Why didn't Tom B. get rid of the Barrow-wights?

Tom Bombadil certainly had the power to rid the land of the evil spirits that plagued the downs. Why didn't he? It would have made the land much safer for everyone. I can't think of a scenario in which keeping the Wights around would be advantageous for Tom.

Hi bmilder;

That's an interesting question, the lands
were certainly under his jurisdiction.

Perhaps it had something to do with checks
and balances. If the 'evil' of the barrow-
wights were eradicated...perhaps the 'evil'
would have manifested itself stronger
elsewhere.

That is...if you adhere to the theory that
all good things have their equal balance
in evil...and a balance is needed to maintain
order.

K'haylan

He got rid of oen of them, or at least banished it, when he rescued Frodo & co. from teh barrow. (he even made a rhyme about it )

Bombadil set himself apart from Middle-Earth & enclosed himself in borders that he would not pass - & the Barrow-Wights were inside his microcosm. He & Goldbery both act as caretakers to the Old Forest, & so i doubt he would free the Barrow-Wights & risk them settling somewhere else (like his backyard). Also, Tom had been in that forest for a very long time, so he may have known those dead kings, seeing as how the Barrow-Downs & the edge of the ancient kingdom were within his self-imposed walls...

Of course, Bombadil is so enigmatic & powerful that he probably had some hidden reason that we don't know. Either that or banishing them never entered his mind - he is pretty unconcerned with the general affars of Middle-Earth.

aryne *

What if it was just his fairness and love of all "living beings" that kept him from destroying them?

Barrow Wights are dead.

Also: I don't think he has power, nothing has power over him. He is not afraid because they have no mastery over him. He would tell them to leave if all of Middle-Earth asked him to, but he wouldn't see why because Barrow Wights didn't bother him. why hurt them if they never did anything to him?

I personally think Tom's a Middle-Earth leprechan

I think it's for the same reason that he wouldn't be a good keeper of the Ring; he didn't care. Just as the Ring had no effect on him the Barrow-Whites didn't matter to him either, that is until they harmed his friends, which was when he took action.

Tom and I were always great friends. Why would he want to get rid of me. I'd call him up and he'd "Wazzzzup" to me and I'd "Wazzzzuuup" back. That whole deal with the hobbits was just a misunderstanding.

RKittle (aka ...The Barrow-Wight)

I figured you'd say something like that! :lol:

I BELIEVE HE JUST FOLLOWED "LIVE AND LET LIVE" AND ONLY BANISHED THE ONE WHEN
IT THREATENED FRODO ET. AL. AFTER ALL TOM WAS MASTER OF ALL.