, but he is important in the LOTR story. Just Like Tolkien's descriptions of the landscapes at times, this all adds a depth to the story.
I think Tom Bombadil was a result of the first song of the Ainur. In this time, Melkor added discord to the song and Eru stopped the song. They started again the Second song of the Ainur. During these songs, Middle Earth is being created and formed.
He could also be some sort of a physical manifestation of Eru.
@@iguachumontiel I am not sure about that because Eru would not be married to one of the Ainur (Goodberry).
@@iguachumontiel that has been speculated before but mostly disproved. Tolkien wouldn't have done that in that way was my understanding.
Tom is not an elf, nor a man. The most popular theory among readers seems to be he is a Maia. But IF he is that, ALL the Ainur (Valar and Maiar) were created in the mind of Eru BEFORE the music. They were taught to sing the music. Are the Ainur offspring of Eru? Why do the elves refer to Tom as Fatherless and First? When Tom rescues the Hobbits from the wights, he magically appears (teleported) as soon as Frodo calls, travelling miles in an instant? No one else in ME seems to be able to do this. Tom seems to be singular and cannot be explained. Who else in Arda possesses these traits?
Tom is an exemplar, a Jesus figure if you will. All the Maiar we meet (except Tom) fear the Ring. If the Ring represents temptation and sin, and Tom is not influenced by these, what does that say about Tom's nature?@@shadowofchaos8932
I agree. It was a good idea to cut him from the films, it wouldn’t have fit and killed the film’s momentum (similar to how the timeline is hugely compressed, overall) but I love him in the books
Exactly. I hadn't read any of it before I saw the first film, and I was blown away by the timeline in the books. Practically every change PJ made, I agree with. It'd have been great if he'd figured a way around the whole army of the dead.
I can’t wait to hear your take on this Yoystan
Great video on an intriguing character from the books. There seems to be a series of helpers ready for Frodo in the first part of FOTR--Gildor, Farmer Maggot, Tom, Strider, Butterbur to some extent, Glorfindel. I get why Jackson left most of this out of the film but it's part of the friends where you don't expect them theme that lingers through the books. Anyways, great work here on the video.
I'm reminded of Basil King who wrote "Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid".
That's what Tom and other characters represented. Such as Beorn in the Hobbit. On his mission Frodo needed help. He needed to know that the world has beings that are helpful, good, and kind. Those experiences would help fortify his spirit along the way. Those dreams and memories in his darkest hours would give him the courage to take one more step.
What a lovely, delicate take on Old Tom. If Amazon has the rights (and the talent) I would love to see a two-part episode on Tom with the Hobbits in the Old Forest and in Tom's home. The Barrow Wrights deserve a few episodes on their own and that could be spooky, epic.
In my opinion Amazon shouldnt go near anything Tolkien after the garbage they made with the rings of power.
Given that he saves Merry and Pippin twice, and all the hobbits at the Barrow Downs, he is essential to the story as a teacher and protector at the beginning of the story. Btw it’s rather amazing that there is no visit to Tom and Goldberry by the hobbits after the scouring of the Shire to say thank you and hello again. Especially given that farmer Maggot and Tom are in contact before the beginning of the story.
This is going to sound strange, but to me Tom Bombadil and Goldberry always represented the archetypical wholesome married couple. Perhaps an unlikely pair to any onlookers, but actually made for each other and having their own understanding and appreciation between themselves. After my divorce, whenever I get to those passages, it's always a strange mix of regret, admiration and longing for that sort of relationship.
I do enjoy the adventure with Tom Bombadil, in all that is going on, his appearance is refreshing and inspiring.
Yoystan, will you review the new lord of the magic the gathering set and its lore accuracy?
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it.
To be honest, I think I’m going to skip that one. I haven’t played Magic the Gathering and with all the controversy around it, I think I’ll pass on it.
@Men of the West I respect your discretion, and I think it is very wise.
Can you do a what if video on what would happen if Bilbo killed Gollum in the hobbit because there is many interesting points where Gollum is important such as Sauron would never know where the shire is and Gandalf knowledge would be greatly diminished on the ring
That is very interesting
@@dimitrilitovsk2372 Agreed, I think it might have also changed some aspects of The Hobbit as well; would Bilbo's slaying of Gollum been some sort of accident? Would he have deliberately killed him before learning of the back door to the misty mountain caves? Would Bilbo be more willing to fight and possibly kill others after taking Gollum's life?
"What if Deagle killed Smeagle instead" would also be fun. It would have to be far more hypothetical though.
Smeagle used it to spy on his community and made them fearful. If Deagle ended up with it. Perhaps he would have used it more like Bilbo did.
@@radagast7200: If Deagol killed Smeagol, even in self defence, he would have ended up as Gollum eventually, although it may have taken longer for him to be corrupted. Guilt would have eaten away at him, along with the desperate need for the ‘Precious’.
@@Gigas0101: Bilbo would definitely have been corrupted if he’d stabbed Gollum while invisible. That’s not combat, it’s murder. Stabbing a spider while invisible is one thing, doing it to a person (and after talking to him, Bilbo knew in his heart that Gollum WAS a person, not merely a monster) is something different. Bilbo would have begun to fall into evil before the end of The Hobbit. At the very least, he would not have gone back to Thorin’s Company after stealing the Arkenstone. At worst, he might even have kept the Arkenstone for himself and not tried to make peace with it.
Thank you for making this!
Tom Bombadil, whom the author could never seem to settle on a rationsle for may represent the intrusion of the hyperstitial into the novel. Tolkien and later more especially his son became more concerned to write out all the original faerie influences and substitute explicitly english catholic ideas. Once Tom was in, he could no long be written out, though JRR groused about it. The trickster remains.
I really liked the Tom Bombadil character, and while it would've been nice to see him in the LotR movies, I can see why he was left out. What I would find interesting is an alternate, dystopian story where Sauron gets the one ring back and manages to conquer all the peoples of Middle-Earth. I'm curious about how exactly Sauron would approach trying to overcome Tom Bombadil and his little corner of the world in such a scenario. Maybe he couldn't, and maybe he wouldn't even attempt to. Considering Sauron's nature, I have to assume he would definitely try, or spend nearly all of his time & thought, after dominating the rest of the world, in coming up with a plan to do so. That's part of what I like about Tom Bombadil, the shroud of mystery that surrounds who he is, where he came from, and what the limits of his power are, if any. So could Sauron, after successfully conquering everyone & everywhere else, defeat Tom Bombadil? I like to think he couldn't, and that failure would eternally gnaw at him, not allowing him to savor his near-total rule over everything but.
In the council of Elrond, Gandalf said that he doesn't have the power to resist Sauron. That if all else falls, he will also fade away.
@@giningmos2338: I think both of you may be correct. I think Bombadil is powerful enough to resist any of Sauron’s servants, even the Nazgul. I also think he is powerful enough to resist even Sauron himself, in person, provided that Sauron doesn’t have the Ring. But if Sauron has regained the Ring, then the Dark Lord at the very pinnacle of his power would be too much for Bombadil.
I think Bombadil is important in that he gives a glimpse into the beginning ages when the shadows were either not so deep or not so dangerous. Back when not so much sorrow had been seen. Like the time with Galadriel, her words of advice, and the gifts she gave Tom’s time with the hobbits helps to bouy them along the path.
He also shows the magic that once existed and still exists in corners of Middle-Earth even though magic has been waning as the Ages pass.
This video perfectly summarizes my thoughts on old Tom Bombadil. I love his character and how he functions in the story, while I would’ve loved to see a depiction of him in the films as well as the book version of the beginning, the edit for film was necessary and done well I think
While I completely agree Tom Bombadil's part of the story can be skipped for sake of brevity, as it has been in just about all adaptations including the 1981 radio series and the animated versions, at the same time his chapters provide a rhythmic similarity to the story.
The Hobbits leave the shire and enter the wilds, and the first things they encounter are wild things, threatening like old man willow and the barrow wites, and mysterious and ancient like Bombadil.
It's a taste of what's to come, and an indication of how strange middle earth is.
also the Barrow Wites are the first sign we get of Frodo's bravery, confronting the spector, not willing to put on the ring and abandon his friends, even hacking at it with a sword.
This is doubly important before Aragorn enters the story and provides something of a leader figure for the hobbits, and foreshadows Frodo's fortitude in walking to Mordor, it's character based setup, and world building setup, and some excitement after the at times draggy chapters of the Hobbit's flight through the shire.
I love Tom and missed him in the movies
I think that Tom might be:
1) The polar opposite of the Nameless Things of the dark. While the darkness coalesced into the terrible creatures that lived in the deep, Tom is comprised the light that was created by the making of the world.
2) An aspect of Eru that the creator put upon the world to, as you said, show that there is not only darkness and evil in the world. Even if many don't know about him, his presence is still there to give hope and show that there is good that evil cannot overcome. This might also explain why he doesn't get directly involved.
Also, I think that Tom Bombadil is like the 5 Wizards, a protector of life in Middle Earth. But instead of protecting the Children of Iluvatar like Gandalf, or even the animals like Radagast, Tom Bombadil’s role, with Goldberry, is to protect the life of plants - trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers and all growing things, which cannot defend themselves or flee. (Except for the Ents). So perhaps Bombadil’s power extends far beyond the Old Forest, helping in some magical way to help the defenceless plants of Middle Earth resist the corruption and disease of Melkor’s and Sauron’s evil.
3) is just Tolkien's own Stan Lee cameo
As always your positivity especially at the end make my week. Ty my friend
Yoystan, you are the man. My brother is a huge Tolkien guy and I was always ASOIAF guy. Anytime I have a random lore question, you always have a video.
In the books I liked the section of Tom Bombadill because it emphasizes the hobbits were entering a world far stranger that they had known before. Remember that the movies were a gamble - a 3 movie fantasy series - and they were already very long. But a diversion into Tom Bombadil’s world would’ve been a sideshow for most of the movie viewers unfamiliar with the book. Also, He may have been so strange he would have just been silly to many viewers.
The encounter with Bombadil at the very least provided Merry with the dagger he struck the Witch King with..a dagger specifically forged, and wound about with spells, to do him real damage. That dagger played a rather impotant role in the battle of Pellenor Fields. Without Bombadil the journey through the old Forest may have ended even before the hobbits reached the barrow downs. So...yeah. Hes a forest hippy but his presence plays a central role in the outcome of the tale.
I think Bombadil represents a contentment and joy of life that we all could benefit from
I actually hadn't read the books until after the movies had come out so, I didn't know he was missing and I read the LOTR so many times after watching the trilogy that I didn't realize that he wasn't in the movies until I was talking with my oldest daughter about the movies (years after they'd been out on DVD) and I asked her what she thought about Tom Bombadil. She had no idea what I was talking about. The images of Tom that filled my head as I read the books were so vivid to me that I remembered those images as if I had seen them in the movies. I think Tom would have been great in the movies and they should have had him in there but, they should have made it a brief encounter with the Hobbits in the beginning and an even more brief scene from when Gandalf met with him. Gandalf's absences could have used a bit of clarity IMO.
I love alllllllll discussions of Tom Bombadil
Tom's omission from the films was unfortunate but necessary I think. Also, with all this discussion of Tom's "power", I believe that Tom didn't have much in the way of actual power. During the Council of Elrond, it's stated that Tom doesn't have power over the One Ring, but rather the Ring (and, by extension, the other evils of Middle Earth) have no power over him. At least not in the ethereal, magical, mystical sense. But if it came to a straight up sword and shield fight between Tom and, say, a dozen or so Orcs, then things would end badly for Bombadil. I agree that he is antithetical to Sauron, but mostly in a moral, philosophical way.
Anyway thanks for another great video Yoyston!
I think Tom was more than Tolkien would admit in his other works and letters. As a devout Catholic he would know the weight of describing someone as "He is".
Tom DID have power over the ring and was completely unphased by it. Or perhaps unimpressed by its feeble power, compared to his. And he knew of "the precious ring" without anyone telling him that Frodo carried it.
I notice that when Frodo sang the song Tom taught them if they got into trouble, her did not arrive after some time passed, but appeared almost instantly outside the barrow. Can even Manwe teleport?
I wonder what would have happened if Frodo and Sam had sang Tom's song in Shelob's lair?
Excellent VOD.
Tom is great in the novel. It's a time out from the name narrative. And he is a most unique character. I understand why he needed to be cut from the film, but I have much bigger issues with the film (Faramir and Arwen, for starters).
I've always had a hard time with the Tom Bombadil parts of Fellowship, as they feel like a weird deviation from what's going on. I think it was wise to leave him out of the movies, as it would be confusing and feel excessive and even alien to the tone of the film.
However, I have heard an interesting theory about his inclusion in Fellowship, and it has to do with the difference between Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. The parts in the Old Forest and Barrow Downs have a very Hobbit-like feel. It's a very episodic section, full of whimsy and cheer, and then when the characters get in danger, they're saved by a deus ex machina, as Bombadil shows up at the last second much like Gandalf would do in the Hobbit. Then, when Bombadil escorts them to the edge of his realm, he explains that he can't go any further with them. It's at this point, the book moves on from the one of the Hobbit and into the darker, more serious, come complex tone that dominates much of the Lord of the Rings. By introducing Bombadil and then having him leave for the rest of the series, Tolkien creates a kind of thematic delineation between what his goals were with the Hobbit and what he wants to do with the rest of his legendarium.
I'm not quite sure how I feel about that interpretation, but it is an interesting one. As for myself, I see it as more of a cameo, as I know Bombadil was very popular among his children, and so throwing him in is more about having a bit of emotional continuity rather than a literal or historical one.
I agree. Tom Bombadil is the last of that bright, happy world of The Hobbit before the War begins.
I like your explanation. Since I don't think I've read anywhere of the mental adjustment JRRT made to transition from the child's story that is the Hobbit to the more serious LOTR, the theory you've promoted makes as much sense as any.
Both are fantasy stories NOT of the real world. He doesn't have to explain anything unless he wants to. I don't believe I've ever read of him "explaining" Tom. I'm good with that.
After all, what is "the meaning" of OUR world, in 200 words or less? That question leaves me speechless, and with no happy song on my lip.
Bro I never even considered he could be an artifact of storytelling in the history, thanks for that
I understand why he was edited out of the movies, but I really like him as a character. Perhaps he started off a bit silly, more like the Hobbit, but his character gained depth the longer the hobbits were with him
I've always (in my own head) figured that Tom Bombadil is actually the avatar of Eru Iluvatar. Ring has no power over him. Just 'happened' to be there on several different occasions; saving the quest. "...he was the first, and oldest of the old..." Doesn't care if people even know he exists. Just happy to let things play out, yet intervenes in dire situations. He's really talented and big into 'music'.... Just like Eru. Super babe of a wife (I mean, because why not, if you're god). Can impose his will on nature and even dead spirits. Seems to know things he shouldn't know. Can see Frodo when Frodo is wearing the ring. Has no will to desire the ring, or even affected by it. Not affected by worldly creations.
I have also considered this. My only issue is that the Valar refused to truly intervene in the war of the ring (with the exception of the Istari). Would Eru intervene? Was it part of the music? It's a mind boggler!
No. TB is Aule and Goldberry is Yavanna. They are observing that part of the world, like on vacation, in disguise. This theory is well documented and supported by logical analysis.
No to you, too. Please provide your proof of where JRRT implies Tom is Aule. The Elves (in the set up of Tolkien's world, they are the ones working out and telling the story). THEY refer to Tom as First and Fatherless. Strange, wouldn't you say, for a being (Aule) that is only one of fifteen differentiated and plucked from the mind of Eru? I don't buy it. Tom may be a mystery, but Aule?? No, unless you can provide "logical" proof.@@jaykay8723
Tom is such a curious, mysterious character. His chapter is more like on “off ramp” in the story.(What did Tolkien have in mind?)
But he certainly does come in handy when the Hobbits need help.
You hit the nail on the head man, I agree with this video greatly.
Tom is crucial to the story in the books, and the more I read it the more the genius of Tolkien comes through. It was right to drop him from the movies but in the books he is critical in giving Frodo the courage and belief that he can actually do the job, and contributes to him volunteering to take the ring to Mordor. Until this point he’s only seen and heard how dangerous the ring is, so much so that not even Gandalf would take it. What hope would Frodo have? Then he finds Tom who is not the least bit affected or interested by it, showing Frodo that it is not inevitable to succumb to it. Further, when we get to the council of Elrond, we are told that even Tom will fall if Sauron gets the ring, raising the stakes of the task on hand. There are many other important bits from his chapters but Tom himself is critical in both giving hope to the ring bearer and making it clear that inaction, even for Tom, is not an option and so no one in middle earth can stand by and hope to not be affected should Sauron reclaim the ring.
When I was younger I was disappointed he was left out but now i completely understand the choice. The chapters with Tom in them i find dull to read but relaxing to listen to. Am I alone in this?
I love the Tom chapters. Some of my favorites.
Read Bombadil in sing-song.
I agree with your perspective. Tom Bombadil is important to the books and the worldbuilding. That Gandalf goes to have a long talk with him after it's all over, shows that he was that important to Tolkien and strongly hints that he is quite important in Middle Earth.
The other beings that was older than time were Ungoliant and "the nameless things". It seems necessary to balance these evil mysteries with a more friendly mystery.
It is also important that we understand it is not just orcs & Nazgul that threaten travelers in Middle Earth. There are also deadly trees, barrow wrights, giant spiders, and dumb trolls. These encounters cannot be replaced with more hide and seek with orcs without losing the rich diversity of Middle Earth and gaining redundancy. It also allows the hobbits to "level up" in D&D terms and gain some magic weapons.
I wonder if Radagast knew Tom?
I agree! I love his character in the books and understand and agree with omitting him from the films. I don’t think his presence would have translated well into the films. I feel like it would have been a very unnecessary and disconnected scene in the films that people would have been like “Who the hell was that and why did that happen?”. I love when he rescues the hobbits at the Barrow Downs.
Being generally fond of symmetry, I tend to think that Tom is the opposite of Ungolianth. None of them really fits into the taxonomy most other entities fall into, and are also said to be older than the world, they can communicate with others but won't form any permanent allegiance. So if she is the manifestation of death and darkness itself, Tom may be the manifestation of life and light. When his existence ends, life in Eä ends too.
I agree 100% with you and I think the whole part (from old forest to the barrow downs) is missed from the movies due to the world and character building.
The movies are too long but also have things that maybe shouldn't be there.
Leaving him out of the movies loses something of the whimsy that the books have, but it was almost certainly the right choice. He never comes back, and introducing him and developing him in a movie that was already incredibly long, for no real payoff other than... whimsy... is just too much for a movie like that. I wish he could have been in there, but it just wouldn't have worked.
Great job offering your analysis of Bombadil and why he was included in the story. I can understand why his part was omitted from the Jackson films. What I can't understand is why the scouring of the Shire was omitted. Still a little salty over that.
Tolkien intentionally left Bombadil a mystery so we'll never know. My personal take comes from the text where Bombadil describes himself as "Eldest." He was there before Melkor entered Arda and in all likelihood any of the Ainur. I think he was a part of the Music of the Ainur and was brought into being when Eru Ilúvatar brought Arda into being. As for what Tom Bombadil is, Goldberry was right when she said "He is." Bombadil is unique; there is no other being like him in Arda.
Nice work dude thanks
Perhaps the most important thing that Tom did for Frodo was to show that the ring could be resisted, and that with the right heart it was ultimately unimportant.
Such a beautiful piece at the 5:40 mark ✌️
Thank you! Great interpretation - really liked it
Love this closer examination!
Ok, now that I've watched the video I have a question/suggestion for another video: What does one know about the afterlife in Tolkien's world? The different fates of the children of Illúvatar (Elves, Men, and Dwarves - and where do the Hobbits belong)? What about Morgoth's evil creatures and what about the corrupted creatures? What fate would the Nazgûl and the black Númenorians (and all men who had been corrupted by both dark lords) face? What is with Elves like Fëanor?
Thanks for all your work in helping us explore the wonderful world of Middle Earth, Valinor, Númenor (and the other continents we don't know very much about)
I would say that perhaps it’s not that he is uncaring but potentially he sees through the play of opposites. He’s sometimes referenced as being inspired by the ancient archetype of the “green man” of the natural world. Nature is not governed by the same laws of man. He may be more oblivious to the threats and concerns of middle earth because he is so old and has seen so much. He’s connected to a very ancient wisdom connected to the natural world (nature). The great forest spirit in Hayao Miyazaki’s “Princess Mononoke” is similar in its approach to morality and the “bigger picture.”
Man, my whole family are Tom Bombadil's Fans, he is probably our favorite not on Screen Character!!!
He is the GOAT, Sauron One Ring has no Power over him, and some of the best Songs!!!
I wish he does has representation in an adaption of LOTR, in some way, shape, or form!!!
Thanks Mellon for "Is Tom Bombadil Important?" Until the Kings of the Noldor...Marion Baggins Out!!! (Also going to try finishing an Essay that in 2 weeks)
I remember the Tom Bombadil chapter being so comfy and nice.
I like Tom Bombadil a lot and always lament his omission from adaptations -- I even named one of my first guinea pigs after his wife when i was a kid!
I love him in the book exactly as a reminder that people with power can nevertheless choose to live a peaceful (and quite jolly) life. He's almost a contrast of the hobbits: also live an isolated life, also out of a collective choice, but nevertheless not very powerful.
I was angry at his exclusion from the films when I first watched them at 10 years old, but with maturity I definitely back Jackson's decision to omit most of the Hobbiton-to-Bree chapters.
We missed Tom Bombadil! 🥰🥰🤗🤗
Excellent overview - agree with all!
For me Tom represents mindfullness, joy, non-violence. Living happily in the moment. The Way.
Eve as a kid, I always thought Tom Bombadiliyo was Eru Iluvatar in disguise, just keeping an eye on shit.
I still believe Tom is either a physical manifestation of Eru himself or an aspect of Eru that transcends everything in Middle Earth while still being interconnected with it.
A fun what if video could be, what if Tom didn't exist? Hobbits die early in the adventure with the ring. Who finds it first? What is the new plan for the good guys if they recover it first? Who bares the ring?
Tom, and Goodberry are love. And yeah not for the film, but vital to whe heat. And that’s awesome
Hello. Really good that he stayed out of the movies👏 The best solution for the entire film series💯
Annoying character and plot in the first book. Nowadays, I always skip these chapters in a book!!!
The endgame would be really different without those daggers from the barrow wights.
I always thought of Tom as representing the wild nature of Middle Earth as he focuses on his area and doesnt seem to worry about the affairs of mortals or wizards. I agree not having him in the movies was good as he doesnt bring anything important or vital that cant be presented by other characters but I like him in Lord of the Rings Online and done very nicely there
Loved Tom Bombadil in the books, but understand why he was omitted from the films
Bombadil’s part was always my favorite in the books. But I’m glad he wasn’t in the movies. I can be critical (and I was especially so with The Hobbit movies), and believe that Bombadil would be very difficult to translate to film.
I agree that Tom character add more life and story to the forest. His light hearted behaviour in a world where everyone is afraid of Dark Lord and Nazgul is quited interesting.
Tom seems to be a relic of some older draft of Fellowship that was more episodic, like the Hobbit, each chapter is a whole new adventure
Tom Bomadil is like that train in GTA 5 - really not so powerful but you just cannot harm him, he is the part of the world.
Tom is punching above his weight in the marriage department. ( his wife) 😆
Old Tom Bombadil is an important fellow, Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.
He's at least important in setting the mood for a big adventure, but yes there are plot aspects too.. I don't blame PJ for not including Bombadils story arc, but I'd love to have seen him at least in the extended releases...
Thanks.
The only reason Jackson left TB out is because the writer/s of the 1980's BBC dramatisation for radio 4 did. His is a visual version of their audio work. Not saying that's a bad thing, I love that version. It's of it's time effects-wise but definitely laid foundations for Jacksons work.
Tom sends a powerful message about pacifism and rejecting the desire for power.
As Tolkien wrote, his carefree attitude is the reason the Ring can't tempt him - and it's an important perspective to have represented, even though Tom would be defeated by Sauron if Sauron won the war and thus relied on others to save the world.
This is a good vid, just wanted to let you know
I was a bit sad Tom and Goldberry, (I kind of think of them as one,) weren't in Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring. I mean I get why they weren't, they were superfluous to the war story. But, unlike in Siddhartha, we don't ever see how Tom and Goldberry became the enlightened beings they are. Bodhisattvas as it were. Could the Hobbits have carried on without having met them? Supped with them and slept and dreamed in their home? Thanks for another nice video.
He's important. He shows the hobbits a deeper secret about the world they are going into. it is more than just orcs and elves and big folk but other powers out there along the road.
He would not have worked in the film but in the book he is needed.
also literary the closer the hobbits are to the shire them ore calm the writing is, but the further away, like in gondor, it is more high fantasy in epic places. it is a part of their world back home. You can see bopmbadil strolling through the shire, but not on the fields of pelandor
I see Tom as a physical manifestation of Arda itself. Possibly even an avatar of Illuvatar.
Love how the Elves name for him could be said as; "Old Bastard."
can you talk about the new MTG tales of middle earth the card game? its so exciting to look at the cards
Tom Bombadil and how he gives them a place to stay is reminiscent of priests in the early medieval period and places of rest for religious pilgrims and you could honestly spiral off into a whole essay on Tom being immune to the ring and the incorruptible nature of pure faith in God and Catholic values or whatever because of Tolkien's religion, but also i feel like if Tolkien were ever to read that essay he'd just go "Bruh i just didn't know how to edit him from the final manuscript after it stopped being a Hobbit sequel for kids"
Bombadil is so important for the story of Middle Earth. It's not even sure what kind of creature it is. The complete immunity for darkness of the ring could be a sign of being of a race ancestral to the Hobbits. Hobbits are resilliant to the power of the ring and corruption of the race is slow. He has a bit of a Hobbit himself. Although he is longer than that and way older. For the movies it's indeed a reminder that not all is evil. But that role is taken over by the hobbits and Gandalf. So in that way I understand the choice, although it makes me a bit sad they didn't. Somehow it feels as an opposite to a Balrog as well. As Balrogs are tortured by Melkor/Morgoth and changed to that gruesome beasts, Bombadil more appears as one free fought Maiar, doing his own thing. It makes Middle Earth more fun and more connected to the old days of the first age. That's how I see it.
Pre-watch comment. Bombadil was absolutely crucial. He not only gifted pippin with the dagger that would gravely wound the witch King, he also gave the hobbits figurative growth to start their journey. I shall except no diminishing of the GOAT
Most of these pictures make me want to see Tom Bombadil in a live action production and played by Jack Black. I feel he works in the book, and would've worked in an episodic adaptation of Lord of the Rings such as a TV show. The movies are very hasty, and I feel he would be detrimental to the urgency the movies present in comparison to the books. Honestly, I'd be curious to see if Tom could calm the Huorns of Fangorn or what might happen if Saruman encountered him when he fled to the Shire.
There's a lot of unnecessary side characters in the story, but I like his inclusion. I think one of Tolkien's letters mentions something about getting a glimpse behind the world beyond the scope of the story, which I think makes middle earth feel deeper.
Further, my personal theory is that Tom is something akin to whatever Ungoliant is, but pertaining to the light and joy of creation than the self devouring darkness that is the discord of the music.