Favorite Quotes

A drawing I made of Bilbo. It was supposed to be the Riddles in the Dark scene, but I got too tired to work on the setting of the cavern... Can you see Gollum? I kinda did a bad job with him... Ha, but I was too tired to care. I've been with this story for too long I had to draw a depiction of one of the characters or scenes...

Bilbo Baggins

"Bother burlging and everything to do with it! I wish I was at home in my nice  hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing!" It was not the last time that he wished that!

Indeed it wasn't. There was a large amount of times that Bilbo repeated that desire through the novel. I have come to the point were I must analyze the protagonist of the book... And I dread it, I have several amounts of text highlighted waiting to copy onto my computer and then attempt to understand someone like Bilbo and discuss him in this blog (which I remind you is for an English project... I am coming down to the last posts I will blog, and with a fried brain I question my ability to continue... but oh well, here we go).

Bilbo Baggins is a vastly developed character. His partaking in this journey was an experience that pretty much changed everyhting about him and his reputation amongst his people of Bag-End, Hobbiton, The Shire, or wherever the hell he's from. We come back to main purpose of the novel: a prelude to The Lord of the Rings. It introduces Bilbo, whom returns in the sequels, and his adventures. But out of all h is adventures, only one minuscule part is one holding vast importance: the discovery of the Ring of Power. If he had not kept it for so long, someone would have found it (because the Ring had travelled away from Gollum, since he is always seeking his master and wanting to be rejoined with him), and the fate of Middle-earth would have been very different.

In this story the Ring only acts as a magical tool that can turn someone invisible. But what is not discussed here is how it eventually manipulated and poisoned Bilbo, After carrying for many years, and we discover in The Lord of the Rings that some of the qualities of Gollum lied now in Bilbo, because he bagan to undergo the same corruption. However, that is not a part of this story, so I have already drifted into less important matters... Let's get back on track.

Bilbo as a hobbit is an important symbolic element. Hobbits represent friendly, caring, fat, unselfish, loving, funny, merry, innocent, and unadventurous folk whom seem unfit for the world out there. But Bilbo partaking in this journey and his role in it brings him much happiness and changes the image we have of hobbits. 

We can connect this to the theme that "THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM," and that "ONE SHOULD NOT JUDGE UPON APPEARANCE." Bilbo lived up to Gandalf's prediction that he was the correct one for the task, and he will aid them and prove a helpful advantage in their quest.

We learn from the first chapter that Bilbo's Tookish side sparked inside him, when he accepted boldly to go with Thorin & Co. on their adventure. That ignition continued to shine and only flamed and burned more intensely as the novel progressed. The first test is when he is sent to investigate in the forest and he finds trolls. 

He was very much alarmed, ad well as disgusted; he wished himself a hundred miles away, and yet-somehow he could not go straight back to Thorin and Comany emptyhanded.

The following phase of his heroic development is when he wakes up stranded in the caverns of the Misty Mountains.

"Go back?" he thought. "No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!"

And he completes his first stage when he confronts Gollum, wins the game of riddles, and escapes the caverns with the One Ring. This is his first complete true accomplishment, which he manages unaided but for the ring.

"What did I tell you?" said Gandalf laughing. "Mr Baggins has more about him that you guess."

His next test lied in Mirkwood forest, after Gandalf had deserted them, and the dwarves had all been captured in the forest. When Bilbo woke up he was all alone in the dark.

That was one of his most miserable moments. But soon he made up his mind that it was no good trying to do anything till day came with some little light, and quite useless to go blundering about tiring himself out with no hope of any breakfast to revive him. 

He notices a spider had been tying him up in her web, and he quickly removes his Elven sword and duels with the spider, a fight out of which Bilbo emerges victorious.

And when Bilbo names his sword, it symbolizes his rapidly growing development into a true hero. It ends that test for boldness and courage. His next stage comes when he must free the dwarves from the Elvenking's prisons. This proves to be the greatest challenge yet, because Mr Baggins had to endure survival in solitude inside the caves. He had to continue to steal food and provisions form the elves, and that aids him in resuming his ongoing thievery to become a burglar. After finding the dwarves however, he becomes frustrated of having to rescue them. Bilbo is not used to being the hero, and he has become a bit tired of always having to save the day, nevertheless, he goes to their aid.

Bilbo however, did not feel nearly so hopeful as they did. He did not like being depended on by everyone, and he wished he had the wizard at hand.

Mr Baggins even shows signs of this frustration by replying in witty remarks to the dwarves complaints about the uncommodities of the escape in the barrels. 

"Come along in your cells, and I will lock you all in again, and you can sit there comfortably and think of a better plan-but don't suppose I shall ever get hold of the keys again, even if I feel inclined to try."

By the time they reach the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo has grown into a far better hero than any of the dwarves, though has not earned enough recognition from the dwarves for it. His encounter with Smaug is of great importance, because it begins the final stage in his heroic character development.

Already they had come to respect little Bilbo. Now he had become the real leader in their adventure. He had begun to have ideas and plans of his own. When midday came he got ready for another journey down into the Mountain.

Bilbo remains but the driving force in the troupe's spirits. He is the one one making decisions, planning their actions, leading the way through their path. Upon being trapped in the mountain, all dwarves despair but "Bilbo felt a strange lightening of the heart," and encourages that they find their way out.

He finalizes his stage as a burglar when he steals the Arkenstone when sent to inspect and climb the mounds of treasure, looking for treasure. He, such as Thorin and Gollum, showed a flaw in his heroism and humble purposes. He was easily drawn in by treasure, so when his gaze fell upon the enchantment of the Arkenstone, he steals it for himself, and although what his actions end up doing with the Arkenstone, his intentions when committing that thievery were very selfish and wicked.

"Now I am a burglar indeed!" thought he. All the same he had an uncomfortable feeling that the picking and choosing had not really been meant to include this marvellous gem, and that trouble would yet come of it.

Bilbo disliked the coming of a war, and much began to realize Thorin's selfishness and greed. He was displeased with their plans, and undoubtedly, he felt he was in the wrong side. He had only come for a part in the treasure, and now he had to remain there and endure more quarrels. He remains a humble and disinterested hobbit then, not even claiming or demanding credit that it was he whom discovered the dragon's weak spot. In order to end the quarrels, he takes the Arkenstone to the elves and men in order to help them restore peace. 

But how is it yours to give?" asked Bard at last with an effort."O well!" said the hobbit uncomfortably. "It isn't exactly; but, well I am willing to let it stand against all my claim, don't you know. I may be a burglar - or so they say: personally I never really felt like one - but I am an honest one, I hope, more or less."

And after being offered quarters with them, Bilbo refuses and decides to go back to the Mountain.

"I don't think I ought to leave my friends like this, after all we have gone through together. And I promised to wake old Bombur at midnight too! really I must be going, and quickly."

In the end, his heroism is proved. Even if Bilbo did not partake in the battle with the goblins, had it not been for him, an alliance would not have been formed, and things would have ended in a tragic calamity.

"So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their ending!" The Tookish part was getting very tired, and the Baggins ws daily getting stronger. " I wish now only to be in my armchair!"

Bilbo's metamorphosis into the hero remains an impact in his life. While his burglar persona slowly regresses through his journey back, he feels slightly saddened to be coming back to Underhill.

"My dear Bilbo! Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you once were."

Of course he wasn't. Upon his return, everything about Bilbo had changed. His reputation amongst other hobbits had changed forever because he was now looked upon as strange, queer, and odd. But Bilbo could less, the hobbit remained very happy and content for the rest of  his days.

Dwarves and Greed

Having dicussed Thorin Oakenshield as a character and his development across the story, I want to discuss the theme of the greed and selfishness that came upon the dwarves as they had a tiny hobbit emerge to be their hero. As the story progressed and Bilbo earned more respect from them, it seems that they were letting go of much care and outlook on the dangers of the journey. They became more comfortable having a leader who continuously proved himself worthy and rescued them time after time. And so Thorin's dynamic journey throughout the novel reflected upon the dwarves. 

All of them are at first unvconvinced that that Bilbo is the right burglar to attend them on their journey. The first vital sign by the dwarves that Bilbo is not worth the struggle or care comes when Dori leaves him behind in the caverns of the goblins while they are attemping pursuit. Even afterwards, in the woods, they dwarves are climbing the trees to escape from the Wargs, and when the hobbit can't climb any and Dori is sent for the hobbit once again he complains,

"I can't be always carrying burglars on my back."

This begins to fade the image of the dwarves as kind creatues who care deeply for one another. In the forest of Mirkwood, while continuing to send the hobbit to do their bidding, Mr Baggins remains loyal to them. But the fail to show Mr Baggins kindness for his help.

"The forest goes on for ever and ever and ever in all direction! Whatever shall we do?And what is the use of sending a hobbit!"

Of course they were all later captured by spiders and rescued by Bilbo. This helped Bilbo immensely by flushing out all doubt from the dwarves about him and proving he is more than worthy to bring along the quest. 

They all trusted Bilbo. Just what Gandalf said would happen, you see. Perhaps that was part of his reason for going off and leaving them.

They remain however, selfish, greedy, and begin complaining at the conditions out of which they must escape the Elvenking. The shows the element of Bilbo and Thorin alternating leaderhsips and traits, since at first, it was the hobbit that endlessly complained about his conditions and wishing to be back home, and now, it was the dwarves whining at the barrels in which they must travel through the Long River.

"We shall be bruised and battered to pieces, and drowned too, for certain! We thought you had got some sensible notion, when  you managed to get a hold of the keys! This is a mad idea!"

Before Bilbo is sent to enter the Lonely Mountain's inner tunnels in seach of the dragon, Tolkien includes in a passage a description about the race of dwarves.

"Dwarves are not heroes, but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not, but are decent enough people like Thorin and Company, if you don't expect too much."

In his cavern, Smaug warns Bilbo that the dwarves don't really intend to share any treasure with him, and that they are not to be trusted. This alarms Bilbo a little, because upon looking back on the events and attitudes of the dwarves towards him, he realizes that even if they respect him, they haven't shown true care or concern for the hobbit.

Now a nasty suspicion began in his mind - had the dwarves forgotten this important point too, or were they laughing in their sleeves at him all the time? 

Tolkien also includes in his text that "the dwarves could not, of course, compare with the hobbit in real stealth." The final farewell between Mr Baggins and the dwarves however is a rather peaceful and sentimental one. In the end, the dwarves had been his companion for many months, and Bilbo developed a friendship between them. 

Thorin Oakenshield

Coming from a background and love for theatre and acting, one of my favorite elements of literature and analysis of a work is character development. In acting, there are so many aspects to  discovering a role and digging deeper and deeper into the character's core. The same aspects to acting lie in creating and developing a character in literature, I believe. From videos and lessons on writing, I've learned bits and pieces about what it takes to formulate a being in your story. I believe if I was creating a role for a novel or a play or simply in my imagination, I would have to spend several weeks simply thinking about a character, first determining his/her/its background. Where it came from, it's relations with others, and how it grew up. Then focus on the characteristics of the personalities in them (the characters), what are the goals? What motivates them? What tactics do they use to acquire what they want? Who are their enemies, friends? What scares them? Then you have to add spice to your meal. What affects the characters? How have they changed over time and why? How do they react to situations and things (this is a huge one in theatre)? There are infinite more things that need to be determined in a character in order to make it seem real. Characters aren't real, nor will they ever be. I've learned that we read about them because we know subconsciously that no person such as this exists in real life. But while the characters are supposed to have surreal elements, they must feel real. What an oxymoron... Somethings that are supposed to be false are supposed to feel true.

Tolkien has done a fantastic job in creating exceptionally rich characters in The Hobbit, and without a doubt, there must be even richer ones in The Lord of The Rings. Even without revealing everything the author knows about a character, he gives us the sense that he himself knows, but being irrelevant to the story, wisely chooses not to include it in this text. Yet he always knows where something or someone has been and what has happened even if he doesn't say, e.g., 

"It was here that Gandalf had been to a great council of white wizards, masters of lore and good magic; and that they had at last driven the Necromancer from his dark hold in the south of Mirkwood."

This is how Tolkien reveals where Gandalf had been after leaving the expedition in the frontier of Mirkwood forest. The necromancer being the evil lord Sauron whom you learn about later in the rest of the saga. 

Thorin & Company is a fruitful band of funny, somewhat selfish at first, but heroic and friendly dwarves that accompany Bilbo on his quest. I wanna try something. Let's see if I can remember all their names after reading the whole book. We have:

Fili Kili Bifur Bofur Bombur Dori Nori Ori Gloin Oin Dwalin Balin

Heck yeah! I did it. Anyway, excuse that... 

Anyway, at the beginning of the book when these characters were introduced, I remember thinking, "How on Middle-earth are all of these dwarves gonna obtain depth and recognition from the audience?!" It seemes crazy that Tolkien would have developed so many dwarves, and that he would be able to differentiate their personalities. It is true that some of them gained more depth and attention than others. I guess if you studied them you'd find the depth, but Tolkien did fall short on showing the development of all these characters, and so they remain strangers and only slightly dynamic.

 

But not Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the troupe. We principally earn the image and vision of this character as a dwarf of majestic quality, with elements of heroism, elegance, leadership, intelligence, and knowledge. And that image is upheld for a while. But as Bilbo starts gaining more respect from the dwarves, they also begin to heavily rely on him. And thus become rather lazy, greedy, unselfish, and instead of Thorin coming at their rescue, he and the dwarves become the ones in need of aid. The balance shifts, and as Bilbo rises, Thorin falls, and that leaves the hobbit with much of the qualities Thorin had.

The first trace of Thorin's evil is spectated very early in Chapter II, when they encounter the trolls. Upon seeing distant lights, Thoring immediately requests that Bilbo investigates.

"Now it is the burglar's turn, you must go on and find out all about that light, and what it is for, and if all is perfectly safe and canny. Now scuttle off, and come back quick, if all is well. If not, come back if you can! If you can't hoot twice like a barn-owl and once like a screech-owl, and we will do what we can."

This reveals Thorin's lacking sense of bold leadership, and instead of taking matters into his own hands, thrusts his tasks into Bilbo because he is not the burglar that they had expected Gandalf to provide them with. This continues to be Thorin's mindset for a while, even after Bilbo earns some respect in escaping the caverns of the goblins, they continue to belittle him, and use him for tasks. 

"Somebody must climb a tree and see if he can get his head above roof and have a look around..."Of course "somebody" meant Bilbo.

Upon contacting Thorin in his prison chamber with the woodland elves, where al other dwarves were caught after Bilbo rescued them from the spiders, Thoring is at first content and proud of Bilbo to see him, but when he finds out that Mr Baggins failed to think of a plan when he visited him, he offers still thanks him, and takes "heart again hearing how the hobbit had rescued his companions from the spiders.

"Upon my word!" said Thorin, "Gandalf spoke true, as usual! A pretty fine burglar you make, it seems, when the time comes. I am sure we are all for ever at your service, whatever happens after this."

One of the most selfish stages of greed and uncaring thoughts towards the hobbit was revealed when Thorin sends Bilbo to the dragon.

"Now it is time for our esteemed Mr Baggins to perform the service for which he was included in our Company; now is th etime for him to earn his Reward."

After Smaug leaves to Lake-town and the dwarves enter the treasure cavern, Thorin enters the most corrupted phase of his journey. He is overwhelmed by all the treasure, and he cannot endure the power the treasure has upon him. This is definitely much like the power of the Ring! The same way the One Ring corrupted Gollum and Bilbo in the end is reflected on Thorin and his treasure. This demonstrates a reflective theme upon The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings! Upon the Bard's arrival at the Gate, Thorin's inner "gollum" emerges, unwilling to help the village and share his treasure. 

Long hours in the past days Thorin had spent in the treasury, and the lust of it was heavy on  him. Though he had hunted chiefly for the Arkenstone, yet he had an eye form many another wonderful thing that was lying there.."You put your worst cause last and in the chief place. To the treasure of my people no man has a claim, because Smaug who stole it from us also robbed him of life and home. The treasure was not his that his evil deeds should be amended with a share of it. The price of the goods and the assistance that we received of the Lake-men we will fairly pay - in due time. But nothing will we give, not even a loaf's worth, under threat of force. While an armed host lies before our doors, we look on you as foes and thieves."

If you know the story, Bilbo steals the Arkenstone and hands it to the men and elves for bargaining help, and this infuriates Thorin.

"You miserable hobbit! You undersized - burglar!"

Of course, when Thoring & Co. joins The Battle of Five Armies, it symbolizes Thorin coming to his senses at last, and realizing the monster he had become was not fit for being a leader. And so he fights, and becomes heavily wounded. In his last moments, Mr Baggins visits him, and they make peace.

War Ensues

After Mr. Baggins' confrontation with the dragon, Smaug flees angrily, destroys much of the Lonely Mountain, leaving the dwarved trapped inside. While the dwarves find their way out of the gate and into a watchpost, the dragon goes the Lake-town of Esgaroth, and causes chaos and near oblivion to the village. Many men gather in an attempt to fight the dragon, but eventually most flee as they convince themselves that it is hopeless. It is in Chapter XIV, Fire and Water, that we meet Bard, a grim man, leader of the army and archers, and heir to the throne of Dale, who valiantly stays to fight the dragon. Soon, after all men have fled, a thrush, the bird that had heard Bilbo talking to the dwarves in the mountain, tell Bard the information that Bilbo obtained form the dragon.

"Wait! Wait! The moon is rising. Look for the hollow of the left breast as he flies and turns above you! And while Bard paused in wonder it told him of tidings up in the Mountain and of all that it had heard."

Bard shoots his arrow, strikes were told, and Smaug wails and falls defeated.

Back in the watchpost, the dwarves and hobbit know nothing of the events of that past night. But the same thrush comes and informs them that the people of Lake-town believe they are dead, also they are infuriated that the prophecies about them slaying the dragon were false, and with Bard as their new leader are marching up to the Mountain to claim the treasure. They have also sent for the Woodland elves for aid in reconstructing the town, and they accompany them up the mountain. 

"Your own wisdom must decide your course; but thirteen is a small remnant of the great folk of Durin that once dwelt here, and now are scattered far If you will listen to mu counsel, you will not trust the Master of the Lake-men, but rather him that shot the dragon with his bow. Bard is he, of the race of Dale, of the line of Girion,; he is a grim man but true. We would see peace once more among dwarves and men and elves after the long desolation; but it may cost you dear in gold. I have spoken."
Then Thorin burst forth in anger: Our thanks, you and your people shall not be forgotten. But none of our gold shall thieves take or the violent carry off while we are alive."

So Thorin asks the bird to send for help in the north-east where his kin lay in the mountains. Only Bilbo sees the tremendous flaws in his plans and wishes dreadfully that all would just end in peace.

Bilbo had taken the Arkenstone, the precious stone descendant from Thror. This act is seen as one of the final stages of Bilbo's evolution into a burglar. He later escapes the defended Mountain, goes to the camps of men and elves, and offers it to Bard and the Elvenking. 

"Things are impossible. Personally I am tired of the whole affair. I wish I was back in the West in my own home, where folk are more reasonable."

On the way of Bilbo's return, Gandalf spots him, "There is always more about you than anyone expects! There is an unpleasant time just in front of you; but keep your heart up! You may come through all right."

Next day, the men and elves present the Arkenstone, and offer it for trade of their own share of treasure. Thorin is dumbfounded and furious and asks how they came about the stone.

"I gave it to them!"

After Bilbo confesses, Thorin banishes him infuriated. "More than one of the dwarves felt pity and shame at his going." Then just when the dwarves of Dain arrive and war is about to begin Gandalf warns all that they must join forces, for the goblins had heard of the downfall of the dragon, and infuriated by the death of the Great Goblin, they were coming to destroy all and take the treasure. So The Battle of The Five Armies takes place. Many die, but an alliance like no other is formed between the different races. Eventually even Thorin and his men come to aid. Before all hope seems to be lost, the eagles arrive, and Bilbo is knocked out by a stone that fell on his helm. The next day, Bilbo wakes up and is taken to Thorin, whom is on the brink of death. The two restore peace before Thorin dies. Kili and Fili also died, and members of Thorin's company weep a great deal. The rest of the Chapters include Bilbo's return home with Gandalf.

 The importance of the war include Thorin overcoming the greed that he had developed after spending so much time with his treasure. Also the powerful alliances that can be formed between many different groups of people, and the victory and good that eventually results from such friendships. If Gandalf had not stopped the battle, the goblins would surely have come upon them all and an immense tragedy would have occurred. 

Bilbo's great deed as a burglar is another key element in the survival of the races and the outcome of the war. Had he not taken it upon himself to defy the dwarves and betray Thorin by taking the Arkenstone to his enemies, the fellowship would have never been formed, and the fate of Middle-earth would have been very different in the end. Thus, Gandalf's wisdom is comfirmed, and the wizard reassures Bilbo that surely it wasn't luck that aided him.

"Surely you don't disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself? You don't really suppose, do you, that al your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fine person, Mr Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!"
"Thank goodness!" said Bilbo laughing, and handed him the tobacco-jar.