Tom describes himself as "Eldest...here befor the river and the trees." He remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn, made paths befor Big People and saw little People arriving. "He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless-befor the Dark Lord came from the Outside". He is called "Iarwain Ben-adar" by Elrond at the council. This name means "oldest and fatherless".

Whoever he is, he is one of the most powerful, and benign characters that the hobbits meet on their journey. Tom laughs, and puts the ring on. He does not dissapear. The ring has no power over him. He gains no power from it. Frodo gets the ring back and puts it on. He vanishes from sight, but not from the sight of Tom Bombadil. He sees Frodo when he tries to leave with the ring.

Tom appears to be more powerful than the ring. He is totally unaffected by its corruption. Gandalf explains that Tom "is his own master" Still he can not alter the ring nor break its power over others.

The two characters that reject the ring are not mortal beings. Is Tolkien telling us that only immortal or divine beings can resist the power of the One Ring? Mere mortals, humans like ourselves and Boromir must succumb to it?

This leaves Frodo and Sam, how do they deal with the possesion of the Ring?