In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, one important character was not shown. However, the TV series The Rings of Power corrected this omission. The character in question is the mysterious Tom Bombadil — a being older than anything in Middle-earth. And based on the series' plot, it is Tom who helped Gandalf understand himself and unlock his powers. But who exactly is he?
How Tom Bombadil Came to Be
Tolkien created Tom Bombadil long before The Lord of the Rings, inspired by a doll that children accidentally flushed down the toilet. In the 1920s, he wrote poems about this carefree spirit of the forest, who conquers evil with words and song. Back then, Tom was not part of any epic battle but rather embodied the sheer joy of life.
Later, Bombadil became the hero of a poem where his travels intertwined with that of the water spirit Goldberry. Their union highlighted Tom's connection to the natural elements — earth and water. He became a part of Middle-earth but remained somewhat on its outskirts — outside of war, time, and ambitions.
A Character Outside of Time and the World
Tom Bombadil is like a jester at a royal ball, who refuses to recognize kings or rules. The One Ring has no effect on him: he wears it and doesn’t even turn invisible. For him, it’s just a toy. Powerful symbols lose their meaning in front of someone who long ago rejected the struggle for control.
He saves the hobbits not with a sword but with a song, giving them swords from barrows without expecting anything in return. His ease and independence remind us that, in a world full of conflict, there can be someone who simply lives, not survives.
Why He Wasn’t Trusted with the Ring
At the Council of Elrond, it was seriously considered whether the Ring should be given to Tom Bombadil. However, Gandalf warns that, for Tom, it’s a trinket. He would forget about it, lose it, or throw it aside. He rejects the very concept of power because he lives outside of it, beyond the typical understanding of good and evil.
Could He Be Eru?
Fans often wonder whether Bombadil could be Eru — the God of Middle-earth. His name means "The Elder," and he says "I am," almost like in the Old Testament. But Tolkien explicitly denied such theories: Tom is not a god or an allegory. He is a living reminder that the world is bigger than our battles.
There are mentions that Tom existed in the world long before the elves, and even before Morgoth. He is somehow connected to an unseen realm, as he can see Frodo even while using the Ring.
Tom in The Rings of Power
While Jackson completely omitted this character from the story, The Rings of Power gave him significant screen time. In the second season, Gandalf, while traveling with the hobbit Nori, stumbles upon Bombadil’s house. At that moment, the wizard didn’t even know his name or how to use his powers, so Tom’s help was crucial.
Bombadil aids Gandalf in finding his staff and understanding his mission in Middle-earth. Perhaps, in future seasons, the writers will delve deeper into this character’s identity.
What Tolkien Wanted to Say
Tolkien intentionally left a mystery in the character of Tom Bombadil. This character reminds us that while struggle is important, it is not enough. It’s also essential to know how to simply enjoy the world — without calculation, without power, without the desire to change everything around us. Life itself is a sufficient reason for song.
