What about Tom B

[MATTMAN]

I was reading in the LOTR the chapter were bilbo and the others were sitting around and listening to Tom B talk. Tom took the ring and put it on, but nothing happen. Why did he not become invisible or desire to keep it for greater power, the power that Gandolf spoke of?
Thanks

[Celebithil]

That's a question I think that will never be answered.

[Eöl]

That's a question I think that will never be answered.
Maybe not completely, but certainly partially!

The reason that Tom does not turn invisible is because his "power" is greater than Sauron's, in his realm. Also it is said at the Council of Elrond that Tom would be a most unsafe keeper because he would probably forget about it, or throw it away. HE is only concerned with things happening in the forest, not of events outside of his "little world."

[Beleg]

http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10826&highlight=Tom+Bombadil

here's a nice thread, that might be off use. If you use the retarded search function you can find many threads where Tom Bombadil is discussed in Great Detail.

[Evenstar373]

Maybe this will anser your qustion I see him as somithing like a spirit that protects The Old Forest and "worldly things" so he realy does not care about the other things other than what happens in The Old Forest. I do not no if that will help you or if it sonds stupid well I hope that helps you

[Finarfin]

I was under the impression that Tom was a Maia and he basically was too detatched from the world to really care. Gandalf said that if the ring was given to him he'd probably lose it.

PS: Just thought of the similarities between Tom's guard on the old forest and the girdle of Melian. How about that?

[elffriend]

I also think that Tom Bombadil was a maia, and he was only concerned with keeping order in his own little part of middle earth.
I also see similarities between Tom and Melian, his part of the forest was similiar to the girdle of Melian.

[FoolOfATook]

I'm most definitely not of the school of thought that beliefs that Tom was a Maia. There was a wonderful debate here between Ancalagon and our very own Guildmaster, Grond, dealing with the question of Tom, but I can't seem to find it. Hoom. Perhaps someone else will have more luck.

[Ithrynluin]

The thread you are referring to, my good Took, is Was Goldberry a Maia? (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6043).

It's not about Bombadil, but it deals with the same issues.:)

[FoolOfATook]

That would be it. Many thanks, my dear... um... my dear blue wizards. ;)