Does anyone else see some kind of connection between Ungoliant and Tom Bombadil?
I mean in that they almost feel like two sides of the same coin. I’ve seen people commonly claim Ungoliant is a Maiar, but they’re not. I at least I really don’t think so. They just… are. There’s no knowledge on them, there’s nothing like them, and the rules of Maiar and Valar don’t seem to apply to them. They exist to devour light (and seemingly everything, if they had their way.) Then on the other hand, Tom just also… is. He’s not a Maiar, he’s not a Valar. He’s completely un-phased by the Ring and seemingly the corruption of Middle Earth as a whole. Then Ungoliant almost consumes Morgoth himself, just indiscriminate and comes damn close to doing what is completely impossible to pretty much every being, even Valar.
During the Great Song, Melkor weaved in his negative thoughts and emotions, which became part of the world. Then, of course, the rest of the Great Song brought in other, more positive concepts.
I kind of see Tom and Ungoliant as these primordial embodiments of these things that took shape. That’s why they’re mostly un-phased by these things that mean everything to all other beings. Everyone on Morgoth’s side answered to and feared him, most of his host was created by him, but all subservient. Not Ungoliant. Morgoth, in his arrogance, thought he could control them and almost died for it. He wasn’t the Dark Lord to them, just a means to an end and eventually a snack. Tom is totally un-phased by the ring, something no one else is remotely capable of. He’s just chilling. He’s also casually handing out Barrow-Blades, which are one of the very few things that can harm the Witch King.
It’s like the rules that apply to everything else in Arda just don’t to them, or they’re at least not concerned. It makes me think they’re something else, like opposite primordial concepts, that maybe Eru didn’t even plan for. They just happened.
Idk what is the consensus on the origins of these two? I’m new to this sub.