October 29, 2002

On Bombadil
Davem

I take your points, but at the same time, I still can't see Tom as an 'isolationist' - aren't you bringing too much of 'our' world into Middle Earth? Or at least our modern attitudes. Ther's a wonderful essay by Orson Scott Card in the book 'Meditations on Middle Earth', which deals with the way people have of trying to 'de-code' fantasy, & why it just doesn't & cannot work. My approach is to read the book, & accept the characters for who they are, as seen by the other characters within their world. I wouldn't be so dismissive of Goldberry's statement that Tom 'IS'. For me, that's the key to him. I can't say your perception of Tom as 'isolationist is wrong - for you its right, but for me it doesn't work. What are your criteria for that judgement?, Who are you comparing Tom with? I really can't make such a direct connection between a being from a literary creation & 20th century politcal value judgements.
Sorry, but this is a rushed response. Hope to be able to expand on it later.