. . . is that Tom is a contradictory figure because he represents impossible
ideals. He's powerful, but feels no responsibility to use that
power. He's good and cares about the Hobbits, but doesn't feel guilty
when he doesn't join their quest. Tom is a fantasy of pacifism not
because he's immune form harm (though that helps), but because he has power and
no guilt. Nobody even asks him to DO anything, IIRC; Gandalf dismisses
the idea with a fairly tenuous point about how he'd lose the Ring.
Tom is somebody who wants to be at peace and is never in danger; who wants to
stay at home and is never asked to leave; who has power but feels no
responsibility to use it. He's a pacifist at peace with his pacifism, and
I suspect Tolkien was probably very much NOT at peace with his pacifistic
tendencies. So I think Tom's a kind of wish fulfilment, an idealistic
figure, a comfort character. If he has greater relevance then I suspect
Tolkien added it in revision. But there's a sort of glee in Tom and Tom's
world that I think betrays Tolkien's love for him.
So, my UUTT is simply that Tolkien wrote this bizarre, contradictory character,
in a very odd world, as a way to reconcile power and peace, freedom and
responsibility, community and independence. I think Tom is living
Tolkien's fantasy life.
Maybe that should be
UUUUTT.
But it’s alright, just follow the light and don’t be afraid of the dark.
-Travis
www.tornadobooks.net
(Currently reading: Catch-22)
