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Boromir88 · 12-30-2004, 12:27 PM

I am never tired of talking about this guy.

Here's my take. It's fair to say that Bombadil is not Eru, since Eru never set foot on Middle-earth. Also, he can't be Eru, because Glorfindel suggests that Bombadil could be beaten. Assuming Tolkien sticks with religion, that God is the most powerful, and can't be beaten. My viewing is that Bombadil is Tolkien. Or Tolkien writing himself into the story. Consider some of these points...

He doesn't add too much to the story. He gives the hobbits history mostly, saying there were people before hobbits in the Shire, and there were people after. It's also interesting that he was there "for the first rain drop," he was there before the mountains, and the forests, and the rivers.

He is referred to as "master."

He has no cares for the ring, or any other problems outside of his realm. He's not tempted by the ring (one of the very few who are tempted, I'm assuming Eru wouldn't be tempted either). He has no care for the story that's unfolding in Middle-earth, still Bombadil does in his own way help out the hobbits. Gets them away from Old Man Willow and the Barrow-wright. But, as for the quest, and for the fate of Middle-earth he has no care.

I think it's more of Tolkien putting his own thoughts, his own feelings in Bombadil. We know returning from the war Tolkien was distraught. He thought he was going to war to make England a better place, or the world a better place, but when he returned he found out things were only worse. Tolkien is also a satiric writer, Farmer Giles of Ham for instance, and he adds Boromir and the Hobbits with a bit of satire. Seeing Tolkien's feelings after the war, and looking at Bombadil how he has no care. Plus Bombadil is like a historian, he knows of things before even the mountains and etc. Seeing that, I think Tolkien is putting his own feelings into Bombadil, and therefor it's Tolkien writing himself into the story. Whether Tolkien did this intentionally, or even did it at all, is arguable, but that's my reading of it.

Atleast that's my view, of course with Bombadil, I will expect to hear some debate.

12-30-2004, 12:27 PM	#2
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,521	I am never tired of talking about this guy. Here's my take. It's fair to say that Bombadil is not Eru, since Eru never set foot on Middle-earth. Also, he can't be Eru, because Glorfindel suggests that Bombadil could be beaten. Assuming Tolkien sticks with religion, that God is the most powerful, and can't be beaten. My viewing is that Bombadil is Tolkien. Or Tolkien writing himself into the story. Consider some of these points... He doesn't add too much to the story. He gives the hobbits history mostly, saying there were people before hobbits in the Shire, and there were people after. It's also interesting that he was there "for the first rain drop," he was there before the mountains, and the forests, and the rivers. He is referred to as "master." He has no cares for the ring, or any other problems outside of his realm. He's not tempted by the ring (one of the very few who are tempted, I'm assuming Eru wouldn't be tempted either). He has no care for the story that's unfolding in Middle-earth, still Bombadil does in his own way help out the hobbits. Gets them away from Old Man Willow and the Barrow-wright. But, as for the quest, and for the fate of Middle-earth he has no care. I think it's more of Tolkien putting his own thoughts, his own feelings in Bombadil. We know returning from the war Tolkien was distraught. He thought he was going to war to make England a better place, or the world a better place, but when he returned he found out things were only worse. Tolkien is also a satiric writer, Farmer Giles of Ham for instance, and he adds Boromir and the Hobbits with a bit of satire. Seeing Tolkien's feelings after the war, and looking at Bombadil how he has no care. Plus Bombadil is like a historian, he knows of things before even the mountains and etc. Seeing that, I think Tolkien is putting his own feelings into Bombadil, and therefor it's Tolkien writing himself into the story. Whether Tolkien did this intentionally, or even did it at all, is arguable, but that's my reading of it. Atleast that's my view, of course with Bombadil, I will expect to hear some debate.