...It is a long tale...
 | |
| Unknown | |
| Goldberry | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | The River-daughter |
| Location | Underhill (Old Forest) |
| Affiliation | Forest-folk[1] |
| Language | Westron |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Possibly the River-woman |
| Spouse | Tom Bombadil |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Female |
| Hair colour | Golden |
| Gallery | Images of Goldberry |
O slender as a willow-wand! O clearer than clear water!
O reed by the living pool! Fair River-daughter!
O spring-time and summer-time, and spring again after!
O wind on the waterfall, and the leaves’ laughter!
Goldberry was the enigmatic wife of Tom Bombadil.
History
Although her origins are uncertain, it has been speculated that she is a river-spirit of the river Withywindle. However, she and Bombadil are enigmas.[2]
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. 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.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5]
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. 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]."[6]
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.[7]
Portrayal in adaptations
_-_Goldberry.jpg)
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.[8] Tolkien was upset by the change.[9] 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.[10]
1992: Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series):
- Goldberry is played by Donata Höffer.
1992: Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series):
- Sorcha Cusack played Goldberry in the episode "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil".[11]
2001: 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.
2004: The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game:
- Though Goldberry does not appear in The Lord of the Rings film series, Decipher produced a depicting her in The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game as part of the "Book Cards" label, which denotes cards produced by Wētā Workshop specifically for the TCG. Amanda Neil, Wētā makeup artist, portrayed her[12] in the "Goldberry, River-daughter" card from the "Reflections" set which depicts her near a river.[13]
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 collecting water-lilies for Tom and Goldberry. She is voiced by Kath Soucie.[14]
2007-: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- Goldberry can be found at Goldberry's Spring in the Old Forest.[15] 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.
2024: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
- In episode 4, Eldest, Gandalf washes in Tom Bombadil's desert house. He hears Bombadil singing "Down west sinks the sun, soon you will be gropin’". Bombadil says "Don’t be bashful now, Goldberry". Goldberry's voice is heard singing "When the night-shadows fall". Then, they are heard singing together "Then the door will open". When Bombadil returns, Gandalf asks him if somebody else is in the house, as he thought he heard a woman singing. Bombadil asks "Woman? What woman?". Gandalf asks "Is no one else here with you?" and Bombadil replies "You’re here. That is, I think you are. Are you?". Gandalf replies "Uh, Yes?" and the topic of Goldberry is not brought up again. Goldberry was voiced by Raya Yarbrough, wife of The Rings of Power composer Bear McCreary.
External links
- Goldberry - Servant or Master of Bombadil? by Andrea Mathwich
- What Kind of Creature is Goldberry? by Michael Martinez
- The Enigmatic Mrs Bombadil by Priya Seth
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Bombadil Goes Boating"
- ↑ Steuard Jensen, "What is Tom Bombadil? Viable Theories: A Nature Spirit?", Tolkien FAQ
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Old Forest"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "In the House of Tom Bombadil"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 210, (undated, written June 1958)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond (eds), The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Commentary"
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, "Adaptations", pp. 8-23
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 175, (dated 30 November 1955)
- ↑ Radio Times, Volume 129, No. 1672, November 25, 1955
- ↑ Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series), CD Booklet
- ↑ . "The Making of the Weta "Book Cards": An Interview With Weta Workshop's Daniel Falconer", archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Decipher. Retrieved 5 March 2008
- ↑ "Goldberry, River-daughter (9R+51)". The Lord of the Rings TCG Wiki
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game), "Withywindle Path"
- ↑ "Goldberry", Lotro.wiki.com, accessed 25 November 2013