Bombadil vs. Treebeard

[Algamesh]

So, who else caught the slight discrepancy about "Who's the oldest?"

I may be mistaken (meaning I'm not grabbing my book and confirming ;) ) but weren't both of these beings referred to as the "oldest living entity in Middle-earth"?

While we are on the subject, let's talk about Bombadil for a moment ...

It has been suggested that ol' Tom is simply an incarnation of Nature, or perhaps, Iluvatar himself. He certainly is an enigma for which we have no clear explanation! What are your thoughts?

[Catz]

i think less an incarnation of nature, but more the incarnation of ME itself.....
i just wish hed had better dress sense and less of a taste for excruciating doggerel....
to be perfectly frank, i dont think JRR himself was quite sure what to call him, so he just called him a mystery.....please god not Illuvatar tho...id have a great deal of trouble with a deity who ran around saying things like "ring a ding dong dillo", y'know????:rolleyes: :elfeek: :elfeek: :elfeek: lol lol
as you may have noticed...old Tom is not my favourite character, tho i know many people love him....i just find him rather embarrassing, and i dislike the way that section in the book fails to integrate with the rest.....the joins show a bit too much for me.....but each to their own...:cool:
and the oldest description doesnt neccessarily have to be a problem, if you take it as meaning that Fangorn was the oldest
being , but that Tom was the land itself
:catz:

[Algamesh]

An incarnation of Middle-earth itself, eh? I've never seen it presented on that grand a scale ... you've given me something to think on!

(I also had the problem with Tom being identified with Iluvatar ... hehe, and, for the same reasons!)

[Bethberry]

*dances a wild shahallion in defense of the Withywindle*

Tom and Goldberry are of the original music. Song is crucial in their house and to helping the hobbits on the first leg of the Quest.

Rather than being 'unintegrated' with the rest of the book, The House of Bombadil provides one of three 'retreats' where the hobbits find wholeness and respite. (Other two are of course Rivendell and Lothlorien.) Note the significance of women in these three sites. It is their first experience of learning how to overcome fear and discouragement. And what it means to take the Quest seriously.

Frodo's response to Goldberry is very important and her words to him help characterize him as a friend of the elves. She provides an important step in his development as a character.

The value of life does not depend upon its excellence or intellectual qualities. The value of life arises from being rather than doing.

*curtsies respectfully*

Bethberry

[Pil]

very well said! :thumbs:

I agree with :catz: Bombadil was a representation of the whole earth in a person, an incarnation of ME itself. He really was the earth, but in a form. :wiggle: :dragon:

Tom is definitey the oldest. :knight: (plus...i loved his section of the bk)