Whereas non secular in nature, Goldberry would not look like one of many Ainur (the angelic creatures who play a key other-worldly position within the constructing, breaking, and normal historical past of Center-earth). The most important purpose for that is that, like her husband, Goldberry intentionally stays out of the affairs of the world. Tom Bombadil is not there to assist form nature or historical past. As an alternative, he features as a 3rd celebration, observing and having fun with with out actively influencing.
Goldberry echoes this position, although there may be some proof that she might be a distinct form of non secular being than her really uncategorized husband, one that’s not often referenced and by no means clearly described in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world. Once we first meet her, she calls herself “Goldberry, daughter of the River.” In June 1958, Tolkien expanded on this in a letter harshly criticizing a proposed movie adaptation for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. In it, he mentioned of the therapy of Tom Bombadil and Goldberry, “We aren’t in ‘fairy-land’, however in actual river-lands in autumn. Goldberry represents the precise seasonal adjustments in such lands.”
Equally, Tom Bombadil calls Goldberry “River-daughter” and “River-woman’s daughter.” When Frodo meets Goldberry, he quotes a few of Tom Bombadil’s nonsensical singing about his spouse, saying nature-centric strains like “O slender as a willow-wand! O clearer than clear water! O reed by the dwelling pool! Honest River-daughter!” and “O spring-time and summer-time, and spring once more after! O wind on the waterfall, and the leaves’ laughter.”
When Goldberry strikes and talks, she additionally reveals this seasonal nature spirit component. Her garments are described as rustling “softly just like the wind within the flowering borders of a river.” Her voice is known as “younger and historical as Spring” and is repeatedly related to rain, rivers, and flowing water.