2025-05-01T21:24:36Z

The OceanStudier: It was said that, "the next day tom bombadil returned to see goldberry" but it is actually "one day" as seen here; But one day Tom, he went and caught the River-daughter, in green gown, flowing hair, sitting in the rushes, singing old water-songs to birds upon the bushes. - The Adventures of Tom Bombadil

{{expansion}}
{{infobox character
| people = Unknown
| image= Jenny Dolfen - Goldberry's Washing Day.jpg
| caption="Goldberry's Washing Day" by [[Jenny Dolfen]]
| name=Goldberry
| pronun=
| othernames=''The River-daughter''
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Underhill (house)|Underhill]] ([[Old Forest]])
| affiliation=[[Forest-folk]]<ref>{{AB|2}}</ref>
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=
| parentage=''Possibly'' the [[River-woman]]
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Tom Bombadil]]
| children=
| race=Unknown
| gender=Female
| height=
| hair=Golden
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Goldberry''' was the enigmatic wife of [[Tom Bombadil]].

==History==
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Beyond the Old Forest.jpg|left|175px|thumb|"Beyond the Old Forest" by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Although her origins are uncertain, it has been speculated that she is a [[Spirits|river-spirit]] of the river [[Withywindle]]. However, she and Bombadil are enigmas.<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil4Spirits.html|articlename=What is Tom Bombadil? Viable Theories: A Nature Spirit?|author=Steuard Jensen|website=[[Tolkien FAQ]]}}</ref>

According to the [[Buckland]]ish poem ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (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. One 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.<ref>{{AB|1}}</ref>

In {{TA|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 Baggins|Frodo]] and his companions, and rescued them from [[Old Man Willow]].<ref>{{FR|I6}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{FR|I7}}</ref>

Goldberry welcomed and tended the [[travellers]] to their [[Underhill (house)|home]]. The [[hobbits]] thought of her as a beautiful and calm being, with a beauty resembling an [[Elf]] but less exotic to their hearts. Her voice was described as "the song of a glad water ... coming down like silver". The hobbits would listen to her sing in a voice like rain, and they would imagine rivers and pools.

==Inspiration==
[[Tolkien]] wrote that Goldberry "''represents the actual seasonal changes in [river-lands].''"<ref>{{L|210}}</ref>

In her first appearance in the poem, she is displayed as a typical mischievous water-sprite, responsible for pulling and drowning humans into rivers and lakes.<ref>{{AB|Comm}}</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Goldberry in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="250px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Goldberry.jpg|Goldberry in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Goldberry.jpg|Goldberry in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game - Goldberry, River-daughter.jpg|Goldberry in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]''
File:Marie_Magny_-_Goldberry,_River-daughter.jpg|Goldberry in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth]]'' (card game expansion)
</gallery>
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''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.<ref name="CG">{{CG|RG}}, "Adaptations", pp. 8-23</ref> [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] was upset by the change.<ref>{{L|175}}</ref> 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.<ref name="RT1672">Radio Times, Volume 129, No. 1672, [[25 November|November 25]], [[1955]]</ref>

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Goldberry is played by Donata Höffer.

'''1992: [[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|''Tales from the Perilous Realm'' (1992 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Sorcha Cusack]] played Goldberry in the episode "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil".<ref>[[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|''Tales from the Perilous Realm'' (1992 radio series)]], CD Booklet</ref>

'''2001: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:Goldberry is present in the final third of the first episode, along with her husband Tom Bombadil. Unlike Tom (played by Milan Lasica), Goldberry has no spoken lines, and she is only heard singing harmoniously as Tom and his four hobbit guests arrive at his house. Goldberry's briefly heard singing vocals seem to be portrayed by Soňa Norisová (similar to vocals also used elsewhere in the series), but the actress or singer is uncredited.

'''2001-2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]'':'''
:Although Goldberry does not appear in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film series]], Decipher produced a card for the character. She was portrayed by Amanda Niel.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''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 collecting [[water-lilies]] for Tom and Goldberry. She is voiced by [[Kath Soucie]].<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]], "Withywindle Path"</ref>

'''2007-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Goldberry can be found at Goldberry's Spring in the [[Old Forest]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Goldberry|articlename=Goldberry|dated=|website=[http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/ Lotro.wiki.com]|accessed=25 November 2013}}</ref> Goldberry's role in the game is very minor: she is only involved in two quests and only has a few lines in both. Her origin however, is greatly elaborated upon: she is a River-maiden, a spirit that watches over the streams and rivers. Goldberry's sisters can be found in the [[Lone-lands]], [[Nenuial]], the [[Gladden]], [[Gilrain]], [[Serni]] and [[Erui]]. Some show themselves openly, others are secretive and only reveal themselves to the Wise and the descendants of the [[Númenóreans]] who had known of River-maidens in the years of old. But some were driven mad by the bloodshed spilled over their waters, or slain and devoured by the servants of the Enemy who then take on their fair appearance.

==External links==
*[https://greyhavensgroup.com/2014/08/23/goldberry-servant-or-master-of-bombadil/ Goldberry - Servant or Master of Bombadil?] by Andrea Mathwich
*[https://middle-earth.xenite.org/2014/11/28/what-kind-of-creature-is-goldberry/ What Kind of Creature is Goldberry?] by [[Michael Martinez]]
*[https://priyasethtolkienfan.wordpress.com/2016/10/10/goldberry/ The Enigmatic Mrs Bombadil] by Priya Seth

{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldberry}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Enigmas]]
[[Category:Forest-folk]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Goldbeere]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:baie d or]]
[[fi:Kultamarja]]