TOM BOMBADIL vs SAURON | Who Would Win? | Middle-Earth Lore
Vložit
- čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
- People have always wondered how powerful Tom Bombadil really is, and, could he even potentially defeat Sauron if things came down to it?
Well today we look at the character and disect our thoughts on this subject!
We hope you enjoy it, and please do not forget to subscribe if you do!
---
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:55 - Tom Bombadil & The Old Forest
03:47 - Tom Bombadil in Adaptations
05:31 - Tom Bombadil Discussed In The Lord of the Rings
07:39 - Contesting Sauron’s Will
10:15 - The Inspiration Behind Tom Bombadil
11:43 - Sauron’s Evil vs Tom’s Good
16:33 - Round-up Conclusion
18:49 - QotD & Thank you’s!
---
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @thebrokensword
----
If you want to support the channel, you can help us via Patreon.
► / thebrokensword
----
Also if you want to support in a different way then check out our Teespring page for original designs for our merch!
► www.teespring.com/stores/hist...
Social media links -
► Facebook - / thebrokenswordyoutube
► Twitter - / thebroken_sword
► Instagram - / thebroken_sword
---
A massive shout-out to Brandon for penning the script for this video! bratya_nobles
---
Please consider subscribing to the channel for all future updates based on the Lord of the Rings!
Any future news and updates regarding the show or anything else, we will be sure to let you guys know ASAP!
Also, if you have any suggestions for future videos too, then please leave a comment below!
--------
We do not claim to own the rights to any of the artwork used throughout this video. All credit must go to the talented artists. If we have not credited an artist, it is because we could not find an owner of the art. Please message us if we have not credited you!
If any artists would like us to remove their artwork, or add anything additional to credit you, please contact us and we will sort it straight away! Thank you!
CK Goksoy - www.artstation.com/ckgoksoy
Ivan Cavini - www.ivancavini.com
Ted Nasmith - www.tednasmith.com
Elena Kukanova - www.deviantart.com/ekukanova
Magali Villeneuve - www.magali-villeneuve.com
KipRasmussen - www.deviantart.com/kiprasmussen
RalphDamiani - www.deviantart.com/ralphdamiani
Matthew Stewart - www.matthew-stewart.com/middle...
Anato Finnstark - www.artstation.com/anto-finns...
Thumbnail Art:
Tom Bombadil - Cynthia Blair
The Lord of The Rings - Dark Lord Sauron by p1xer
The Lord of the Rings - Eye of Sauron - DarkAvengers3000
Art in order of first appearance:
Tom Bombadil - Steve Airola
Bombadil - Aurélien Morinière
Old Tom - ralphdamiani
Barrow Wight - CK Goksoy
Middle earth - Klaradox
Young Frodo with his Uncle Bilbo - Atarial Art
Frodo Baggins - petnick
Tom Bombadil - joaoMachay
Tom Bombadil - Jeanne Plounevez
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - New Line Cinema
The Hobbit Trilogy - New Line Cinema
Tom Bombadil - Cynthia Blair
Old Man Willow - Mboulad
Tom Bombadil - Hildebrandt
Treebeard 3 - Pi-dR
Tom Bombadil - WilliWeissfuss
Treebeard - Ivan Cavini
Old Farm - somatonic
The Council of Elrond - Mysilvergreen
Tom Bombadil - Turner Mohan
Fog on the Barrow Downs - jonathanguzi
Tom Bombadil - VincentPompetti
Sauron - akreon
Denethor Son of Ecthelion II - 1oshuart
Tom Bombadil - BFMEReforged
Eru and the Gods Singing the First Song of Creation - KipRasmussen
Aulë & Yavanna - pieter01
Rivendell - Ivan Cavini
Tom Bombadil - WizardRhosgobel
Tom Bombadil - joaoMachay
Tom Bombadil and Goldberry - AbePapakhian
Tom Bombadil - Sprat9069
Tom Bombadil - Pavel Filippov
A Light In The Darkness - Eoweniel
Aragorn - Dave Seguin
Sauron - Commander of Angband - toherrys
Tom Bombadil - BorjaPindado
The House of Tom Bombadil - Joe Gilronan
Tom Bombadil - Kawenzmann
Sauron - Variones
J.R.R.Tolkien Tribute - Ivan Cavini
Tom Bombadil and Goldberry - Mareishon
Sauron War of the Last Alliance - MattDeMino
Tom Bombadil - phoenixcatunicorn
Sauron - Jerry Vanderstelt
Tom Bombadil - FanArt - Mirko Properzi
Tom and Goldberry - MatejCadil
Tom Bombadil - TolmanCotton
Tom Bombadil - DracarysDrekkar7
Bombadil - AmaniWarrington
Sauron The Lord of the Rings - William Faucher
----------
All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.
In the event I use art of yours or you have any questions, please contact me and we'll get it sorted straight away! :)
.
.
.
#LordoftheRingsLore #TomBombadil #Sauron - Zábava
Thank you everyone who joined in for the premiere of this video in the live chat!
Let us know if you’d like to see us premiere more videos!! 😁
I'd like to see more REAL LotR content and less of that fake Amazon crap!
I love your videos, and all the hard work you put into it.
Your channel is more entertaining than Amazon’s billion dollar show.
Love this consept: How would win for example Saruman or the Witch King in a hand to hand combat!!😊
Tom wins the battle, and not with some traditional use of force, he simply brings life with him to the battle. Sauron grabs Tom and in victory pulls him close, Top puts an acorn inside sauron's helmet, Tom makes the acorn grow inside sauron's armor, and in a moment sauron is trapped forever inside a tree. fight over. no great show of violence, just life eternal winning against the upstart.
Tom would just be dancing and singing with Sauron unable to catch him. Sauron, exhausted, falls to his knees. Goldberry sneaks up behind him and knifes him. Tom had no idea he was even in a fight
Perfection 👌🏻
So, like a dolphin vs a shark?
I can’t picture Golberry knifing anybody. How about this: Tom leads Sauron to the banks of the Withywindle, where a sudden drowsiness descends upon the dark lord’s mind. Then, much like Melkor under Luthein’s spell, he topples to the ground with a crash. A gap opens in the ancient, gnarled willow nearby, and the roots draw him in. The gap shuts with a snap, and Bombadil skips away merrily to pick some water-lilies.
czcams.com/video/ZZouiWmzWoY/video.html
Perfect
I think Tom is old enough to have seen the rise and fall of both Melkor and Sauron once already. If born of the Music of Creation he is aware of the Eru's final act and it's outcome and therefore has little concern over the tribulations of those who must play their roles in the game of Fate.
What was Eru's final act? I don't remember that from my (admittedly skimpy) reading of The Silmarilan.
That Melkor would Escape from the doors of Darkness. A final battle would ensue and Turin would finally avenge his family and kill the dark lord.
@@archercromwell1571 OK, thanks!
@@mordechai-
Frankly, I believe that TB is either an enigma or he is the embodiment of the secret fire: set at the heart of Middle Earth.
He was there already so...🤓😎✌🏻
The depiction of Tom as Jack Black is by far my favorite.
Oh my gosh, yes. Jack Black would make an excellent Tom Bombadil.
If there is ever a Live action Tom Bombadil there are exactly two people who can portray him. One is Jack Black, the other is Snoop Dog
Im glad its not just me who saw Jack Black in that particuar artwork at 18:04 of Tom Bombadil 😄
18:03 Jack Black smile right here
i came to the comment section to make this exact comment!🤟
If it wasn't for Tom, The fellowship would never have happened, The journey would have ended before it began. Tom saved the 4 hobbits and also equipped them with the weapons they would need. That to me indicates he was aware of his part and did what was required to achieve the end result. Tom exists out of time and can see what the future holds.
Certainly Bombadils choice of weapons given to Merry and Pippin seems to have played an exact part to first cripple and lead to the destruction of the Witch King at the battle of Pelenor fields. So I am leaning your way to agree.
@@noelstarchild nope
@@jasonfuentz4282 (?)
Nope because, or just nope.
I thought all the trolls have gone at last.
@@noelstarchild just nope
@@jasonfuentz4282
Thank you for your contribution.
A fight between Sauron and Tom seems like an echo of Morgoth vs. Ungoliant, the dark twin of Tom thematically, a being without explanation or defined status. While her fate is often assumed to be an unending consumption ending in herself, Tom is consumed by nothing. I think Sauron would attempt to fight him but find that all efforts were in vain. He would never be able to force a final conflict, and the land Tom chose to hold would forever remain a pocket of purity and reminder to Sauron of his limits. Like Varda placing the Sickle above Utumno to always remind Melkor she and the Valar were there opposing him.
That's a really interesting idea! I like the comparison between Ungoliant and Tom Bombadil!
Agree, next video "Ungoliant versus Tom Bombadil"!!
Well said, Mr. Rhome.
Tom is obviously older than Sauron and likely of a higher order of creation than the Maia and i totally disagree with the videos conclusion...i don't think any fight would happen between them because even with the ring Sauron would have no power over him of course Tom wouldn't fight because that's his nature but i also believe that ultimately Sauron would lose because he cant beat Tom and because of HIS(Sauron)nature he must beat him...
@@wildfire160 Older as in having the oldest physical existence of any creature, yes. But the Ainur (including Sauron) existed as spirits prior to the creation of Arda and physical reality as a whole. Sauron didn’t get his physical manifestation until after he helped the heavenly host bring the very concept of ‘being’ into being, but that’s just the point. Tom might be the soul of Arda and might be comparable or even greater in strength to Manwe himself, but he is surely a product of the great music like the Elves and Ents and as such can’t be older than a member of the Ainur. In terms of orders of creation, that’s definitely up for debate. The comparison with Ungoliant is one I’ve liked. It’s known that Melkor’s discord manifested many dark creatures in the Void, so perhaps those loyal to Eru’s original music were responsible for weaving Tom into creation by how fiercely they sang in reprisal.
"Could that power be defied by Bombadil
alone? I think not. I think that in the end, if all else is conquered, Bombadil will fall, Last as he was First; and then Night will come.’
‘I know little of Iarwain save the name,’ said Galdor; ‘but Glorfindel, I think, is right. Power to defy our Enemy is not in him, unless such power is in the earth itself. And yet we see that Sauron can torture and destroy the very hills."
The key question then is if that power is within the earth itself. I'd generally say not to a degree that could stop Sauron. However, I do consider the head from a beheaded statue of a king of old that is crowned by flowers as it lay on the ground being noted by Sam as an act of defiance against Sauron to be important when thinking about Tom. I think there are things that exist that may have been able to resist Sauron even if he recovered the one ring. These things might be on the edge of Sauron's empire, but his empire probably would not be 100% total even had won the War of the Ring (or a 100% victory would have taken a very long time to achieve).
Don't forget this is spoken from the point of view of elves. Who may not understand much of the true might of the Maia and Vala. Certainly not of an eccentric being as Tom.
This is probably a literary excuse for keeping Tom out of the story more than an accurate commentary on his capability.
@@eschelar Yes, It would have been a very short book If Tom took care of Sauron then and there, so I agree.
Yeah except that quote offers nothing but to highlight the speculative shortsightedness of the elves when it comes to pondering all things that are above them. If the elves are staking their chips on the side of Sauron, then most likely it would be Tom taking the W.
I don't think it would be possible to eliminate all good on Middle-earth anymore than it would to eliminate all bad. The worst it would get would be a tiny patch of land that Tom Bombadil would somehow maintain as a golden fiefdom. Sauron vetching and grinding his teeth over the fact that he cannot dominate completely everything.
Tom would probably forget he was in a fight and bounce away singing about trees and rabbits. Then Sauron would knife him in the back
That does sound quite Tom-like! Although he would probably keep dodging by skipping 😂
@@TheBrokenSword lol true story
The knife would curve with the warping of space around Tom and would never reach him.
Tom is permanently in Ultra Instinct.
If you’ve ever listened to the audio-book LOTR you will want to knife Tom in the back too. Most. Annoying. Character. Ever.
Tom is the spirit of nature, the Green Man, or as he is often called in the English Midlands 'The Lad in the Lane'. He simply negates the industrial might of Sauron. Nature will prevail .... beyond the Age on Man. He was there at The Big Bang of Tolkien's cosmology.
The real question of the elves discussing Bombadil's power is do they really know what he's capable of, or are they merely speculating? I think the most telling part is that he really wouldn't care enough about it to do anything.
Interesting. I’d never thought of that but it makes sense. We assume that a Maia such as Gandalf or immortals such as Elrond know more about Tom than we do, but perhaps not enough.
Perhaps Tom’s abilities are to Gandalf what Gandalf’s are to Frodo making TB’s abilities being out of the council’s realm of consciousness.
Perhaps he'd absorb the evil and turn it into laughter and song. Sauron would vaporize??
Not until he, himself, is directly affected. Then it would be a titanic battle. But who would win? Between Tom with zero assistance and Sauron with all his allies and vassals? In the end, even Tom cannot be in all places at once. He can only preserve that which is within his presence.
@@jdlech Yes but remember that Tom is always at one place.
My head cannon is that Tom Bombadil is a "systemic anomaly" in the Music of the Ainur, a la Neo in The Matrix:
In the Ainulindale, when Eru Illuvatar gave the Ainur a vision of what their music might create, they took great joy in it and wished it _to be._
Bombadil is the manifestation of that joy and that wish, a harmonic overtone created unintentionally and _before_ the Ainur descended into Arda from the Timeless Halls and the Children of Eru were awakened.
Because he is not a "sung" part of the Music, the One Ring has no power over him, and because he was a byproduct of the Ainur's joy in creating, he spreads that joy and emboldens their creation.
Tom made a little magical barrier around his land and hid from Sauron, waiting for better days. So, if he could win or even fight, why make a tiny little haven and hide...
"“Say rather that the Ring has no power over him. He is his own master. But he cannot alter the Ring itself, nor break its power over others. And now he is withdrawn into a little land, within bounds that he has set, though none can see them, waiting perhaps for a change of days, and he will not step beyond them.”
"Could that power be defied by Bombadil
alone? I think not. I think that in the end, if all else is conquered, Bombadil will fall, Last as he was First; and then Night will come.’
‘I know little of Iarwain save the name,’ said Galdor; ‘but Glorfindel, I think, is right. Power to defy our Enemy is not in him, unless such power is in the earth itself. And yet we see that Sauron can torture and destroy the very hills" - The council of Elrond
i dont think he was hiding at all. he just didn't care. sauron was irrelevant to him. he probably thought he can kick saurons butt any time if he wanted to. but he was just lazy and didn't care , i guess
@@rafaelgustavo7786 hard to argue with Glorfindel, one of the few in middle earth that may have actually known who/what he really was.
I've always thought of Tom Bombadil as a sort of "Father Earth", a representation of the spirit of the very world. Tom claimed to have been there when the Elves first came over from Valinor. I believe he was created when the world was, in the Music of the Ainur, Arda personified. Despite everything he's seen over the ages, he cares about absolutely nothing other than the land itself, and his lady Goldberry (the water personified). The land is his one and only domain.
I would say BECAUSE of all he's seen over the ages he cares only about the land. It's the only thing that stays.
I feel the same way and im a little mistified that people worry over tom. Hes tom, nuff said. He is and he does and he has no truck with the wisps of social issues that come and go while the land remains.
I would theorize that if Tom was a spirit in physical form like Ungoliant he could go toe-to-toe with Sauron as Ungoliant did with Melkor.
Facts!
Ungoliant's power grew enormously after she consumed the light of the Two Trees as well as the vats of liquid light that existed around the base of the Trees. It wasn't until after that point that Morgoth began to be afraid of her.
Another thing to add is Melkor was HEAVILY weakend having spread most of his power across the vast lands and array of entitiys so he wasn't even half strength.
I have always thought of him as Eru personified. The ring has no hold on him because he has everything he could want. He is perfectly satisfied
He was apparently around before anything else, so I was thinking he's a sliver of Eru (not Eru himself, in full), left there as a way for Eru to observe/be part of his creation. As such he may not be that much of an offensive power, but he's probably impossible to attack.
The author has said that there is not a personification of Eru that we meet... But in my own head canon I see Tom as an avatar or projection or something of Eru. It just feels right 😁
No. This was already disproven in the texts. Eru is not physically present in Arda.
@@luckyowl6432 He's a holy hermit. Eru ultimately doesn't have a horse in the race so that's the explanation for his neutrality.
I think Tom is the personification of Arda itself - specifically, he is Arda uncorrupted by Melkor.
So while he is not Eru himself, he is the embodiment of Eru's vision for Creation. As such, he must reflect Eru's will to some extent.
Tom is an aspect of creation itself. And with that in mind has a direct correlation and link to Eru Ilúvatar and has all the same powers and gifts associated with him. So it wouldn't even be a battle. Tom would just imagine Sauron out of existence. His powers are so far beyond Sauron and even Morgoth that it can't even be fathomed!
Best answer so far! The final sentence of your comment is the most pertinent, and a concept that most folks forget. Frightened as Morgoth was of Ungoliant, he would be ten thousand times more frightened of Tom Bombadil, since Tom could actually compass Morgoth's vanishing into nothingness, as easily as flowing water vanquishes a flame.
Tom would be Eru, then.
Apologies, but where does this information come from? There is no text that I can find that describes Tom ever being related to Eru Ilúvatar. I am certain he does NOT have the powers of Eru. Melkor is through and through, by word of text by Tolkien himself, the most powerful being aside from Eru, in his works. Tom would be a miniscule thing to the Ainur in their true beings and state.
Eru is the only entity that can unmake the Ainur, Tom does not have this power.
Well said, or to put it another way, Sauron wouldn't even think about confronting him directly. Tom is as close to a personification of a god as we get.
I think the issue wasn't that Tom Bombadil wasn't strong enough to challenge Sauron, but that he was not interested in leaving his self-imposed boundaries. Tom was the master of his own lands. The council believed that he would be conquered last. To me this implied Tom was stronger. He was dismissed as a possible guardian of the ring due to a perceived irresponsible nature.
Tom isn’t irresponsible, he’s disinterested. And what is there to conquer with Tom? He keeps to himself and his extended garden.
Sauron begins with a stomping snarling approach and Bombadil, floating like a butterfly, dances in and out like dappled sunshine through the trees on a breezy day. Sauron roars in anger and Tom mockingly sings in falsetto, proving that there is no note or theme outside the song of Elendil. Sauron swings and Bombadil bounces away, never in the place you saw him last, a moment later he's touching Sauron on the back with a stick, then ducking the swing and rolling away like a tumbleweed. Sauron is looking old and tired, he has no power to harm Tom, he drops the mace and grabs Bombadil with both hands, but Tom just kisses him on the forehead! Sauron reels back like he's been struck, but he can't seem to let go of Tom, the blue coat is just too spectacular to release! Tom seems to follow Sauron's step back, but then it's obvious, TOM IS LEADING THE DANCE! Sauron flops like a rag doll in Tom's mad dance, but his feet keep the time quite nicely, like those massive armored greaves weigh nothing at all! The song swells and drifts, the dance whirls and bounces, the grass and the birds and the dappled sunlight all bouncing in time!
...and then it's over, shockingly quiet. Sauron does a ludicrous walk-of-shame with his boots in one hand, limping ever-so-slightly away from Tom's beaming smile. The army of orcs and monsters are quiet, not knowing how to react to the silliest thing they've ever seen. Sauron slinks over the horizon, muttering to himself, "Fuck that guy and his stupid yellow boots..."
That was pretty good
@@denissavgir2881 thank you!
Somewhat crude, but damn funny!
I always loved the Tom B. segment & his response to the ring. He didn't even care about the power, greed & evil. The original hippy.
I’m thinking there could be a stand alone movie of the hobbits entering the old forest up to Tom escorting them to the boundary of his land.
On another note, one of those images of Tom certainly had Jack Black’s eye sparkle and grin
I saw Jack Black, too! He'd be a good Tom.
maybe fan made movie?
My personal HC is that Tom and Goldberry are literal guests in Arda, drawn to its beauty from Outside, like Ungoliant was drawn in by her endless hunger; but they fit in much better. Maybe Eru himself taught them to.
I think it's possible that Tom could very well be a literary representation of Tolkien himself. Maybe not an exact representation of who Tolkien was but a projection of what Tolkien wished to be.
I would disagree. Tolkein was obsessed with pipe smoking with beer. While it's a small detail I would think he would write that into Tom's character. I personally think he's some sort of Valar or equal to in power seeing how everything reacts to his singing.
I think he's the voice of Eru.
There a bits of Tolkien in every character, more in Tom than most. The power of storytelling and song creation was certainly something identified with.
That would be allegory …
its not a "i think" you didnt think that lol. that has literally been a fan theory for like 60 years
I must say, I really *love* my job. Great work on bringing this idea and script to life, James!
How would such a fight occur? I’d take a page from the Silmarillion where Sauron battles Finrod in songs of power. It would not be a physical fight but of words; a Tolkien rap battle, as it were. It would surely be epic.
Good idea for an Epic Rap Battle
I've often thought that Tom was Melkor. Not the Dark Lord but that which was good in Melkor in the beginning, personified.
His chorus says no one has caught him because his songs are stronger and his feet are faster. Therefore, if Sauron attacked Tom, I think he would be able to defend himself long enough to escape to a different, more sheltered part of Middle Earth. If there were no longer any uncorrupted lands, Tom Bombadil would possibly die because his power is from the earth, but he probably would escape across the sea to Valinor. He couldn't defeat Sauron, but I don't think Sauron could defeat him.
It's been gone over and theorized. In the book they even discussed Tom bombadil taking the ring. When it comes to power sauron cannot beat Tom bombadil by himself. It's more of sending unending amount of minions until his power is spent is how it would really go. Sauron doesn't have to beat bombadil quickly, he just has to beat him.
Based on that chorus… Tom very well may be a physical manifestation of Eru himself. His songs are better, he is the master. The first to arrive. The ring not affecting him… maybe he is Eru embodied so he may enjoy his creation.
@@temporarilyUnknown Yeah I've talked to people who hold to that theory. It's definitely an interesting idea.
@@seanbutler2291 So Sauron can't beat Tom himself but his minions can? Makes total sense. Just because Tom is not affected by the Ring doesn't give him a pedastal over Sauron, since Sauron has far more abilities than just corruption.
@@taelorpickel2830 You're right.
This is an excellent post - thanks all. Really enjoyed it and you can tell it is well researched :)
IMHO, the evil of Sauron focused on Tom Bombadil would be like ping pong balls thrown at a pillow....
I always interpreted Tom as being an embodiment of the goodness of life and nature, and also of the hope for a better future. Thus, Tom's powers are best expressed through the actions and choices of others rather than his own, since the goodness and hope of others is the essence of what he is. This could be why he loves collecting and telling heroic stories. This is also why he cannot be corrupted by the ring directly. He will not fall until all creation has been conquered and the hope for a better future wiped out, cutting him off from his source of power. As to who would win, I think Tom did in a sense. Sauron was brought down by Frodo and the Fellowship's courage and perseverance in the face of evil, which is what Tom is all about. Sauron is destroyed and the heroes become another story of good triumphing over evil, breathing life and power into Tom.
Bombadil, hands down Sauron's magic has already been shown to be useless against him when he held the ring.
This was in one context. Are Bilbo and Frodo able to resist Sauron's presence and raw power just because they can resist the Ring? No. Sauron had already shown himself to be a more formidable power than Tom. Tom was immune to the Ring's effects, but this has little barring to an actual fight between demiurgic beings. Of which Tom has shown to be not a demiurgic being while Sauron has.
@@taelorpickel2830Bilbo and Frodo *resist* Sauron, Tom is described as the ring "having NO power over him", which isn't quite the same as "having power but it being resisted*
So they basically cancel each other out... What do you think about a raw fist fight between the two? No magic. Not armies. Just throwing down, playground rules...
Great video! I like all the detail and research put into this!
💚
In the Silmarillion it states that there were many entities that entered the world who were not Maia, Ainar etc. For instance Ungoliant. My opinion has always been that these entities indeed were of the same race as the Ainar but all were of different power levels. Ungoliant supposedly defeated Morgoth until he called for help etc. so Bombadil and even Goldberry were of that angelic (or demonic) race of spirits. One way to tell is almost all cases the Angelic or good side were usually married and those that were not mentioned as being married could have been anyway.
I always thought of Tom Bombadil as a physical representation of Middle Earth itself.
Yeah, he's the spirit of nature in Middle Earth. Sauron was trying to corrupt and destroy Middle Earth, which is why if the Fellowship was unable to destroy the ring, it would ultimately come down to Sauron vs Tom.
I love how Tolkien described Tom playing around with the ring mirroring how Tolkien played around with the idea of Tom being the hero
I still believe that Tom is Eru in physical form living separately in the Old Forest observing how his Music is playing out in the wider world and how its being shaped. His behaviour is very similar to Eru himself. Separated and unconcerned about the death and destruction that both Dark Lords have levied on Arda. He is letting the music run its course. He is letting his children dance to the music. Now, Eru only intervened when pleaded by the Valar. The cost of his intervention? Arda forever changed - Numenor destroyed and Valinor removed completely from reach by mortal men. Gandalf made a comment during the Council that Tom may keep the ring if all the Free People of the Earth asked him. I firmly believe all the free people of earth would ask him to do so and Tom would keep it. However, the suggestion was never given a chance to be exected. My theory is that Gandalf feared that if Tom got involved then Arda would forever be changed yet again. The cost would be too great. Also, defeating Sauron had to be done by the people of earth in order for them to grow. Now, on a 1 on 1 fight between the two? Of course Tom would win. How many times has Sauron lost when he came out to fight on his own? Luthien kicked his ass and she's just a half elf/half maiar hybrid. How would Sauron fair against (not going for Eru this time) the embodiment of Arda, the embodiment of Nature or the Music of the Ainur (as the other theories claim)? It's hard to fathom that Luthien is more powerful than the embodiment of Arda, Nature or the Music of the Ainuir. Remember, the son's of Feanor caught and imprisoned Luthien. No one's every caught Tom - and we know, NO ONE! And I doubt Sauron would succeed even with his fancy ring on. We know Sauron has his sorcery. But Tom has his voice. Sauron's sorcery seeks out weaknesses to take advantage and he won't find one in Tom which would render him powerless to defeat him. Tom would just tell Sauron go back to Valinor and asked for the Valar's forgiveness and Sauron will probably obey. Okay. So Sauron uses his army of Orcs, Troll, Vampires and whatever foul creatures that his evil has summoned to fight Tom. Fine. What's stopping the embodiment of Arda, nature or the Music of the Ainur or as Goldberry describes him "The Master of wood, water, and hill" from summoning all the creatures of nature that exist in Arda - all the creatures that exist in Midldle Earth all the way to the continent of Arda where Valinor is located. Now, Goldbery mentioned "water" which means he probably could summon all the creatures in all the seas and oceans and rivers and lakes that Ulmo rules. Im comparing Tom to Eywa from the movie Avatar summoning all creatures to fight. So in the end Tom would triumph over Sauron. But what would be the cost to Arda if they fought it out? I guess we wil just have to speculate but we know when great powers battle - the land and people suffer. Tom will win but I doubt he will fight Sauron. The cost will be too great. So, He'll just relocate to Aman. He and Goldberyy will likely move to Ungoliath's old place seeing its available since she left abruplty breaking her lease to the Valars. They'll spruce it up and live happily ever after.
Well done and so so timely!
He's a fascinating being that we just don't know enough about
Tom would not start the fight but he'd be a fierce opponent that Sauron would have no idea how to deal with
Bombadil, being the enigma that he is, I imagine being powerful enough to single handedly stop Sauron or most great evils. I also don't think he would comprehend the necessity to do such a thing on his own. I imagine Tom just snapping a finger or waving a hand and Sauron losing all of his power being unable to do anything. There is an episode of Star Wars Clone Wars where Yoda just deactivates Asaj Ventress' lightsabers with the force instead of actually fighting her. It would be like that.
Perfect analogy!
I can’t imagine he’d have been capable of doing that, because Tom is only described as being master of himself and his land that he’s hidden and secluded himself in, Galadriel was able to hide Lothlorien similarly from Sauron, but it is clear that she would not have the ability to destroy him, and honestly she has more feats of power to her name than Tom, like when she single-handedly destroyed Dol Goldur and cleansed the Mirkwood of Sauron’s evil, so I can’t imagine Tom would be able to destroy Sauron if she couldn’t.
I like the Star Wars reference!
Nice work dude thanks
We never know what Tom is capable of. He could be on a level with Melkor/Morgoth for all we know.
I believe if it came down to a fight, Tom would prevail by causing Sauron to destroy himself using his own power using what I can only describe as metaphysical Judo strategies.
dumb af
Given we watched Tom make the ring vanish and come back (you can only imagine Sauron at that time - for a brief moment he ceased to exist then comes back like wtf just happened)
Tom wouldn’t attempt any conflict, rather ask which songs and legends he likes and if Sauron answers with violence, Tom would vanish.
But if Sauron engages with words and takes Tom’s tea, Tom would welcome him like a friend and no doubt talk/sing Sauron to eternity till both disappear
Hey there, Mairon fair! Mairon my own dear one.
Come follow merry Tom. Put down the name of Sauron!
Without the weight of iron helm, your head is lighter bare.
So come now friend, lay down your armour. Breathe the summer air!
Over field, across the river young Goldberry is waiting.
To hear us talk of Elder Days when the world was waking!
@@katherinegraham3803 Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow,
Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.
None has ever caught him yet, For Tom, he is the master:
his songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster.
@@katherinegraham3803 Oh, bravo, beautifully done!
Beautiful!
I thought this too! Like the Hobbits saw it "disappear" but maybe it vanished from reality as well.
The true answer is probably Tom is Tom. My theorist answer is he was created by the music in the discord of Melkor. Where some of the discord influenced foul things like the Watcher in the Water, the response of Eru in incorporation created good things. Thus, Tom would be in creation even before Melkor ever set foot in Arda.
Do you think Tom is a liar? Or do you think he does not know what he is? According to his own words he's eldest. Not eldest in Arda, those are not his words. He's eldest, I trust him on his word.
He could not have been created by Melkor. For that would mean Melkor is older than Tom, and Tom is eldest.
He could not have been created by Eru. For that would mean Eru is older than Tom, and Tom is eldest.
Tom was there before creation and will be there after it. To him the darkness of Melkor or Sauron are but fleeting things, for which he can't worry too much about.
Gamdalf and the elves can't phantom the power Tom has, and as a result underestimate it. Neither can they understand the perspective of a being older than time.
@@woodytimes9029 Ahh. Then Tom is Tom. For Tom is indeed older the Eru for Tom was in a literary sense created before Eru by Tolkein. Thus, he is eldest.
Thank the fucking Lord you're doing REAL LotR content again!
My first stuffed animal as a kid (a dog, in case you were wondering) was named Tom Bombadil. I've always had an affection for the character and enjoy videos about him.
Tom is both the spirit and the music of the Ainur itself. He is a personification of the music that the Ainur used to sing the world into existence, which is why he is always singing and whistling. He is living music and thus represents the very spirit of the land. There you have it.
Sauron may as well try to fight sound itself.
Great video, thank you for this long awaited vs video. I am fascinated by Tom, while I hear and understand Gandalf’s argument for dismissing Tom, let us consider that Sauron was in fact bested in duels before, in hand to hand battle with Huan for example. Nearly bested by Finrod Felagund in a battle of songs and spells, finally, he was severely wounded by Gil-Galad in their epic fight.
So Sauron is not unbeatable whether in physical or metaphysical forms he can be bested. I do think Tom could route him, defeat him, embarrass him even, this said, I don’t think of Tom of as general or warrior who would destroy Sauron, rather he would defend, route him off and that’s it. Tom wouldn’t much care about pursuing this evil, I think that’s what Gandalf meant, that in the end, it needs to be the peoples of middle earth banning together to defeat Sauron and keeping the hope and beauty of songs, valleys, goodwill alive.
Facts! Sauron would attack Tom over and over and be repulsed every time, but Tom would never leave his land to attack Sauron and finish him off.
Opinion! Sauron would entreat with Iarwain. He knows this is an ancient and superior foe, and persuasion is Sauron's greatest tool. He used Palantir to deceive Saruman and Denethor. Subverted them, rather than fighting openly. He might leave Tom in his little enclave, ruling all beyond. But then he would parlay, and perhaps using the ring, take a form, pleasing and innocent. Tom would see through this, of course. He would know it is falsehood, but not understand or care enough and be led into whatever trap Sauron, as Mairon the admirable Maiar, would conceive. Tom would be destroyed, or trapped, and Goldberry sacrificed or perverted.
I like how you often reference what myths some characters might have originated in. I actually didn't know about some of these ones.
This premise is fascinating. This can go so many directions! 🧐
After a fire completely destroys huge sections of land, we will inevitably see one small green plant or flower regrow in that desolated area over time. Eventually life comes back. That is what Tom represents to me. I think that if Sauron had destroyed Middle Earth to the point of the disappearance of Tom, he would have eventually reappeared during such a time when nature would reclaim the land.
Tom reminds me of Pan from Greek mythology.
My theory is that Bombadil is the land itself incarnated into a physical body. Sort of a conscious Arda. Sauron can not destroy the land, only reshape it. In a fight, Bombadil could not be killed, but maybe forced to take another form. In the process, Sauron would expend a ton of energy and effort. But as the land is basically neutral, Sauron would likely choose to ignore Bombadil. This could explain how Bombadil can make the ring disappear, as it often did disappear and go missing under a mountain or a river. The land of can conceal treasure but not destroy it outright.
Thanks for making this wonderful video, and adding the great artwork and crediting the artists! It’s a very interesting question, and given the fact that the ring had no effect on him tells me that Sauron wouldn’t either. It’s like he lives on Middle-earth as a visitor without any of the evils or wills of the natural inhabitants having any influence on him whatsoever. I think if Sauron tried to attack him, he could shrink him in the palm of his hand, and Sauron would shout back in a tiny voice, hey, what’s the big idea, and Tom would just flick him back to Mordor with his forefinger 😂
8:36 16:00 I think the best theory of what Tom is, is that he represents the song Eru sung itself. He represents the nature of things, and he doesnt understand the battle between light and dark... Yet his power is arguably greater than the istary, and the ring doesn't have an effect on him (like it would say on Gandalf, who was petrified of even touching it). He was there in the beginning before anyone else, he is fatherless and also i think Tolkien said Eru doesn't have a physical incarnation. He is the song itself. It's why he would be simultaneously the best and worst person to be the ring bearer... He could easily throw it into mount doom and never become corrupt by the ring, yet it would be impossible to get him to the mountain because he simply doesn't care or can't comprehend the situation.
Keep in mind that Sauron with his One Ring was defeated 3 times in the Second Age. 1) around 1700 by Elves and Men in Eriador (Gil-galad, Elrond and Numenoreans); 2) in the 3260s by Ar-Pharazon and the host of Numenor; and 3) in the 3430s by The Last Alliance of Men and Elves. So I wonder, could Tom Bombadil withstand a Sauron who has not recovered the One Ring. But then, Tom would also have to defeat Sauron's hosts and the Nazgul. (I'm thinking of an alternate outcome where Frodo fails in his quest but the One is just lost again.)
I think of Tom Bombadil as the antithesis to Ungoliant.
My theory about Tom Bombadil is that he is one of the "nameless creatures" but a positive version. The nameless creatures originated in the discord in the music by Melkor, which led to many unintended creatures to take form before the Ainur even reached Arda. Most of these were evil or grotesque, since they were accidents of the discord. But Tom is probably the one "happy little accident", where the discord actually created a being who is good and yet immensely powerful. This adds up with Tom's claim that he was in Arda even before Sauron or the Valar.
your article on the subject matter is I would say spot on. I’ve often felt he was Tuklas. Based upon his physical strength and speed. But the more I thought about it and other people’s review I realized he is something unique and different from everything going on. More of a sample of what you might call the fairy folk for Fais type creatures you might encounter in random locations on the planet of middle earth. Your analysis matches up with my token has for the most part said. Nice
Sauron would very quickly scud him in the face with that mace. What would happen next though is an interesting prospect. Angry Tom might be a different thing altogether.
Angry Tom would be VERY interesting for sure! If it was even possible to make him angry!
I like to think that Tom would simply make the mace vanish before it could hit him like he made the One Ring vanish.
Another possibility is that it hits him, but it does nothing to his face. Sauron would just be astonished and Tom would laugh him in the face, which would make Sauron even angrier. He would try to hit Tom in the head again and again, until he is worn out or the mace destroyed. All the while Tom would still stand there and laugh. Afterwards Tom would stop laughing and just say: "You done now, boy?"
He'd never land a blow. His feet are too fast. His magic would be useless. Tom would just laugh at all of it.
I'm no lore master, but I get the sense Tom is essentially a representation of life and nature. Similar to how the Germans in WWII were devastated by the Winter, Tom represents the awesome power alive in the core of existance, while also representing the random nature of its actions. In sum, whether or not Sauron could defeat Tom, I think is similar to whether humans could destroy life on Earth. We're no match for its awesome power if it were to turn against us, but its very nature keeps it from directing that power to destroy us. At least so far as we know. 😅
Well Sauron took part in the creation, Tom was just the first being in Arda, but there is not much evidence of his power over Sauron aside from the dubious fact that he was unamused by the Ring, which while a powerful asset, was in a realm of which Tom was great, and also that Sauron relied on many more abilities aside from mere corruption. Had Tom gone into Sammath-Naur, the Realm of Sauron's Power, it would be no contest.
@@taelorpickel2830 Your assessment makes sense, but I think the idea that Tom was just kind of left in the story, means he's not really supposed to make sense within the rules of the lore. Rather, that Tolkien didn't feel it necessary make him fit to the rules. He just seems to me, like a character who's the personification of existence. Good or bad, doesn't register. He's just a character that does stuff. Gods and elves and men come up with plans and have goals, but a hurricane is just a thing that happens. Though I suppose if my interpretation is correct, maybe he'd be a bit more chaotic, and less compassionate. Hard to say.
I thought I remember a comment in one of the history of middle earth books that Tolkien said that if anyone had just thought to ask Bombadil he had the ability to de-power or neutralize the one ring
What-if video idea for you to do:
What if Gandalf never fell at the Bridge of Khazad-dum and continued with the fellowship to Lothlorien and on forward?
Tom was the first character that Tolkien ever imagined. That's why he was there from the beginning. He almost breaks the 4th wall when you realize he's not a normal character within this world. He's more powerful than Eru himself, because Tom existed outside of Tolkien's Arda fantasy.
I think Tolkien would say Eru exists outside of Arda himself, though he be called by another name...
@@Norbingel by the name of Tom ??
@@Jubiedanny47 hes probably saying eru = god
tom bombadill reminds me of winnie the pooh
@@lvtn3135 Yes, Eru is Tolkien's adaptation of God.
Always thought of Tom as the embodiment of the song of the universe - so if in the end all was tainted (by Sauron or otherwise) he would either be gone or completely changed
Even simply asking the question make this video amazing
Thank you 😁😂
Frodo: Tom, please come with us. You can totally take on Sauron.
Tom looks over at his hot wife, Goldberry....
I think he's Eru in disguise as a personality omnipresently manifested. Since Eru is the Light (the father principle), and Bombadil claiming to be father-less.
Interesting! Fatherless child of.. Mother Earth perhaps.
The one ring has no power over tom because he has no ambition. He is content with his life as it is. I think the one ring needs someone with ambition to be able to corrupt them.
bingo!!!!!
Good video 👍👍
I like to think that tom is the embodiment of eru's final note he must have cast in the creation of the world.
Tom is most likely an Ainur content to enjoy Arda without trying to shape it, unlike the Vala or Melkor. He doesn't intervene to save the four hobbits per se, but to save their stories. A victory by Sauron over everyone else would effectively end stories and thus Tom Bombadil's reason for remaining in Arda, to learn and recount interesting stories. So I can't imagine Tom and Sauron ever fighting.
Some of that Tom Bombadil art... looks like it's imagining Jack Black as Tom Bombadil.
...and now I really want to see Jack play Tom!
It is like Tom Bombardil is a creature from a parallel world, not a product of Eru Iluvatar's creation. And just in Middle Earth as a guest to observe.
I always wanted to know more about Goldberry's history as the poem does not say much concerning her at all.
If anything she is more of a mystery than Tom!
@@TheBrokenSword Well, 'river's daughter' could refer either to a powerful nature spirit tied to that river, or to one of the maiar under Ulmo, lord of all the waters, or to a child of a maiar under Ulmo (we know they can have children, thanks to Melian "the Maia"). Given Goldberry seemed to be associated with natural cycles and flowers as well as the river, she could have been a minor maia, child of one of Ulmo's and one of Yavanna's, or some such. Something like that world's equivalent of a naiad.
I would have to go back and read those chapters again with an eye to cues, to speculate further. :)
Tom is the only being that after all this time has stayed true to the Will of Illuvitar and so his power is great. But as soon as he forces his Will over others his powers would diminish. He said he is the master of none. He merely reunites things with the original song of Illuvitar and to everyone else it looks like magic. That's what I like to think.
Ayo! This is the best interpretation I've read till now. Thanks sir/ma'am 🫂
while Sauron and Bombadil fight, Goldberry defends that which she loves most by thrusting a wooden stake through Sauron's back.
Thanks. I like to think of Bombadil as more a manifestation of nature itself. All the lore of the stories points to him being there within Middle Earth from the moment Eru revealed to the Valar & Maiar the vision of what the music had wrought. Nature and its self-healing power is very much a theme in Tolkien's works, of course. The idea that Bombadil could not (or would not) directly oppose Sauron, nor be able to defeat him (or at least stave him off) is appropriate. As thinking beings, we can respect the power of nature, or we can act to destroy it. That's the lesson I take. tavi.
Tom could very well be Chaos, as in the very embodiment of Ginnungagap the Norse belief of the time before anything.
He is the Eldest, he is fatherless and he was the First. He is neutral and cares not for the affairs of the world. He has no concept of good or evil, and not interfering, is chaos.
Tom is a lover, not a fighter. His natural defenses are incredible. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in nonchalance regarding the things that are lethal to other "lesser" beings until it is too late.
I do wonder what he'd be capable of if he'd had a mind for offens
He would sing more loudly and out of key …
@@whynottalklikeapirat and change his name to Bomb Tombadil...
You ask the question without asking what death means for Tom,Just as youve discussed the differences in mortality of elves,Maiar from men death has different consequences for each so discussing a result would depend on how if even death would affect Tom, also it seems obvious Tom understands the song of Illuvatar in a much deeper way than Sauron so knows Sauron is absolutely no threat and is seeing events on a scale of time beyond all the other characters. What I'm getting at is the characters of the story have to have the sense of Jeopardy for the song to play out and it seems Tom is beyond this Jeopardy almost able to enjoy the song of Illuvater while all the others players are bound by the song.
Best Tom bombadil video yet
:D
I feel like Tom is actually Eru Ilúvatar just experiencing his creation as an unassuming character. Not there to make any changes but to enjoy the free will of his creation, the ring to him was probably fascinating and fun for him to play around with. It would make sence that he is the oldest and has no father as well. (Should have read the comments first lol looks like I'm not alone.)
Yeah I agree.The ring was made by the will of his creation so he respects free will enough not to delete it. instead he created hobbits solely to to do thering deletion.
Tom befriends Sauron and turns him into a bonsai tree hobbyist
Sauron is doing his best menacing loom, looking all badass, then you hear a banjo playing and Tom Bombadil appears and says, "Sauron here's got a real pretty mouth. Squeal like a pig for me".
Team Bombadil ! who else?
Gandalf the white stated that he(the White Wizard) was the second most dangerous being after Sauron in Middle Earth. So Tom Bombadil was even weaker than Gandalf the white, he wasn't a match to the Dark Lord:
"Dangerous!" cried Gandalf. "And so am I, very dangerous: more dangerous than anything you will ever meet, *unless you are brought alive before the seat of the Dark Lord."*
[-The Two Towers, LoTR Book 3, Ch 5, The White Rider]
Being powerful and being dangerous could well be different things though :)
Gandalf was dangerous because he used his power. The whole point of this video is that we have no idea how much power Bombadil has, but he did not use that power aggressively. However, if Sauron attacked Tom Bombadil, Tom might become very dangerous.
@@TheOfficialNerdyChannel Well, nope! You are just ignoring what Gandalf said there. There is no any evidence to say Bombadil was not using his full power lol. It is quoted that Tom Bombadil(with the Ring) would fall after all others were defeated. He had no powers such likeness of the Ainur. If Sauron really attacked Tom Bombadil I don't think Tom could defend himself from the ragefull Dark Lord. Remember that Sauron is the one Maia who broke the power of Vala Ulmo in the first age and later defied the lightning strike of Manwe in Numenor in the second age. As we see we can say that our Dark Lord would crush Bombadil easily. As Tolkien noted, "that power was not in him(Bombadil)!"
Edit: Tom Bambadil was NOT a member of Ainur! Because he said he witnessed the coming of the first dark lord Melkor and other Valar down onto the Arda(earth). So Tom was always in the Arda he was not an Ainu spirit (Valar/Maiar).
@@_semih_ Then why could Tom make the One Ring vanish and appear again? Or why could he still see Frodo, after Frodo put on the One Ring in Tom's home? Or how did he know that all the treasure from the Barrow Whights would just have be in the sun and it would uncorrupt them. Or from where did he have the knowledge that the swords he gave to Frodo and the other hobbits would hurt the Nazgul, when he never left his own little pocket of Middle Earth. He does not get many visitors. Even Gandalf says he hasn't visited him for a some time now. So how did Tom gain that knowledge?
@@artoriasvoncarstein820 Its because Tom 100% was a spiritual being and not a mortal flesh. In the story of the creation of the Ents, Tolkien mentioned "the spirits of nature". These were lesser spirits that were created in Arda(the earth) after the music of Ainur. Personally I see Tom as the opposite to Ungoliant, both of these characters were without an actual origin. Ungoliant came from the Void and Bombadil were always on the Earth even before the coming of Ainur from the outer big Void. Tolkien wanted to keep their origin as a permanent secret and mystery in his story.
Bombadil knew that Arthedain swords that used to hurt WK because he was there during the war between Arnor and Angmar. Also that place was near to his home so he might explore and see all that treasure was there but he did not needed such stuff, he was not a warrior type character within the Legendarium.
Finally, I've read it somewhere that Tolkien created Tom Bambadil out of this idea of Middle Earth later he decided to add this interesting character into his Middle Earth story. So the purpose the character of Tom Bombadil is to be a literal mistery(and there are some other characters like that such as nameless things, ungoliant, the 3 high spirit that even terrorized all the Valar in the Lost Tales book etc). Thats why we still talk about Tolkien's works! Despite the death of its author, the Legendarium of the Middle Earth still alive and people still talking about it's mysteries even after 50+ years :)
How would the fight go? Very tragically for Tom and Goldberry. My fanfic-like concept is that Sauron, in possession of the One Ring, and having defeated the Wizards and everyone else, would finally turn his eyes towards his last nemesis. He would burn and poison the lands and rivers around the Old Forest. The first to sicken and then die would be Goldberry as the rivers and weather no longer allow her to be who she is (a spirit of the rivers and weather, mainly). Tom would be griefstricken and find little left in the world for himself. He would not be the carefree spirit of the forest he once was, and his powers would wane and then Sauron's forces would raise the Old Forest to the ground.
Tolkien himself said he didn't know exactly what Tom Bombadil was, and Tom and Goldberry didn't fit neatly into the stated cosmogony outlined in the Silmarillion. But Tolkien had put Bombadil into his previous writings, and obviously liked him (and possibly identified with him to some extent), so he put him into the Lord of the Rings without further explanation, leaving his exact nature ambiguous.
However, based on some of Tolkien's other writings, and the fact that he was trying to create a mythology for the British Isles, Bombadil seems to be analogous to a primordial spirit of the earth in mythology, basically created or arriving into Arda at its creation, an aspect of what Jesuit theologians would call God's primordial nature. Similarly, Goldberry, "the river woman's daughter," would be a nature spirit formed as the world evolved, an aspect of what the Jesuits would call God's consequent nature.
Tom would never truly win as he wouldn't want to hurt sauron but I don't think sauron could do him any damage
I feel that Tom was Tolkien, himself, inserted into Middle Earth. And why not? He didn't seriously affect the plot except to defeat the barrow wight with a song, the exemplifications of Tolkien's philosophy, got to introduce himself and his wife to the Hobbits, played with the one ring, and was mentioned by the council as the first (as author) and last.
Tolkien based the story of Beren and Luthien on him and his wife.
Tom is an aftermath of Tolken's thought of adding flowers and joy to the pain and reality of this cruel world.
I’m convinced that Tolkien used Tom as a deus ex machina to get the hobbits out of the tree and the barrow, but then didn’t have any use for him thereafter, so he simply ignored him as a factor.
Tom's the bomb
Tom would have beaten Sauron, Sarumon, Melkor, Darth Vader, The Balrog, and Smaug in one fight.
You just can't stop his singing.
Especially, if he sings "Indian Love Call" (the Slim Whitman song).
Remember, that song killed the Martians in Mars Attacks.
An excellent discussion and perspective of the 2 essential forces that can be contained in us all.
Sauron may take him in the short run, but Nature, Benevolence, and Time always wins in the end. Thanks, Ken.
I've always interpreted Bombadil as the personification of nature - he does not turn invisible just as if you put the ring on a branch, it would not turn invisible
I've thought that Bombadil restricts himself to the old forest as being Tolkien's message about nature being much smaller and limited as it was in the past - remember Treebeard once mentioned a squirrel could once jump from tree to tree from the sea to.. I don't remember where specifically, but far is my point.
Given this is the third age, that is what I understand the limiting factor due to the rise of dwarves and men and orcs even, cutting down nature to fuel their lives
Can't be the truth, but I like to think about it
The best description I have heard for Bombadil is that he is an analog of the nameless things, like the watcher in the waters, which hide in the darkest corners of creation and were not intended in the creative will of Eru Illuvitar.
I think the real question is if there is anything that could stop Tom Bombadil from walking into Mordor? If he was convinced of the need he could have just walked right up to Mt. Doom and thrown the ring in himself. That would have ended Sauron. However their was probably nothing that could have caused Tom to do that... unless all the Ents and other creatures of Middle Earth asked him. As he weighed what do due the final voice who asks him to act is Goldberry herself. Therefore Tom takes up the quest guided by Gandalf.
Would it be ok to know the first soundtrack you used in this video? It would be fun to play in the background of certain games.
I love good old Tom we need more videos of on him!
Personally, from a lore perspective, I think of Tom in the same echelon as Ungoliant and The Nameless Things, they are personifications of the world and it’s workings, existing only as extensions of the forces they represent, created at the birth of the world when the music of the ainur brought all of Eä/Arda into being.
as such their power comes from themselves, the part of creation they represent, and are driven by the essence of it without concern for other things that is not of them.
in this way, Tom IS nature, the living land of Middle Earth, uncorrupted and in its pure state, that’s where he resides and where he is master, but also where his power would ultimately fail if Sauron won and took over the land, destroying it bit by bit, closing him off as the untainted nature he represents shrinks until Tom is no more.. not with a sudden death but a final fading breath.
from the angle of Tolkien as a writer,
I suspect this was Tolkiens literary allusion to the plight of the english countryside, to the destruction and pollution ravaged by the industrial revolution. Tom is Tolkien’s love of the way things were and how he wanted to be, the ideal of a quaint cottage steeped in nature, unconcerned with the modern world and it’s busynesses. However that sort of idealism doesn’t serve the Lord of the Rings core story so Tolkien wisely left Tom as a passing figure rather than a main character.
As for the question of Tom vs Sauron.. i find it hard to imagine a fight between them at all.. while it’s nice to imagine Tom as this incredibly powerful being, his “power” comes from not being interested in anything of the like, the things the ring uses to corrupt and ensnare those that can be tempted by it mean nothing to him, and by extension he would find it hard to understand why it’s important to hide it, and I’m not convinced Tom could take the ring to mount doom, that land is deeply corrupted and not a place for Tom.
likewise Sauron would think nothing of Tom in kind, for Sauron wants to take power and Tom is as irrelevant to him as the hobbits were before he discovered one had the ring.. without the ring Tom is of no concern to Sauron, with it Tom is merely hiding the ring and Sauron would eventually overcome the peoples of Middle Earth, destroy the land in search of it, and eventually “discover” it after the land and nature Tom so loved was gone, Tom with it..
Tom was never a solution, he would have been buying for time at best, only the host of Valinor would have defeated Sauron in that timeline of events, and that might have been long after Sauron finds the one ring with everyone and everything we care about in the story having been lost.