Friday, January 25, 2008

LOTR & Industry

I was interested in what all of you thought about the portrayal of industry in the books. I realize that we have not made it very far in the trillogy yet, but maybe some who have read it before can comment and others add later.

To me it seems that the two societies that Tolkien paints in the best light are Hobbits and Elves. Both are primarily focused on natural things. The evil forces, Sauron, Sauiman, etc... seem to be goal oriented and will expliot nature to further thier goals.

The character I find most interesting is Tom Bombadil, although there is little explanation about his origens or purpose. If not for him the whole quest would have ended abruptly 30 minutes outside the shire.

Any thought on this, or information on the Bombadil character?

7 comments:

alyssa riederer said...

I also found him very interesting, especially because the ring had no effect on him but I guess that makes sense if he supposed to some part of nature, and nature doesn't need any power.

Doug Simms said...

Tom Bombadil is a perennial enigma.

I'll be interested to hear what everyone things of him. There's always an assortment of ideas.

Eileen Joy said...

Gadfly: I personally think that Tom Bombadil is the most fascinating character in the book, and he is also the most difficult to connect to any literary predecessors from the medieval cultures that Tolkine drew from so readily in his creation of the worlds in this trilogy. It's always fun to discuss this in class. As to your initial question about the portrayal of industry in the book, I think you are very smart to note that the worlds/cultures of hobbits and elves is definitely naturalistic and, in the Hobbits' case, agrarian, and perhaps in the Elves' case, "woodsman"-oriented. Note that the dwarves are miners, which makes them slightly more exploitative of the environment, and by the time you to get to Sauron and the Orcs, you have an almost factory-like world, which is more "industrial."

Eachus24601 said...

I don't understand Tom at all. He just struck me as a roving hippy who likes to sing a lot. I understand he's supposed to be the master of the forest and all, but I can't say I understand his character at all.

As far as the ring goes I think it doesn't effect him because he doesn't have any desire. He's perfectly content in the forest with his wife and has no needs or wants that the ring can prey on. I think that's why hobbits are resistant to it as well.

ekuker said...

Tom is a great and very interesting character. he seems to be very perceptive and all knowing. these characteristics though seem to contradict his sunny dispossition, according to "The Sayings of the High One". Because to be too wise is to be unhappy because you know how everything will work out. however, tom is not unhappy, worried or anxious. So what kind of creature does that make Tom?

Doug Simms said...

A little note about the connection between names, characters and industry...

Saruman = 'the crafty man'

the word 'saru' can mean 'cleverness' or even 'something made by ingenuity' (the Old English cognate searu often referred to an intricately made suit of armor)

It's no accident that this 'crafty man' is also engaged in industry

Zack Ziaja said...

Actually, as you delve farther into the book, as i believe Bomabadil says himself, he is master of nothing but himself. That plays an interesting take on one who can command so much authority over the forest and nature but claims to have no dominion over them. How then can one is is only master to himself have such power. He obviously is incredibly old as he claims he is older than the trees and the mountains but what is his role? Those of you who have read farther and deeper into this novel I am sure will ahve different answers than those just up with he assigned readings what is the common consensus on what Tom is?