A Character Forgotten in Lord of The Rings
Who in the world is Tom Bombadil? If you watched Lord of the Rings trilogy and never read the books, that would be the question you will be asking. Why is this character so important or unimportant that it was left out of the movies?(Video included in this article).
The character Tom Bombadil was stated to be an “anomaly” in JRR Tolkien’s writing. He would be the only character that would not be affected by Sauron’s ring. This happy and jovial character appears in the Old Forest (Book One ) when the four Hobbits, Sam, Frodo, Merry and Pippin were making their journey from the Shire to Bree.
Tom Bombadil would later save the Hobbits twice from harm. The first time Tom saved the trapped Merry and Pippin from “Old Man Willow” and the second time, he saved all four Hobbits from the Barrow-wights.
Tom Bombadil was married to Goldberry, “Daughter of the River”. Tom would wander around the forest and look for white lillies for his true love. The couple lived in a remote area far from any towns and they prefer it that way(for they are not humans but more like guardians of nature).
The Hobbits had a short stay at Tom’s home in Withywindle before moving off on their journey. Tom Bombadil was mentioned by the Council of Elrond in Rivendale as a first possible choice to hide the ring. However the council was so concerned of Tom Bombadil’s lack of interest in the ring that they finally chose Frodo as the ring bearer. The Council was afraid that Tom Bombadil would just cast away the ring later on for he has no use for it.
Tolkien invented Tom Bombadil in honour of his children’s Dutch doll, and wrote light-hearted children’s poems about him, imagining him as a nature-spirit evocative of the English countryside, which in Tolkien’s time had begun to disappear. If they was a role for Tom Bombadil in the movie, Peter Jackson fits the description exactly.
“At any rate he was too large and heavy for a hobbit, if not quite tall enough for the Big People…”(page 158, Fellowship of the Ring).
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A very interesting article.
I’m sure I remember reading a separate book about Tom Bombadil many years ago, one that was not in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Nice to be reminded of him anyway!
I think Katien refers to Tolkien’s book: “The Hobbit”, an ideal prologue to “Lord of the rings”.
Excellent article, anyway. And a true sin that Tom Bombadil is not in the movie.
I think it is terrible that he was nnot in the movie series! Great write!
i like your article
I think there was a song that Tom Bombadil used to sing in the LOTR. I had liked the song when i read the book. Does anyone remember it?
To good to be true,Great article,thank you
I was also a bit disappointed that Tom didn’t make it into the movie, but the movie would have been even longer if every character and every event in the book made it into the screenplay.
It’s too bad that there was not more singing in the movie – I think that perhaps in Tolkien’s time there was more singing.
Karen’s right. I presume that he was left out to cut the movie time, which was already quite long. Upon mention of his name in the film, the avid readers and fans of LOTR already know.
I read the first book when Baggins left his home, I thought it the best book of the trilogy. Sad to say I don’t remember Tom.
It was indeed a good book but saly to say Tom didn’t appear to the screen. Keep it up!
I remember good old Tom and my husband and I wondered why he was left out.
My favourite character is Gollum. I might go read the books now. Thanks.
I think it’s horrible that he wasn’t in the movie – another great article.
Its a shame they left him out. I still wonder if they will ever make a movie based on him.