In three recent episodes of “Spell in the Library” (youTube conversations; cf. earlier post), Malcolm reads and discusses Goldberry and Tom Bombadil and their place in The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien’s legendarium. Malcom explores the meaning of Bombadil, a person whose mystery grows deeper the more we attend to him.
Tom Bombadil!
Who is Tom Bombadil?
The last of Tom Bombadil
To summarize, Malcolm reflects that, in some sense, Bombadil is the spirit of the land, married to Goldberry the spirit of the water. As spirit of the land, Bombadil is the spirit of the Earth itself — his memory going way back to its formation as a molten ball thrown off from a star. In his poetry and singing, Bombadil discloses himself as a song of creation, at least of all things formed from the ground. He is an exemplar of true earthly nature, unfallen nature, the heart of nature, carrying on as best it can apart from human troubles. Together with Goldberry, they are the natural source of earthly poetry and beauty, life and strength. In the story of Bombadil and Goldberry we see the natural power of song and friendship eventually to triumph over evil through the deep history of the ages.
For those who know Tolkien through the movies, listen to Malcolm’s readings and conversations on Bombadil and consider how the tone and atmosphere of the movies might have been different had Bombadil and Goldberry been included. Bombadil and Goldberry — like Faramir — are reminders of the rich depth that awaits us in reading the books, and returning to them afresh.
Most of the time I imagine myself as Farmer Maggot who, I surmise, served a stint in his younger years as a servant-guest in the house of Bombadil. But then I look at Goldberry sitting beside me, and wonder… where are my hat and boots? And is that my jacket underneath the books…
