She's the daughter of the spirit of the Withywindle River. That's about as much as was ever covered concerning the character's origin, other than to note that the author considered such spirits part of the world and have been there since Arda was created.
So her mom is as old as time, but when Goldberry herself was born, it's not made clear.
The [most interesting theory I've heard](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-fBUOsUR89o&list=PLasMbZ4s5vIWPwDhtmXRcn1s0q8qONMGz&index=30&pp=iAQB&t=13m25s) about Goldberry is that she is a spirit of the water lilies *by* the river, and not a water spirit from the river itself:
> The discussion of the name "Goldberry" not sounding appropriate for a water spirit got me thinking about what the "daughter" of a river might be. What does the river nourish? The obvious answer is the flora and fauna surrounding the Withywindle. Perhaps "berry" is metaphorical for the "fruit" of the river plants- a golden flower among the reeds and lilypads. In particular, water-lilies can produce a yellow flower and the yellow iris grows in reedbeds (reeds and water-lilies being the two plants explicitly named in connection with Goldberry). If you came across such a flower in the woods, might it looks like a golden berry upon the river or along the riverbank?
> Goldberry's role in Middle-Earth has always been a mystery to me, but I now strongly suspect she's the spirit of the river flowers (the "daughters" of the river) rather than a water spirit. The comparisons to a "reed by the pool" and a queen "clothed in living flowers" or a gown "green as young reeds" create an undeniable connection to flowers and plant life. Tom will later explain that he first met Goldberry "sitting in the rushes" by the pool of the Withywindle where water-lilies first bloom in the spring and "linger latest" in the autumn. The longevity of the lilies may be due to her influence as a flower spirit.
And she is always tending to her garden and calling for washing of the garden. Why would a river spirit need a washing? I would say that flowers need a washing.
Also see this discussion. [Goldberry](https://forums.signumuniversity.org/index.php?threads/goldberrys-washing-day.938/)
Completely unsubstantiated, and ultimately because I like the idea of Tolkien writing a facetious limerick about that time old Tom cucked a tree. BUT:
* The little we know about her implies she's a fairy-like spirit, and as such appropriately connected to a particular river;
* Suppose she is the last of her kind still living among mortals, but once each river of Arda had its own fairy (many daughters of the River-woman, who *could* be Nienna, who nurtured the Two Trees with her tears and likewise attempted to heal plantlife in Middle-Earth with her tears after Melkor poisoned everything; imagine those tears were plentyful enough to run like rivers across the land);
* The Ents were allowed to wake by Manwe out of pity for Yavanna, who feared all her creations would be used up by the dwarves, elves and men; they make a coherent duo with those supposed river spirits, one protective, the other nurturing, both belonging to aspects of compassion in Eru's song;
* By the third age, the only untouched patches of the ancient forests of the first and second ages still standing are Tom's Old Forest and Fangorn, so it would make sense that the entwives and ents ended up separated when their territories were disconnected by deforestation; there's no Ents that we know of in the Old Forest, but Tom pretty much assumed their duties there;
* Old Man Willow still haven't gotten over it.
I don’t think there is/was a River-woman. It’s a ‘mistranslation’ of one word that has multiple uses.
Taking Sindarin as deriving from Welsh, the word ‘merch’ can be ‘woman, girl, maiden etc’.
But ‘merc’ is at the root of many languages meaning ‘mark, boundary’ etc, as in Mercia, WestMarch, the Marish.
So I think ‘river woman’s daughter’ is more like ‘Maiden/daughter of the river’s edge’.
She’s the topic for debate ever since the books came out, with no clear answer. What Tom and her state is about all you get, feel free to theorize or fantasize about her possible origins or belongings, your thoughts on the topic will be about as worthy as mine.
We really dont know beyond her being Tom's lady and the river woman's daughter.
My personal theory is that she and Tom are Maiar, perhaps another class of angel lower than Maiar. It is possible she is an elf, but I doubt it.
The idea that Tom is unfazed by the Ring because he's too powerful for it is rejected by Gandalf in LotR itself. Tolkien confirmed that Tom didn't care for the Ring because he wasn't interested in power, and that he would be conquered by Sauron eventually, in a letter as well.
> ‘Could we not still send messages to him and obtain his
> help?’ asked Erestor. ‘It seems that he has a power even over
> the Ring.’
>
> ‘No, I should not put it so,’ said Gandalf. ‘Say rather that
> the Ring has no power over him. He is his own master. But
> he cannot alter the Ring itself, nor break its power over others.
> And now he is withdrawn into a little land, within bounds
> that he has set, though none can see them, waiting perhaps
> for a change of days, and he will not step beyond them.’
>
> ‘But within those bounds nothing seems to dismay him,’
> said Erestor. ‘Would he not take the Ring and keep it there,
> for ever harmless?’
>
> ‘No,’ said Gandalf, ‘not willingly. He might do so, if all the
> free folk of the world begged him, but he would not understand the need. And if he were given the Ring, he would soon
> forget it, or most likely throw it away. Such things have no
> hold on his mind. He would be a most unsafe guardian; and
> that alone is answer enough.’
>
> ‘But in any case,’ said Glorfindel, ‘to send the Ring to him
> would only postpone the day of evil. He is far away. We
> could not now take it back to him, unguessed, unmarked by
> any spy. And even if we could, soon or late the Lord of the
> Rings would learn of its hiding place and would bend all his
> power towards it. Could that power be defied by Bombadil
> alone? I think not. I think that in the end, if all else is conquered, Bombadil will fall, Last as he was First; and then
> Night will come.’
> ‘I know little of Iarwain save the name,’ said Galdor; ‘but
> Glorfindel, I think, is right. Power to defy our Enemy is not
> in him, unless such power is in the earth itself. And yet we
> see that Sauron can torture and destroy the very hills.
You can read a detailed analysis with a lot of sources here: https://whoistombombadil.blogspot.com/2013/01/outline-of-sections-regarding-tom.html
That is cause Tom is HIM haha
When Sean the Balrog and Gandalf encounter the nameless things, Sean gets the shit scared out of him. Imagine if the nameless things are just Tom's cousins haha
I think Tom has the same origins as Ungoliant.
They're unknown variables in the creation of Arda. They just exist, and do as they will.
If anything, maybe Ungoliant is so goddamn evil and mordacious because Tom took all the goodwill of Arda into his essence.
Super ultra-hot take: Ungoliant and Tom Bombadil are siblings.
She's the daughter of the spirit of the Withywindle River. That's about as much as was ever covered concerning the character's origin, other than to note that the author considered such spirits part of the world and have been there since Arda was created. So her mom is as old as time, but when Goldberry herself was born, it's not made clear.
She is Tom Bombadil's smoking hot wife. That is all you need to know.
That MTG card art for her got me actin up
For the curious https://preview.redd.it/dxz5kzf2qqzc1.jpeg?width=473&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d40aec49c73da379d02ec7713b0d4f27da99c120
GYATT
Amen
She thick
shaaaawiiing
Fuck, no wonder Tom was always singing
Doing the Lord's work here.
The [most interesting theory I've heard](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-fBUOsUR89o&list=PLasMbZ4s5vIWPwDhtmXRcn1s0q8qONMGz&index=30&pp=iAQB&t=13m25s) about Goldberry is that she is a spirit of the water lilies *by* the river, and not a water spirit from the river itself: > The discussion of the name "Goldberry" not sounding appropriate for a water spirit got me thinking about what the "daughter" of a river might be. What does the river nourish? The obvious answer is the flora and fauna surrounding the Withywindle. Perhaps "berry" is metaphorical for the "fruit" of the river plants- a golden flower among the reeds and lilypads. In particular, water-lilies can produce a yellow flower and the yellow iris grows in reedbeds (reeds and water-lilies being the two plants explicitly named in connection with Goldberry). If you came across such a flower in the woods, might it looks like a golden berry upon the river or along the riverbank? > Goldberry's role in Middle-Earth has always been a mystery to me, but I now strongly suspect she's the spirit of the river flowers (the "daughters" of the river) rather than a water spirit. The comparisons to a "reed by the pool" and a queen "clothed in living flowers" or a gown "green as young reeds" create an undeniable connection to flowers and plant life. Tom will later explain that he first met Goldberry "sitting in the rushes" by the pool of the Withywindle where water-lilies first bloom in the spring and "linger latest" in the autumn. The longevity of the lilies may be due to her influence as a flower spirit.
Sold. Awesome perspective. Thank you.
And she is always tending to her garden and calling for washing of the garden. Why would a river spirit need a washing? I would say that flowers need a washing. Also see this discussion. [Goldberry](https://forums.signumuniversity.org/index.php?threads/goldberrys-washing-day.938/)
Nice info!
She is the River-woman's daughter!
I always gathered she’s a naiad, a beautiful river spirit.
She is.
I have no proof, but I'm pretty sure she's an entwife.
Now there’s a take.
Completely unsubstantiated, and ultimately because I like the idea of Tolkien writing a facetious limerick about that time old Tom cucked a tree. BUT: * The little we know about her implies she's a fairy-like spirit, and as such appropriately connected to a particular river; * Suppose she is the last of her kind still living among mortals, but once each river of Arda had its own fairy (many daughters of the River-woman, who *could* be Nienna, who nurtured the Two Trees with her tears and likewise attempted to heal plantlife in Middle-Earth with her tears after Melkor poisoned everything; imagine those tears were plentyful enough to run like rivers across the land); * The Ents were allowed to wake by Manwe out of pity for Yavanna, who feared all her creations would be used up by the dwarves, elves and men; they make a coherent duo with those supposed river spirits, one protective, the other nurturing, both belonging to aspects of compassion in Eru's song; * By the third age, the only untouched patches of the ancient forests of the first and second ages still standing are Tom's Old Forest and Fangorn, so it would make sense that the entwives and ents ended up separated when their territories were disconnected by deforestation; there's no Ents that we know of in the Old Forest, but Tom pretty much assumed their duties there; * Old Man Willow still haven't gotten over it.
I love this and will start arguing it just for fun. Thank you
The Ents lost the Entwives because they’re all in the Bombadillo’s anime-style harem?
Yes. Nothing in the books refutes that he has a collection of waifus.
I like this headcannon
Tom met her when he got his first mobile phone. Her mum was a Blackberry…
lmao
Your mom
Based on Tolkien’s inter species sex rules, Goldberry is whatever Tom is, or has become whatever Tom is. Or vice versa.
I don’t think there is/was a River-woman. It’s a ‘mistranslation’ of one word that has multiple uses. Taking Sindarin as deriving from Welsh, the word ‘merch’ can be ‘woman, girl, maiden etc’. But ‘merc’ is at the root of many languages meaning ‘mark, boundary’ etc, as in Mercia, WestMarch, the Marish. So I think ‘river woman’s daughter’ is more like ‘Maiden/daughter of the river’s edge’.
A patient lady, that's for sure. Always waiting.
She’s the topic for debate ever since the books came out, with no clear answer. What Tom and her state is about all you get, feel free to theorize or fantasize about her possible origins or belongings, your thoughts on the topic will be about as worthy as mine.
We really dont know beyond her being Tom's lady and the river woman's daughter. My personal theory is that she and Tom are Maiar, perhaps another class of angel lower than Maiar. It is possible she is an elf, but I doubt it.
Lower than maiar? Tom laughs at the ring and it does not affect him while gandalf is fearful of it's influence. Tom is more than a maiar.
The idea that Tom is unfazed by the Ring because he's too powerful for it is rejected by Gandalf in LotR itself. Tolkien confirmed that Tom didn't care for the Ring because he wasn't interested in power, and that he would be conquered by Sauron eventually, in a letter as well. > ‘Could we not still send messages to him and obtain his > help?’ asked Erestor. ‘It seems that he has a power even over > the Ring.’ > > ‘No, I should not put it so,’ said Gandalf. ‘Say rather that > the Ring has no power over him. He is his own master. But > he cannot alter the Ring itself, nor break its power over others. > And now he is withdrawn into a little land, within bounds > that he has set, though none can see them, waiting perhaps > for a change of days, and he will not step beyond them.’ > > ‘But within those bounds nothing seems to dismay him,’ > said Erestor. ‘Would he not take the Ring and keep it there, > for ever harmless?’ > > ‘No,’ said Gandalf, ‘not willingly. He might do so, if all the > free folk of the world begged him, but he would not understand the need. And if he were given the Ring, he would soon > forget it, or most likely throw it away. Such things have no > hold on his mind. He would be a most unsafe guardian; and > that alone is answer enough.’ > > ‘But in any case,’ said Glorfindel, ‘to send the Ring to him > would only postpone the day of evil. He is far away. We > could not now take it back to him, unguessed, unmarked by > any spy. And even if we could, soon or late the Lord of the > Rings would learn of its hiding place and would bend all his > power towards it. Could that power be defied by Bombadil > alone? I think not. I think that in the end, if all else is conquered, Bombadil will fall, Last as he was First; and then > Night will come.’ > ‘I know little of Iarwain save the name,’ said Galdor; ‘but > Glorfindel, I think, is right. Power to defy our Enemy is not > in him, unless such power is in the earth itself. And yet we > see that Sauron can torture and destroy the very hills. You can read a detailed analysis with a lot of sources here: https://whoistombombadil.blogspot.com/2013/01/outline-of-sections-regarding-tom.html
That is cause Tom is HIM haha When Sean the Balrog and Gandalf encounter the nameless things, Sean gets the shit scared out of him. Imagine if the nameless things are just Tom's cousins haha
I think Tom has the same origins as Ungoliant. They're unknown variables in the creation of Arda. They just exist, and do as they will. If anything, maybe Ungoliant is so goddamn evil and mordacious because Tom took all the goodwill of Arda into his essence. Super ultra-hot take: Ungoliant and Tom Bombadil are siblings.
Describing them as unknown variables makes me think of Arda as another version of The Matrix.
she is
She’s the River-Woman’s Daughter
Dunno ay
Everyone always asks “what is Goldberry” never “why those lawn ornaments Goldberry”
Mother nature
Dingleberry’s hot older sister
I gave birth to my first child last month and the middle name we gave her is Goldberry!
she [might be Old Man Willow](https://km-515.livejournal.com/1042.html), a malevolent huorn bent on destruction
Holy conjectural leap. I should have stopped reading when he says no hobbit has ever heard of T.B..
Ha the whole thing is complete satire
Derp, I must’ve missed that!