Bilbo Baggins. At first glance Bilbo really wouldn't look like much. In truth at a second glance he really wouldn't look like much as well. Just a quaint little halfling living a life of casual luxury and pleasant company. Even a well trained eye wouldn't even consider him to be a candidate for a grand adventure. Alas, while making this judgment would be completely rational, it is not even close to correct. For Bilbo has always had the potential to be a grand adventurer and a worthy companion. He just needed a bit of a push, or in this case a rather large one!
Now when Bilbo first met his companions, they all had the same doubts as most would have about Bilbo's character traits. He was very clearly not the "cunning burglar" Gandalf had described him to be. However Bilbo quickly began to prove them wrong. Bilbo began to demonstrate qualities that even he had no idea he possessed, the qualities of a hero. A significant example of Bilbo's heroism comes in to play in the forest of Mirkwood, when Bilbo puts his very life at risk to rescue his companions from the spiders. He saw his companions in trouble and selflessly dashed in to help them without even considering backing out. This act marked a very significant milestone for Bilbo as he not only impressed the dwarves with his actions but he also impressed himself. "He felt a different person, and much fiercer and bolder in spite of an empty stomach, as he wiped his sword on the grass and put it back into its sheath." (The Hobbit 152) At that moment Bilbo began to think of himself as a hero and I think that was the moment when Bilbo truly became a hero. The reason I say this is because this was the first difficult and trying task he had accomplished without the guidance and help of Gandalf.
Bilbo accomplished a lot of things, but I think that the biggest accomplishment of all comes towards the end of the story where Bilbo even goes behind his ally to prevent conflict. "Is this all the service of you of you and your family that I was promised, Thorin? Take it that I have disposed of my share as I wished and let it go at that!" (the Hobbit 258) This was the most difficult thing that Bilbo had to do in the entire story. He had to betray a friend in order to keep the peace. Such a difficult decision could not be made by anyone but a hero, but Bilbo did what he had to do. Bilbo had shown a valor of a different kind and proved himself once again as a hero.
Perhaps extend your understanding by looking at the middle of the story as well as the beginning and end. You should have maybe spent some time defining and describing the hero from Tolkien's perspective (ie the archetypal hero on a journey) and then see if you can apply this definition to Bilbo's character.
ReplyDeleteI really like this post and the development of the character.
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