GANDALF AND TOM BOMBADIL
As it is said in The Silmarillion, on the Third Age of Arda 'there
appeared in the west of Middle-earth the Istari, whom the Men called
the Wizards'. In the hierarchy of power they were a separate race
occupying the highest position and possessing supernatural powers.
Their chiefs were Mithrandir and Curunír, or Gandalf and Saruman.
Curunír was the eldest among the Istari and came first. Then came
Mithrandir and Radagast. The latter was the friend of all birds and
beasts, and spent his time guarding the forest realms of Middle-earth.
Curunír journeyed far East and on his return he dwelt at Orthanc,
the Tower built by the Númenoreans in the days of their power.
Mithrandir devoted many long years to studying ancient scripts seeking
to reveal the secret of the Rings. Knowledge was his power, which
helped him to guide his companions rather than direct their wills.
Saruman had also begun to study the lore of the Rings of Power and soon
he turned to dark thoughts desiring to find the Great Ring and subdue
the world to his own will.
Gandalf seemed uncorrupted by his magical
power and used it for good purposes. In this sense Gandalf, as Tolkien
described him, is indeed an 'angel' come down among men. And as Gandalf
is a wizard or 'wise man', his knowledge of the power of words
suggests that he represents something of the author himself.
For communications with other peoples of Middle-earth Gandalf used their
own tongues or the Common Speech, but yet preferred the Eldarian tongues
to the others. Thus for setting a tree on fire he pronounced "Naur en
edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth!", a phrase left by Tolkien
untranslated, but which can be undoubtedly referred as an Elvish one.
Then trying to open the gates of Moria Gandalf again cries out in this
language, "Annon edhellin, edro hi ammen! Fennas nogothrim, lasto beth
lammen!" for he was certain the inscription was made in Elvish like the
writing on the arch. Owning to his great knowledge Gandalf was able to
read even the inscription on the Ring which was in the Old Black Speech.
With the end of the Third Age of Middle-earth he departed from it with
the Elven-lords who had been dwelling there, for 'magic has departed
forever from this world and now remains only in ancient songs and Men's
memories'. [4]
Like the Ents, Tom Bombadil stands apart from all races of Middle-earth. He lives with Goldberry, his lady, in the heart of the Old Forest and is presented as a kind of spirit of nature who is untouched by the Dark Lord's will."Eldest,that is what I am. Tom was here before the rain and the trees. Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn", says Bombadil of himself. [2]
He is purely natural and Nature's power is an issue for him. As Goldberry explains, he is a 'Master of Wood', but he does not own it. He had lived before history. Tom can live with the trees because he is a spirit of Joy, beyond good and evil, taking Nature as it is. He is totally unaffected by the power of the Ring, he can even make it disappear. He possesses that holly Joy which lies at the basis of life. Bombadil is the power to the help of which the hobbits resort in need and fear, whose might can break the spell of the Barrow-wight. He is undoubtedly the soul of Middle-earth: simple-looking, light-minded but yet mysterious and strong.
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