[Annalaliath]

I still think that he is a creation that is pure. His sillyness may have been a way to keep him afloat with willfull nievity, or just part of his nature. Other than that I am baffled. I mean Tom probably would have some sourt of power over the ring but since the ring has no power over him he sees no need to do anything with it. He is only concerned with those lives within his shrinking land. He is powerfull ,though; you have to give him that. He was able with out the slightest problem to get rid of the Barrow Wight, without even flinching. So there is power in him as a created beeing.

It is hard to pin any explination on him as Tolkien doesn't even tell us much in his letters or anything else for that matter. I think Bombadil will forever be a mystery.