The Hero In A Small Package
In John Tolkien’s book The Hobbit, readers follow the unforeseen journey of the hobbit known as Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo is chosen to join a group of dwarves going to reclaim their homeland from a dragon. The group encounters many trials throughout the adventure and has near death encounters many times. However, Bilbo is a courageous hobbit and he is able to rescue the group from the jaws of death on multiple occasions. Tolkien writes Bilbo to be the hero of the story, but he is not the cliché hero of most children’s books. Tolkien gave Bilbo a different type of character development than readers normally see in the “hero” of the story. Bilbo teaches readers that good people cannot be corrupted by bad situations and that heroes are not always warriors or wizards, but that even a hobbit can be a hero.
Readers learn that Bilbo is not a normal hobbit because he is part Took (Tolkien 5). The Took side of Bilbo is the adventurous side that drives him to take his journey in the first place. Tolkien wrote this special bloodline into Bilbo’s story to show that sometimes the part of people, or hobbits, that seems strange might be the part that will be most useful one day. Essentially, readers learn in the first chapter that Bilbo is different from other hobbits and that makes him important. Bilbo is recruited by the wizard Gandalf to join a group of twelve dwarves and Gandalf explains that Bilbo will be used as a burglar for the journey (Tolkien 23). After hearing what Gandalf wanted from Bilbo, Bilbo refused to join the group and so they left Bilbo in his home for the night (Tolkien 31). Eventually, the Took side of Bilbo won and Bilbo ran to meet with the group on the road to begin their journey (Tolkien 34). At first, Bilbo is worried because he left everything he usually takes with him when he leaves home and the dwarves assure him, he will not need them (Tolkien 35). Bilbo leaving behind his normal routine and his comfort zone is symbolic for Bilbo leaving his innocence and the security of his normal life in the hobbit hole. The fact that Bilbo was willing to begin this journey shows courage and strength on Bilbo's part and these character traits benefit the whole group later in the journey. By joining the group and helping the dwarves with their quest, Bilbo shows his compassion and his selflessness. Bilbo does not join the adventure for his own personal gain, rather he wants to help the dwarves reclaim their home. Bilbo was also drawn to the adventure because it was something new to him and he was a rather curious hobbit.
When Bilbo finds a small metal ring in the Goblin tunnels and keeps it in his coat almost without thinking (Tolkien 76). Bilbo keeps the ring, but not out of malicious intent but rather because of curiosity and instinct. Bilbo had no reason to think that the ring would be any kind of magic or that it would benefit him from keeping it. The hobbit would not have known that the ring was of evil purpose or that it would cause any negative effects. Bilbo then meets the creature Gollum and they have a battle of wits via riddles (Tolkien 82). This riddle battle shows Bilbo’s intelligence and how quickly he can think on his feet. This scene shows another strength of Bilbo’s character and it allows readers to really see how smart the character is. While Bilbo and Gollum are having this display of wits, Gollum realizes he has lost something and Bilbo infers that he is speaking of the ring; he goes mad and Bilbo believes he will try to kill him (Tolkien 92). So, Bilbo put his hand in his pocket and instinctively put the ring on his finger (Tolkien 92). As Bilbo learns, the ring turns the wearer invisible and this allows Bilbo to escape Gollum. However, Bilbo saw the chance to kill Gollum but he chose to spare him. This choice shows the kindness and courage that Bilbo has had in him all along. The kindness allowed Bilbo to pity the poor creature and spare him, since Bilbo was smart enough to realize that Gollum could not harm him now. Throughout the goblin tunnels Bilbo shows that one does not have to be large and physically tough to be courageous, but rather a good heart and a good mind will suffice. All of these positive character traits show that Bilbo is a hero at heart and has simply never had the opportunity before to display his heroic character.
Soon after escaping the goblin tunnels, Bilbo finds himself being attacked by spiders in the forest of Mirkwood (Tolkien 169). Bilbo is separated from his group in the magical forest and is slowly being attacked by a spider and trapped in its web (Tolkien 170). Although, Bilbo keeps his wits about him and is able to break free of the web, free himself from the spider, and kill it in self-defense all on his own accord (Tolkien 170). The narrator tells readers that Bilbo felt much different because of this. This freedom from the spider is Bilbo realizing that he can save himself and that he does not need to rely on Gandalf or the dwarves to protect him. This moment is when Bilbo actually realizes that he is a hero and he is stronger than he thought. Tolkien allowed readers to see Bilbo’s development to showcase accepting one’s true character and growing into one’s personality. By experiencing more of the world, Bilbo was forced to rise to the challenge or face death. Bilbo rose to the challenges and was able to blossom into what readers often recognize as the “underdog.” Bilbo did not seem like he would be able to defend himself or that he would be able to survive such a journey, but he surpassed all doubts and worries.
Readers should see Bilbo’s journey as a lesson of self-growth and as a lesson from Tolkien that the hero they are looking for may be themselves. While it is important to recognize that Bilbo has help from the other characters within the book, Bilbo is the character with the most development. The development of Bilbo’s character naturally draws the reader's attention and forces them to wrestle with how Bilbo impacts the story. Without Bilbo realizing he is a hero; the group would not have made it through their journey and they would not have reached the Lonely Mountain in the end. The hobbit that the dwarves were unsure of bringing in the first place was the hero they needed throughout the book. And the hobbit who wanted an adventure for the sake of saying he had one learned that he was more a hero than he ever knew.
Readers learn that Bilbo is not a normal hobbit because he is part Took (Tolkien 5). The Took side of Bilbo is the adventurous side that drives him to take his journey in the first place. Tolkien wrote this special bloodline into Bilbo’s story to show that sometimes the part of people, or hobbits, that seems strange might be the part that will be most useful one day. Essentially, readers learn in the first chapter that Bilbo is different from other hobbits and that makes him important. Bilbo is recruited by the wizard Gandalf to join a group of twelve dwarves and Gandalf explains that Bilbo will be used as a burglar for the journey (Tolkien 23). After hearing what Gandalf wanted from Bilbo, Bilbo refused to join the group and so they left Bilbo in his home for the night (Tolkien 31). Eventually, the Took side of Bilbo won and Bilbo ran to meet with the group on the road to begin their journey (Tolkien 34). At first, Bilbo is worried because he left everything he usually takes with him when he leaves home and the dwarves assure him, he will not need them (Tolkien 35). Bilbo leaving behind his normal routine and his comfort zone is symbolic for Bilbo leaving his innocence and the security of his normal life in the hobbit hole. The fact that Bilbo was willing to begin this journey shows courage and strength on Bilbo's part and these character traits benefit the whole group later in the journey. By joining the group and helping the dwarves with their quest, Bilbo shows his compassion and his selflessness. Bilbo does not join the adventure for his own personal gain, rather he wants to help the dwarves reclaim their home. Bilbo was also drawn to the adventure because it was something new to him and he was a rather curious hobbit.
When Bilbo finds a small metal ring in the Goblin tunnels and keeps it in his coat almost without thinking (Tolkien 76). Bilbo keeps the ring, but not out of malicious intent but rather because of curiosity and instinct. Bilbo had no reason to think that the ring would be any kind of magic or that it would benefit him from keeping it. The hobbit would not have known that the ring was of evil purpose or that it would cause any negative effects. Bilbo then meets the creature Gollum and they have a battle of wits via riddles (Tolkien 82). This riddle battle shows Bilbo’s intelligence and how quickly he can think on his feet. This scene shows another strength of Bilbo’s character and it allows readers to really see how smart the character is. While Bilbo and Gollum are having this display of wits, Gollum realizes he has lost something and Bilbo infers that he is speaking of the ring; he goes mad and Bilbo believes he will try to kill him (Tolkien 92). So, Bilbo put his hand in his pocket and instinctively put the ring on his finger (Tolkien 92). As Bilbo learns, the ring turns the wearer invisible and this allows Bilbo to escape Gollum. However, Bilbo saw the chance to kill Gollum but he chose to spare him. This choice shows the kindness and courage that Bilbo has had in him all along. The kindness allowed Bilbo to pity the poor creature and spare him, since Bilbo was smart enough to realize that Gollum could not harm him now. Throughout the goblin tunnels Bilbo shows that one does not have to be large and physically tough to be courageous, but rather a good heart and a good mind will suffice. All of these positive character traits show that Bilbo is a hero at heart and has simply never had the opportunity before to display his heroic character.
Soon after escaping the goblin tunnels, Bilbo finds himself being attacked by spiders in the forest of Mirkwood (Tolkien 169). Bilbo is separated from his group in the magical forest and is slowly being attacked by a spider and trapped in its web (Tolkien 170). Although, Bilbo keeps his wits about him and is able to break free of the web, free himself from the spider, and kill it in self-defense all on his own accord (Tolkien 170). The narrator tells readers that Bilbo felt much different because of this. This freedom from the spider is Bilbo realizing that he can save himself and that he does not need to rely on Gandalf or the dwarves to protect him. This moment is when Bilbo actually realizes that he is a hero and he is stronger than he thought. Tolkien allowed readers to see Bilbo’s development to showcase accepting one’s true character and growing into one’s personality. By experiencing more of the world, Bilbo was forced to rise to the challenge or face death. Bilbo rose to the challenges and was able to blossom into what readers often recognize as the “underdog.” Bilbo did not seem like he would be able to defend himself or that he would be able to survive such a journey, but he surpassed all doubts and worries.
Readers should see Bilbo’s journey as a lesson of self-growth and as a lesson from Tolkien that the hero they are looking for may be themselves. While it is important to recognize that Bilbo has help from the other characters within the book, Bilbo is the character with the most development. The development of Bilbo’s character naturally draws the reader's attention and forces them to wrestle with how Bilbo impacts the story. Without Bilbo realizing he is a hero; the group would not have made it through their journey and they would not have reached the Lonely Mountain in the end. The hobbit that the dwarves were unsure of bringing in the first place was the hero they needed throughout the book. And the hobbit who wanted an adventure for the sake of saying he had one learned that he was more a hero than he ever knew.
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