Goldberry the River's Daughter

[Ariana Undomiel]

"Now let the song begin! Let us sing together
Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather,
Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,
Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,
Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water:
Old Tom Bombadil and the River-daughter!"
~J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring

"In a chair, at the far side of the room facing the outer door, sat a woman. Her long yellow hair rippled down her shoulders; her gown was green, green as young reeds, shot with silver like beads of dew; and her belt was of gold, shaped like a chain of flag-lilies set with pale-blue forget-me-nots. About her feet in wide vessels of green and brown earthenware, white water-lilies were floating, so that she seemed to be enthroned in the midst of a pool."
~J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring

Who exactly was Goldberry? She plays such a small but beautiful part in Tolkien's intricate fantasy The Lord of the Rings. She is called the daughter of the River and she is the wife of Tom Bombadil. But in all reality where did she come from and what was she?

~Ariana

 

[Confusticated]

Here's a debate you might want to check out

the debate

PS: if you have question about anything from the debate...like what is a Maia for exmple, you can post them here, not there.

 

[Grond]

I'm glad to see that our debate is spreading and people are beginning to get more interested in the topics of JRRT. Thanks for giving the link the Debate of Goldberry between Ancalagon and myself, Confusicated. I will look in here too after our debate is over.

 

[Confusticated]

Isn't it true that while the Guild debate lasts no one should discuss in this thread what they think Goldberry is or why?
Well grond isn't looking in here, so he probably can't answer that. But for anyone else, just be aware that this thread may end up temperarily removed while Grond and Ancalagon debate.

 

[Grond]

We would naturally prefer that this thread not be posted to while our debate lasts. One of the fun things about our debate is that once we have concluded our discussion (sometime Tuesday) the thread will be opened up for all to discuss. It will become a forum debate with all members being welcome to comment and argue their own point of view. It will make this thread redudant.

Not that your thread is not pertinent and relevant good Ariana Undomiel, it just happened to be ongoing when you created this thread.

 

[pohuist]

The essay in the thread "What is Tom Bombadil" addresses the origins of Goldberry. (That is if you subscribe to the view presented in the essay).

 

[Grond]

Our debate is over and this thread is open for discussion. Come one... come all... now is your time to contribute.

You can vote on the great Goldberry debate at the following link.
http://thetolkien.forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6080

You can view the debate at
http://thetolkien.forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6043

Please feel free to begin in this thread and expand on the ideas propounded by Ancalagon or myself.... or better yet... come up with better ideas than we propounded.

P. S. pohuist, the essay you speak of is one of the reasons Anc and I had the debate. No essay can speak with finality on the subject of Tom or Goldberry as the author himself never spoke with any finality on the subject. All we are left to do is speculate... just like the author of the essay. (Though I did really enjoy the essay.)

 

[pohuist]

I never said the essay can speak with any finality. Of course, it can't. Nobody can. I merely mentioned it as another view (nicely argued IMHO) on the subject, as the 2 others that you and Anc debated, both presenting great skills and depths of knowledge.