164: Tom Bombadil vs. The One Ring | JRR Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring

Transcript

Opener

Tom Bombadil and the One Ring: a paradox that challenges everything we know about Tolkien's world.

Today on Lore of the Rings, we’ll break it all down. This is episode #164, and I’m Aaron, your host and fellow Middle-earth wanderer.

Shire Letters

I received some lovely letters from fellow wanderers that I wanted to share with you.
This first is from Pew Pew who said on spotify: “This is a great podcast that has helped me understand Lord of the Rings so much better.”

I’m honored by your note, Pew Pew, and appreciate the opportunity to explore Middle-earth with you! Thanks for the note.

And second, from Dave Z: “I listen to Lore of the Rings almost every day. And it is awesome!”

Well, I’ll say that I’m humbled by the idea of my voice being in your head nearly everyday, but I’m glad that it’s so!

Thank you to both of you for your notes. You each left those on the Spotify Q+As a few days ago, and I’m glad to have shared them with the Wandering Company here on the show.
And if you, yeah you who is wandering Middle-earth right now, if you would like to drop me a note, you can send me a DM on instagram, shoot me an email, or contact me on the show’s website ringspodcast.com. I would love to hear from you and especially if you have feedback for the show!

Now, let’s wander.

Map Check

My teenage daughter listened to the previous episode, and even though she read Fellowship years ago, she asked me: “WHo is TOm Bombadil?”
So let’s do a map check! Inspired by the beautiful maps in the Lord of the Rings books, I like to check the map with you so we understand the context for today’s wandering.
It is the Third Age of Middle-earth.
We’ve been following Frodo and friends as they leave the Shire, traveling through the Old Forest, on their way to Bree.
They have found refuge in the house of an interesting character: Tom Bombadil. Tom is a major character for particular points in the book, but is not in the Peter Jackson films. He helps the hobbits in several ways, but even Tolkien said that he would permit a film adaptation that doesn’t include Tom.
Tom is an interesting character because he doesn’t fit neatly into any box. Is he a man or an elf? NEither, nor a dwarf. Is he a member of the Maiar? The Maiar are a class of spiritual beings who serve the demi-gods of Middle-earth, the Valar. Oh, the Valar, maybe he’s one of those!
But the truth is, we have no definitive answer about who Tom is . . . but even that might be the wrong question, as Tolkien admitted in one of his letters: “Frodo has asked not ‘what is Tom Bombadil’ but ‘Who is he’. We and he no doubt often laxly confuse the questions.”
No matter what question you ask, Tom remains a mystery. So we’ve been exploring the question of Who is Tom Bombadil by a close reading of these chapters in Fellowship of the Ring. Today is our fourth and final episode on the chapter called “In the House of Tom Bombadil.”

Story 1: Tom’s Connections to the Outside World

Now, least we think that Tom is isolationist of a hermit, we learn that he has some connections to the outside world.
For one, Tom is friends with Farmer Maggot, whom he compliments by saying: “There’s earth under his old feet, and clay on his fingers, wisdom in his bones, and both his eyes are open.” I can’t help but think that that is the highest compliment that Tom could give anyone. Given that Tom is the personification of nature, it’s only right for someone who respects the earth and has dirt under his fingernails to receive the highest praise from Tom.
Beyond Farmer Maggot, Tom also has connections with the Elves, for “news had reached him from Gildor concerning the flight of Frodo.”

As a reminder, Tom did mention that he was waiting for Frodo on the first night in Tom’s house.
But I find in this nearly thrown-away line a little clue as to who Tom Bombadil is. Let’s turn back a few pages to the chapter Three is Company. In this chapter, Frodo had met the elf Gildor, and before they parted Gildor promised Frodo: “we will send our messages through the lands. . . . Those that have power for good shall be on the watch.” Listen to episode 151 for refresher on Gildor’s blessing to Frodo.
So let’s put these together: those who have power for good will hear Gildor’s message and be on the watch for Frodo; and Tom had been waiting for Frodo, should he pass that way. There’s no way that Farmer Maggot could have notified Tom: there simply was no time nor mention of it.
Therefore, Tom is a being who has power for good. Now, that’s not definitive proof that Tom is altogether good: as we explored in the previous episode he and Goldberry are a blending of opposites. But at least he has power for good, and that’s enough for me for now.

You know what else would be good: for you to leave a review and 5-star rating for this show. Leaving a rating costs you nothing and takes less than 5 seconds, but when you leave a review or rating, it helps so many fellow fans find the Lore of the Rings show, and to wander middle-earth with you and I! So whip out that phone and tap that five-star rating!

Story 2: Two Tricks

We now shift to the final scenes of the chapter. I’ll be honest, I’ve been wrestling with what to say about these scenes, because the major question is no longer who is Tom Bombadil, but WHY?
Let’s take a look at the two tricks that close out the chapter.
The first is Tom. After two days of housing the hobbits, Tom finally cuts to the crux of the quest: he asks for Frodo to show him the ring. Now, a lot happens here, so let’s break it down.
First, notice how Tom describes the Ring: “precious”. Even casual fans of Lord of the Rings who have only seen the films get that reference: The ring is often described as precious, and in particular by Gollum. In fact, when the current bearer of the ring starts to refer to it as precious, that’s a tall tale sign that the ring is taking hold of the bearer.

So, does the ring have some power or influence that it can exert over Tom Bombadil? Maybe.
But I think it more likely and fitting with Tom’s character that he uses the word precious in a jovial, mocking sort of a way.

Frodo hands the ring over without hesitation, which is a remarkable reaction.
Tom takes the ring and inverts a common motif. Putting the ring to his eye, the hobbits are both amused and alarmed by the sight of “his bright blue eye gleaming through the circle of gold.”

Let’s pause on this for a second.
Remember the blending theme from the previous episode: Tom is a blending of opposites, and sometimes that theme manifests itself in the inversion of motifs.
The symbol for Sauron in the Lord of the Rings is a single Red Eye. Yet, here is the One Ring, the master ring, Sauron’s Great Ring of Power, symbol for domination, desire, and Power . . . and in Tom’s house, the punch line for a joke. Instead of the All-seeing Red Eye of Sauron, Tom’s clear, bright blue pierces through the golden band.
In this playful yet profound moment, Tolkien masterfully subverts expectations. The very object that epitomizes darkness and corruption is rendered harmless and almost comical in Tom’s hands. This scene not only reinforces Tom's unique immunity to the Ring’s power but also highlights his role as a guardian of the natural world, standing in stark contrast to Sauron’s malevolent influence. By transforming a symbol of fear into one of whimsy, Tolkien invites readers to consider the true nature of power and its impact on different individuals.

This idea is further reinforced in the physical size of the ring: when Frodo hands it to Tom, the Ring seems to grow in size, as if it were flexing, trying to show off how great it was, in anticipation of a fight.

But when Tom puts on the ring, the ring fits only on the end of his little finger. The ring has no power to physically overcome Tom: it can’t even fit properly on the smallest of his fingers. It’s rather silly really, the way the Ring puffed itself up before, and now it seems rather subdued simply by being handled by Tom.

And it takes the hobbits a moment to realize the obvious: Tom is wearing the ring, and yet he is still visible to them. He has not disappeared.

That is a direct contradiction to the powers of the ring, which as we were told in the revised version of The Hobbit, when Bilbo originally found the ring: “if you slipped that ring on your finger, you were invisible; only in the full sunlight could you be seen, and then only by your shadow, and that would be shaky and faint.”
This affect of the Ring of Power clearly has zero influence on Tom. Again, Tom has taken the basic functions of the ring and subdued them.

Instead of Tom disappearing though, something does disappear: The Ring itself! With a laugh Tom makes the ring disappear, as if he were a common parlor magician, or we might say, a conjurer of cheap tricks. To complete the flourish, a flash accompanies the ring’s disappearance, much like Bilbo’s disappearance on the night of the Long-Expected Party in chapter 1.
Frodo is fully alarmed, but again in a blending of opposites, Tom smiles and hands the ring back to Frodo.
Now, you’re mind is likely spinning right now with a single question: why does the Ring have no power over Tom Bombadil?

We’ve seen others and we will see even more who struggle with just the idea of being in proximity of the ring. The lust for power is too much for them. Even Gandalf knows that he can’t bear the ring; he fears it’s power too much.
So why is Tom so outside of these concerns? Why is he so apart from the attraction of the Ring?

Well, I want to get to that, but before I do, we need to wander into the second trick of the night: Frodo’s test.
Frodo, it seems, wants to make sure that the Ring that Tom gave him is indeed The One Ring he has been charged with.

The first thing I find interesting about this is what is the source of Frodo’s suspicion? Sure, Tom didn’t seem to take it seriously, but there’s no indication that Tom wanted to steal or exchange the ring. Indeed, Tom doesn’t need a golden trinket; he has lilies to bring to his Goldberry. The suspicion and distrust comes from the ring itself, or Frodo’s own attraction to the Ring of Power.
So he feels “something prompt[ing] him to make sure” he really has the one ring. We should know by now that that something is likely the One Ring itself, exerting it’s own will on Frodo. It wants to control him.
And so a deceptive little trick forms in Frodo’s mind.
He slips the ring on.
His suspicions are swept away when it’s clear that Merry can’t see him. But I love the way Tolkien describes the way Frodo is feeling: “Frodo was delighted (in a way).” He gets up and starts to walk away.
But Tom can see right through him . . . metaphorically that is, because Tom can actually see Frodo clearly, saying that he (Tom) is “not as blind as that yet!”
Frodo laughs as he tries to take off the ring . . . but Tolkien lets us know that Frodo is really “trying to feel pleased.”
When I read that, I think of that pit in my stomach when I have attempted to make a joke that just falls really flat. Quick story: At a business dinner, the man sitting next to me mentioned that he had read all of the Wheel of Time novels several times. Those novels are dense, thick tomes for truly dedicated readers. So I attempted to make a joke about the level of nerdiness, because after all, I make a podcast about Lord of the Rings, so it was also an attempt to be slightly self-deprecating. So I said: “Wow! And you somehow convinced a woman to marry you!” Yeah, instant regret. But I left out a key detail to this story for you: he was my boss’s boss. Even now I cringe at my own joke . . . So I think I understand Frodo’s feeling of trying to feel pleased with his little joke. . . but really it was a stupid thing to do.
But hey, I’m sure I’m not the only one out there: if you’ve made a cringe-worthy joke that you tried to be pleased with, send me a note! Maybe I’ll share it in the next episode.

When we zoom out of these two tricks I find a literary foil that shows the flipside of Power. Who has the power in each of these tricks?

In Tom’s trick, he’s laughing, the ring shrinks in size, common symbols for evil are flipped to be the butt of jokes. Tom has the power in that trick.
But not Frodo. Immediately, the Ring asserts itself again: distrust, deceptive acts, forced laughs in a horrible situation. Frodo does not have power in his own trick: The ring is already exerting its will on Frodo.

The chapter closes with Tom giving the hobbits advice about the barrow downs. Two things to note here:

One, if they come across a hill that seems haunted, he tells them to pass it on the west-side. The West is the blessed side in Lord of the Rings: remember that's in the far west, in the Land of Valinor, where the Powers that Govern Middle-earth dwell, the Valar. So passing the barrows on the west side is a symbol for the power of good and light that comes from the West.
And Two: Tom teaches them a song to call for his help should they need it. But there’s a deviation in the song that I find interesting, perhaps maybe even a typo. For the last 2 or 3 episodes I’ve been pounding on a pattern that shows up so many times in this chapter: Tom is Master of Wood, Water, and Hill. We’ve seen that sequence in so many places, from the songs that are sung to even the dreams of the hobbits. But note the second line of Tom’s song: “By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow.”
Did you note the pattern change? Water is mentioned first, instead of it’s customary second place. Was that deliberate? Maybe, seeing as how this entire chapter has been filled with symbols and references to water, including the rainy washing day of Goldberry the river daughter. But I’m more inclined to think, since we’ve seen the pattern so many times in that specific order, that this line is perhaps an error, something that the editor didn’t catch. Regardless, the pattern still holds, and I even have one or two more instances of it to show you in the future.

But I still haven’t provided an answer to that perplexing question: Why doesn’t the One Ring have any power over Tom Bombadil? We’ll get to that, right after this break.

Story 3: The Power of the Ring

You should know by now that Tom Bombadil is not a simple character. Tolkien himself was surprised to see Tom show up in Frodo’s story, even though Tom Bombadil had been a character in various tales outside of Middle-earth that Tolkien wrote down.
So if you’re unsatisfied with the vague answers about who or what Tom Bombadil is, then you will be downright miserable with the next logical and even more complicated question: Why doesn’t the Ring have power over Tom Bombadil?
That question has tickled the intellect of fans and scholars alike for decades and decades. Let me provide you with a high-level view of some of the popular theories that attempt to answer this question. I won’t dig deep on each of these, and I’m also really curious to know which of these theories resonates the most with you! So if you have an opinion or a vote, then please, send me an email or DM on instagram, and let’s talk!
Okay, high-level, cursory view of various theories. Let’s go!
# 1. Tom exists Outside Power and Domination
One theory posits that Tom Bombadil exists outside the realm of power and domination, which are central themes of the One Ring. According to Tolkien's letters, Bombadil represents a being whose primary desire is understanding rather than control or possession. This makes power and domination meaningless to him, rendering the Ring's influence ineffective [2]. tombom.html
# 2. Tom has Mastery Without Desire for Control
Another perspective suggests that Tom Bombadil is a master in a unique way. Unlike Sauron, who invests his entire being into the Ring to extend his power, Bombadil has no such desires. He uses tools without becoming enslaved by them, contrasting sharply with Sauron's obsession with control and domination. Bombadil's lack of ambition for power means the Ring cannot manipulate him [1]. the-ring-and-tom-bombadil-so-is-the-ring-really-such-a-big-deal
# 3. Tom is an Allegory of Contentment and Sufficiency
Bombadil's character is often seen as an allegory for contentment and sufficiency. He lives harmoniously with nature, taking only what he needs and enjoying life without the desire for more. This stands in stark contrast to Sauron's insatiable hunger for power and control. Bombadil's satisfaction with what he has and his disinterest in acquiring more make the Ring's allure powerless over him [1]. I will say, I hesitate to use the word allegory, because Tolkien was so against direct, didactic allegory in story. In this chapter he may have even taken a jab at CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia: the basis for Frodo’s joke is that Tom is sharing a silly story about talking badgers. Instead of allegory, Tom was much more a fan of deep symbolism, especially as it plays out in character’s actions. the-ring-and-tom-bombadil-so-is-the-ring-really-such-a-big-deal
# 4. Tom is a Nature Spirit or Genius Loci
Some scholars believe that Tom Bombadil is a nature spirit or a *genius loci*, a spirit of a specific place. This interpretation suggests that his power is tied to the natural world and is fundamentally different from the corrupting influence of the Ring. As a being deeply connected to the natural order, Bombadil is immune to the Ring's corruptive power. I struggle with this one a little bit, because Tom was around for the creation of the whole world, and even told the hobbits that he journeyed far and wide before settling with Goldberry at the edge of the forrest. If anything, Goldberry is the localized spirit who tames Tom . . . perhaps she’s the reason he is immune to the Ring? Tom_Bombadil
# 5. Tom is a simple Narrative Device
Tolkien himself hinted that Bombadil was included in the story as a narrative device to provide an adventure for the hobbits and to make a statement about the nature of power. Bombadil's immunity to the Ring serves to highlight the idea that there are aspects of existence that transcend the corrupting influence of power and domination. This makes Bombadil an enigma and a symbol of a different kind of mastery [2]. tombom.html
# 6. For What the Ring offers, Tom has not desires
Lastly, it is suggested that the Ring's power is limited to those who desire what it offers—power, control, and domination. Since Bombadil has no such desires, the Ring cannot affect him. This theory underscores the idea that the Ring's power is not absolute but conditional upon the desires and weaknesses of its bearer [3]. This makes sense to me, because we’ll see in various other tests that the rings awakens the deepest unrealized desires of the individuals who are attempted to have it. Sam Gamgee would have ruled over a lush, world-side Garden if he had used the Ring. Tom_Bombadil
So there you go. These theories collectively contribute to the understanding of why the One Ring has no power over Tom Bombadil. Does one or more of those sit better with you? Please let me know!
But the simple fact that this question brings up so many fascinating ideas makes Tom one of the most enigmatic and fascinating characters in Tolkien's legendarium, and perhaps in all of literature.

Conclusion

Join me in the next episode, where we will leave Tom behind, and step back into the unknown, and a terrifying ghost story.
Thank you for wandering Middle-earth with me today.