Investigating the Role and Origin of Goldberry in Tolkien's Mythology
2008; Mythopoeic Society; Volume: 27; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
0146-9339
Autores Tópico(s)Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies
ResumoDISCUSSING TOM BOMBADIL IN A LETTER, Tolkien explains: As story, I think it is good that should be lot of things unexplained (especially if explanation already exists) [...] even in mythical Age must be some enigmas, as always are. Tom is one (intentionally) (Letters 174). Certainly, if is enigma, Goldberry is more so. Goldberry is not, in Steuard Jensen's terms, a relatively simple character; she is steeped in mystery and power (Jensen 11). While Tolkien provides some facts about Goldberry in his letters, they do little to explain who she is or purpose in Lord of Rings (LotR). For instance, Tolkien tells us Goldberry, as Riverwoman's represents actual seasonal changes in real riverlands of autumn (Letters 272). Surely, Tolkien, who strongly resists allegory and is intent upon giving intense and calculated meaning and relationships to his characters, does mean readers to believe Goldberry is simple character, nor does he ever imply that she is. After aforementioned quote, there should be lot of things unexplained, Tolkien follows with hint: especially if explanation already exists (Letters 174). Therefore, scholars who lightly dismiss Goldberry by conflating with or simply mentioning in passing are overlooking another well conceived piece of puzzle that is Tolkien's intricate mythology. Despite what scholarship that discusses Goldberry seems to suggest, Tolkien does assert that she and are same kind of being, as linked as they may be otherwise. Therefore, this paper will discuss and examine Goldberry's character, nature, and purpose to uncover an explanation [that] already exists within Tolkien's legendarium. Tolkien's legendarium was often inspired by myth and legend, it is as if he never read story he did yearn to re-write. (1) Goldberry, all of Tolkien's characters, shares aspects with predecessors from ancient myth. Many scholars, Ruth Noel, have noted Goldberry's nymph-like qualities. Goldberry is the River-woman's daughter, which in myth and legend typically denotes being's status as nymph or nature spirit. In Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Goldberry pulls into water by his beard and then teases him, exhibiting playfulness and wiles, traits often attributed to nymphs, particularly water nymphs or nixies. Noel traces Goldberry to Undine, Lorelei, and Siren, citing attempts to lure down to mother's house in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (Noel 129). Certainly, Goldberry of Adventures of Tom appears to be more dangerous than Goldberry of Lord of Rings. After Goldberry pulls into water and attempts to seduce him to watery depths, charges Goldberry to Go down!/Sleep again where are shady/far below willow roots (Adventures 197). Goldberry is then likened to other perilous beings that try to capture Bombadil, such as Old Man Willow, Badger-folk, and Barrow-wight; tells Barrow-wight to go to lie down like Old Man Willow, /like young Goldberry, and Badger-folk in burrow (Adventures 201). Noel also notes that Goldberry's behavior and appearance resemble that of water nymph even after she becomes married to Bombadil. At end of The Adventures, we find Goldberry sitting in Tom's house as she combed tresses yellow, which Noel asserts is not simple domestic action it seems, but characteristic pose of all types of watersprites (Adventures 202, Noel 129). In Lord of Rings, descriptions of Goldberry often recall water; when hobbits first meet Goldberry she appears to be enthroned in midst of pool, footsteps are described as like stream falling, and singing opens up pools and waters in minds of hobbits (LotR I:7, 121, 123, 130). Goldberry's attire also recalls water spirits of myth and legend; shoes are described as like fishes' mail (I:7, 129), recalling scales of mermaids, and her dresses, blue and green shot with gold and silver, are water-colored which, Noel reminds us, evoke the wet skirts and aprons by which nixies [a form of nymph] are traditionally recognized in Teutonic mythology (Noel 129-30). …
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