Tom Bombadil is a spirit-divine-thing from from ages long before Middle Earth. And yes, the One Ring likely didn’t even recognize Tom as a person so much as some natural element. To Tom it was as useful as a common ring forged of tin.
Tom is the most special of the special cases, and I remember someone (Gandalf?) suggesting he could easily walk the ring to Mount Doom if he had a mind to, but would likely forget what he was doing a hundred paces later.
But for sake of this thread, the One Ring is a solid allegory for power, specifically money or political power. This trend of boomers staying in office until they are infirm and senile (and clearly no longer capable of actually serving) shows just how tightly and desperately we hold onto power.
Didn’t Frodo offer it to Tom Bombadil, who actually touched it, but refused the offer? I know everyone else wouldn’t/couldn’t even touch the thing.
Tom Bombadil is a spirit-divine-thing from from ages long before Middle Earth. And yes, the One Ring likely didn’t even recognize Tom as a person so much as some natural element. To Tom it was as useful as a common ring forged of tin.
Tom is the most special of the special cases, and I remember someone (Gandalf?) suggesting he could easily walk the ring to Mount Doom if he had a mind to, but would likely forget what he was doing a hundred paces later.
But for sake of this thread, the One Ring is a solid allegory for power, specifically money or political power. This trend of boomers staying in office until they are infirm and senile (and clearly no longer capable of actually serving) shows just how tightly and desperately we hold onto power.