The Dark Side of Tom Bombadil

[Elmo]

I found the description of Tom Bombadil meeting Goldberry in 'The Adventures of Tom Bombadil' rather disturbing. He is said to have 'caught' Goldberry 'caught her fast' like she was some wild animal trying to get away from him. This doesn't seem to be a healthy way to start a relationship but I do believe it is the traditional Glasweigan way of starting one. Did Tom force Goldberry into marriage?

I believe vicious temper shown in 'Bombadil Goes Boating' in which he
seemed to threaten every animal in the Old Forest allegedly in jest shows Old Tom Bombadil is not just a merry fellow whose boots are yellow.

[The Might]

From what I know it was she that started it. When Tom was beside they Withywindle one day he dangled his beard in the water and she caught and pulled him into the water.
It was only later that he returned and married her.
Besides, I doubt that such things are possible between spirits like Tom and Goldberry...

[Bêthberry]

I've often thought that the dark side of Tom comes out in his verse.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by hewhoarisesinmight

I believe vicious temper shown in 'Bombadil Goes Boating' in which he
seemed to threaten every animal in the Old Forest allegedly in jest shows Old Tom Bombadil is not just a merry fellow whose boots are yellow.

hahahahaha

Everyone has a dark side. Even Tom, I'm sure.

[The Might]

I doubt it. If he is incorruptable by anything in the world, I doubt that he can be evil in any way, or have evil thoughts for that matter. He is not of Middle-earth, and so not subject to such things.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by The Might

I doubt it. If he is incorruptable by anything in the world, I doubt that he can be evil in any way, or have evil thoughts for that matter. He is not of Middle-earth, and so not subject to such things.

I agree with TM here. I actually don't believe Tom could do anything evil wilfully or even be made to do evil.

Tom's direct opposite, as we all know, is Gothmog of Morgul, who is as mysterious as his good counterpart, just on the other side. And I'm pretty sure Gothmog also made verses (though probably aliteration verse without rhymes).

[Sir Kohran]

On a slightly different note, I do find it interesting that Tolkien writes that Frodo feels He was perhaps a trifle annoyed with Tom for seeming to make so light of what even Gandalf thought so perilously important. It's interesting that Tolkien himself instills a tiny, but present 'dark side' to Tom - for all his wonders he is not perfect and has the (albeit small) potential for evil just like any other.

[The Might]

This is relative and depends on what you consider perfect.
If you consider it a sign of evil and imperfection that Tom would be likely to throw away the Ring somewhere if he would be given it to guard and would not understand its importance, thus putting all the dwellers of Middle-earth in danger, then I guess he is not perfect.
But as he is not of Middle-earth, I personally believe he doesn't have anything to really do with it. He has his own "realm" and is Master within its boundaries. Any evil he would perhaps commit would never be intended, but just the consequence of his origin.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Sir Kohran

On a slightly different note, I do find it interesting that Tolkien writes that Frodo feels He was perhaps a trifle annoyed with Tom for seeming to make so light of what even Gandalf thought so perilously important. It's interesting that Tolkien himself instills a tiny, but present 'dark side' to Tom - for all his wonders he is not perfect and has the (albeit small) potential for evil just like any other.

I'm not sure I understood your point. Do you say that there was a "dark" thing on TB, and that it was that he could take the Ring too lightly? I don't see what's "dark" on it: dangerous for the others, yes, but I think that if every person in ME were like Tom (that they could ignore the Ring like him), then the Ring won't have any power over them, thus, this would be victory.

[Finduilas]

I think the reason that Frodo was slightly annoyed with Tom for that, was because he personally held it in high esteem. After all, he couldn't throw it into the fire when Gandalf told him to...

Would it be possible that Tolkein had written the Tom Bombadil poems, before he had made out his character, and so when he added him to LotR he just partially ignored his former poems, and made a new character? Or were the Bombadil poems writen after?

[The Might]

I am definitely not a Bombadil expert, since he never interested me that much, I was content leaving him as what he is meant to be - an enigma.
But as far as I know The Adventures of Tom Bombadil were published in 1962, but he already existed as a character before.
What I have however learned in a very interesting thread a long time ago, he is in M-e, but not of M-e, more like an outsider, an intruder in the world.
The explanation for his existence is of course hard to find, most likely a product of the music in the beginning, but he was actually more like "thrown" into the world by Tolkien.

[The Sixth Wizard]

Of course he's evil, Tom Bombadil is Morgoth! Erm, no, Sauron! Or even the Witch King! Eru Iluvatar? MERIADOC BRANDYBUCK?!

(goes back to sleep)

[MatthewM]

Valid points, but I don't think that Tom is 100% immune to the common dark side of a person or the issues of M-e. Sure, the Ring had no meaning to him and nothing happened when he put it on- he is not of Middle-earth, yes. But, living in Middle-earth, he would eventually be subject to the same fate as everyone else. If Sauron did cover the world in a second darkness, Bombadil's perfect lifestyle would certainly be affected, and even Tom wouldn't be able to really defend his keep. He would be consumed like the rest, residing in Middle-earth.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

He will be killed, possibly, but I can't imagine anything else. I don't even believe he could be enslaved. I think he might either survive in his confined realm, when meanwhile all of M-E lied under darkness - that is, in case Sauron couldn't (or was afraid to) attack him. Or, more likely, He will just be killed, either by an Orc-horde, or by the Ringwraith, or maybe, if we were to see "Tom Uncloaked", by Sauron himself. His fate would be similar, I think, like that of the Ents in the case the Enemy won.

[The Might]

He would have fallen, as stated in the Fellowship of the Ring:

I think that in the end, if all else is conquered, Bombadil will fall, Last as he was First; and then Night will come.

He would fall, indeed. I never said he is not subject to the fate of Middle-earth or natural needs such as sleeping or eating. But things don't influence him as they do others, he is not corrupted by the Ring, and so probably by nothing else.