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Post by Porphyre on May 9, 2015 12:19:09 GMT -6
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Post by talysman on May 9, 2015 12:51:49 GMT -6
Interesting, although I think I see some flaws in the reasoning. The trees of the Old Forest are hostile, but are they evil? In that light, perhaps Bombadil isn't pretending to be friendly, but is the light side to the dark forest, the Seelie counterpart to the Unseelie Old Man Willow. The forest attacks the hobbits at first, but then changes its mind, perhaps when it senses the Ring. Bombadil may send the Ring bearer on his way not because he plans world conquest, but because Sauron will eventually come to the Old Forest unless stopped. The Old Forest wants to be left alone.
This is the real reason Gandalf shoots down the idea of sending the Ring to Bombadil. Bombadil is immune to the Ring, but has no power to stop Sauron if he comes looking for it. Bombadil wants to keep Sauron away. And so, Bombadil will eventually "forgetfully lose" the Ring, to keep Sauron from coming to the Old Forest.
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Post by Falconer on May 9, 2015 13:05:54 GMT -6
Pros: I enjoy thought experiments of this sort that dig deep into the material, try to come up with new connections, and paint a vivid picture based on their conclusions. If nothing else, this reminds me of how much I love the Tom Bombadil chapters from the LR and the poems from ATB. It makes me want to run some adventures in the Old Forest and the Barrow-downs.
Cons: The conclusion (that Tom and Goldberry are evil) is, of course, not what Tolkien intended (as the author admits), and it just doesn’t work, on so many levels, in the context of Tolkien’s world and writing. I doubt you need me to enumerate the reasons.
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