What significance does Bilbo show in The Hobbit? What about Gandalf or the dwarves? In a world where creatures good and bad run amok, what is character? The Hobbit has dozens and dozens of characters, whether they have an important part or not, who influence the way the story ends or begins. Bilbo, for example, is the protagonist and Gollum could be considered as one of the many antagonists. Together they make conflict. Looking at Bilbo in his comfortable home, lounging around, you really wouldn't think a hobbit like himself would have a hero's journey. Yet when Gandalf comes knocking, Bilbo reluctantly sets off into an unknown adventure. The role his group had given him was the burglar. Him being graceless, he gets them into trouble with
The first character I want to talk about is Mr. Bilbo Baggins because in my view he is the character that went thorough the most change in compare to any other character that we read about so far. Mr. Bilbo Baggins is the main character/hero in the book and we can analyze and critique his journey from “Joseph Campbell: Hero with a Thousand Faces, 1949.” In the beginning of the book, Mr. Bilbo Baggins is living in Bag End, a hobbit community, like every other hobbit he is comfortable and content. He loves his food, his pipe, and his snug little hole. This here, Bag End, is the ordinary world and this where Mr. Bilbo Baggins lives in, but there is more to Mr. Bilbo Baggins than what meets the eye.
Bilbo's life has changed a lot after just one night. One day he was just doing the normal thing and staying at his home, the next day he was pickpocketing a giant, later he was walking on a rock giant in a deadly storm, then he gets into a underground place with an unknown creature. Bilbo has really done something with his old house life. First, Bilbo has never done anything compared to pickpocketing a giant. The dwarves saw a light then told bilbo to go check it out.
Sometimes, heroes are recognized through their actions displayed in pressing conditions. Even if a hero does not have a needed skill in the current situation, he can assess it and be able to demonstrate courage, meaning that besides being body-strong, a hero must be mind-strong. In the story The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, Bilbo Baggins is the perfect example of a hero. He helps the band of dwarves trick the nefarious spiders, escape from the magical elves, and finally assign himself the responsibility to talk face-to-face with the dragon Smaug. Although Bilbo had never been on adventure or fought monsters, faced his dilemmas with sensible activity.
Many authors such as, J.R.R Tolkien, use their writing to get entertain, inform, or persuade. While writing the author may put their own opinions in a book or novel. By including a character with certain traits they believe to be viewed in a positive light or they may include a character that has traits they view in a negative light. Tolkien also shows two sides he feels may be needed for a journey like this,physical strength and intelligence. Intelligence is more important and Tolkien shows what he feels is positive through Bilbo the main character and negative through Bilbo’s enemies.
In chapter five it states, “Straight over Gollum’s head he jumped, seven feet forward and three in the air...” This proves that Bilbo is beginning to become a protagonist role in the story because he could have cracked his skull on the
In the story “The Hobbit” Bilbo can be seen as the hero when he sacrifices his family’s name to be a part of the quest to get Thorin's gold back Bilbo's first approach is his attempt on stealing the trolls’ treasure. He later is met by the goblins, Gollum, elves, and spiders. Each fear he faces develops Bilbo as a hero, getting him ready for his greatest quest, stealing the treasure from Smaug.. Another example of Bilbo putting others before himself is the treasure he willing to give in order to bring peace to the men, elves, and dwarves. Last, but not least, Bilbo is willing to sacrifice his life for a cause bigger than himself.
Bilbo risks his own life to save the dwarves many times during the adventure, which in turn gains him the respect he deserves. This new respect that Bilbo has acquires gives him plenty of confidence in himself to get the job done, whatever it may be. This clearly shows that Bilbo's change from being ridiculed and doubted by the dwarves to being very highly respected is a dramatic one and deserves recognition. All Bilbo needed is a chance to prove the dwarves wrong, and that is what he gets when those same dwarves appear on his doorstep that sunny afternoon. Along with Bilbo Baggins becoming a braver and more respected hobbit, he also develops the most important change in the story; he changes from being incompetent to very resourceful.
Bilbo embodies this traditional feature of a hero risking his life multiple times to help his companions. Although faced with many challenges, he never gives up even in the face of great danger. Bilbo has reach the climax of his journey leading him to confront Smaug the dragon. Despite saving the dwarves multiple times, he still continues with his original assignment appointing “[himself to] go and have a peep at once and get it over” (Tolkien 96). Bilbo is chosen as the burglar and continues to fulfill his job.
Bilbo was brave, but not aggressively so. He was loyal, but that did not mean he never had doubts. Bilbo Baggins, of Bag End was an honorable Hobbit. He was also the greatest hero of them all, although he may not seem like it.
The “hero’s Journey” begins with a call to an ordinary individual to leave the ordinary world. This calls prompts the individual to leave the common life to venture into the realm of the unknown. The journey continues with the individual leaving the ordinary world to descend into the special world. The decent into the special world brings the individual through different adventures and experiences that reveal weakness and allow for strength and development to conquer those weaknesses. Bilbo baggins journey represents the “hero’s Journey”as he leaves the ordinary world as an ordinary hobbit,enters the special world as a developing warrior,and returns as an unexpected hero.
Along the way, they overcome many obstacles that threaten their lives and put their trust for one another to the test. Bilbo learns that there is more to him than he realizes and through hard work and dedication, he can accomplish almost anything. Overcoming these problems and learning more about himself helped Bilbo change from an ordinary, self-doubting hobbit into a clever, courage-filled, loyal hero. In the beginning, Bilbo has no desire to go on an adventure of any kind, but he quickly learns about the cleverness he obtains when he is forced to make quick decisions.
The company faces many challenges while Gandalf aids them. Eventually, Bilbo becomes forced to take charge and lead the company to the mountain. The experiences Bilbo encounters throughout his journey define and shape him into the hero he becomes. The Hobbit follows the story of Bilbo by mirroring the heroic journey, showing Bilbo’s dramatic change from the Hobbit he once was.
Bilbo faces a person against self conflict with his family blood. Half of him is a Took, and the other half is Baggins. The baggins side of him is the lazy, relaxed side. But the Took side is adventurous which is frowned upon by other hobbits. Bilbo had to decide whether to be a hero or stay home and be respected by other hobbits.
Hero’s Journey Essay Literary Analysis of The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien What happens when one day a cloaked figure asks you to join a group of heavily bearded men in search for treasure in a dragon’s lair? Bilbo is fortunate enough to experience such a peculiar invitation, but the Baggins side of him is quick in refusal. Yet off he still goes from his warm and fuzzy hobbit hole in the Shire to the desolate land of Dain, where he learns to prove his worth amongst his hot-tempered Dwarf companions. Along the way, allies are made, secrets kept and human desires put into play, eventually culminating in the concluding battles where Bilbo plays a pivotal role in the management of order in the fellowship.
When Bilbo finds the ring it changes him forever, for he is able to do things he would have never done before or even dream of doing. When Bilbo faces tough situations the ring always gets him by, and after he has come out the victor, he feels accomplished and more confident of his skills. After going through this process countless times his skills in battle and intelligence increase, as well as his self esteem and respect. The ring in this specific book symbolizes change. Bilbo’s change from a hesitant, powerless hobbit to a confident human being capable of most anything.