Goldberry

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"...It is a long tale..." — Aragorn
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Beyond the Old Forest by Ted Nasmith.

Goldberry, the "River-woman's daughter", was the wife of Tom Bombadil.

History

Although her origins are uncertain, it has been speculated that she is a river-spirit of the river Withywindle.[source?] Otherwise, she and Bombadil are enigmas.

Tomb and Goldberry

According to the Bucklandish poem The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Goldberry was in the Withywindle when she pulled Tom by his beard under the water-lilies out of mischief, but he ordered her to let him free. The next day he came to the River-woman and asked Goldberry to be his wife, and the creatures of the Old Forest (the badger-folk and other animals) attended their wedding.[1]

In T.A. 3018 Tom Bombadil travelled to the lower reaches of the Withywindle to gather white water-lilies for her, and it was while returning from a lily-gathering expedition that he discovered Frodo and his companions, and rescued them from Old Man Willow.[2] Goldberry seems to have used her lilies to recreate her original home in the river: when Tom brought the Hobbits back to his house, they found a seated Goldberry surrounded by water-lilies floating in pots of earthenware.[3]

Goldberry by D.W. Luebbert

Goldberry welcomed and tended the travellers to their home. The hobbits thought of her as a beautiful and calm being, with a beauty resembling an Elf but less exotic to their hearts.

Portrayal in Adaptations

1955: The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series):

Because adaptor Terence Tiller thought the age difference between Bombadil and Goldberry was too big, he made them father and daughter.[4] Tolkien though little of the change.[5] No actress is credited specifically for the part, though Nicolette Bernard is the only female in the episode's cast list, making it likely she voiced Goldberry.[6]

1992: Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series):

Sorcha Cusack played Goldberry in the episode "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil".[7]

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

Goldberry appears at the house of Tom Bombadil. One of the tasks the player has to accomplish is bringing collecting water-lilies for Tom and Goldberry. She is voiced by Kath Soucie.[8]

See also

References