Change is something that is hard for most people to accomplish. Change can mean going out of your comfort zone to fulfill something that has the delusion of being absolutely mental. Bilbo goes through a dramatic change in The Hobbit from being the unadventurous, dull hobbit to being the unshrinking, adventurous hero. He does this when he finds the ring, when he frees the dwarves from the giant spider’s webs, and when he helps the dwarves escape from the Wood Elves. In the Hobbit, Bilbo is morphed into a hero when he finds the ring. The reader can infer that the ring was key for him to become a hero because without it he most likely would not have been a hero in the situations where he was using the ring to save the others.
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.
The next step is test, allies, and enemies, which means the hero would be tested and facing his enemies and test. In the novel Bilbo Baggins’s allies would be the thirteen dwarves and Gandalf, during this stage of the story Bilbo’s enemies would be the giant spider in the forest, and the dragon Smaug (143). Bilbo when facing his test and enemies he uses his ring to outsmart escape and save his allies and friends. Bilbo is changing his characteristics throughout the story, he now should be a lot braver and smarter, because in the beginning he was just a coward that did not want any changes in his life and not willing to commit to the adventure that he was invited compared to the beginning of the story, he now should be making the preparations needed to approach the inmost cave that leads to the journey's heart, or central ordeal. Which should be the time when Bilbo was talking to the dragon before the fight, and took the arkenstone from all the treasures and golds.
Even though this part of the hero’s journey was portrayed pretty similarly, there is still a bit of a difference. They both used their instincts, but Bilbo was influenced a bit by the dwarves. His Took side had shown while the dwarves were contemplating whether he was fit for the adventure or not. This made him want to prove himself to them. Instincts aren’t normally the cause of the call to adventure, but for some reason, these two very different novels are similar this way.
When people go places and step out of their comfort zones, sometimes they come back a different person. In The Hobbit, Bilbo is an ordinary hobbit, but after his adventure, it is apparent that Bilbo is now a hero. Three events that occur that show this transformation are when Bilbo jumps over Gollum, when Bilbo slays a spider, and when Bilbo travels to the Elvenking and Bard in order to make peace. The moment Bilbo leaps over Gollum demonstrates to the reader how Bilbo is beginning to go from hobbit to hero.
Mahdi Jaber Mrs. Schwartz British Literature Dec 5 2015 Heroes “Heroes represent the best of ourselves, respecting that we are human beings. A hero can be anyone from Gandhi to your classroom teacher, anyone who can show courage when faced with a problem. A hero is someone who is willing to help others in his or her best capacity (Martin).” Respectively, anyone can be a hero but heroes are classified as people with aspects including Faith, loyalty, modesty, courtesy, honor, and bravery. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines a hero as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts of fine qualities.”
“Don’t be afraid to change. You may lose something good but you may gain something better.” In the Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien presents an unlikely hero, a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. Another important character in the novel is Gandalf, a wizard and an old family friend, forces Bilbo to come out of his comfort zone onto a journey to recover the dwarves name and gold from the evil dragon, Smaug. Bilbo fulfills the archetypal hero’s journey by starting of an in ordinary world ,facing Ordeal, Death, and Rebirth, and The Road Back while illustrating the theme of innovation.
Bilbo’s Transformation/Maturation Some people say that people never change, while others believe that if given the chance, they will. In this case, J.R.R. Tolkien gives the character Bilbo Baggins the chance to change dramatically in his book The Hobbit. Bilbo undergoes many significant changes in his personality as a result of engaging in Gandalf's journey with the dwarves. The most important transformations include Bilbo going from cowardly to brave, from being ridiculed to respected and from being helpless to resourceful.
Bilbo’s unconventional heroism challenges traditional hero archetypes by perceiving as an ordinary and unadventerous hobbit while also reinforcing the archetype with selflessness and emphasizing empathy over physical strength. Bilbo’s character challenges the traditional archetype of the hero by presenting Bilbo as an unlikely protagonist while Odysseus
In The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien uses symbolism throughout the story to show how Bilbo went from cowardice to courageous. Hobbits are known to be unadventurous, bucolic, and somewhat shy. In the beginning of the adventure/quest, Bilbo wants to go home and doesn't want to be a burglar. But when Gandalf leaves Bilbo and the dwarves, he slowly starts to step out of his comfort zone. The symbols that represent Bilbo’s change include Bilbo’s home, the ring, and his sword.
Bilbo, however, possessed none of those qualities, he was in fact, a Hobbit. A Little Hobbit living in a comfortable hole, in The Shire. Hobbits never went on adventures, it was not done. However, this hobbit did, and all it took was a party and a bit of prompting from a wize wizard. He had begun his journey as a regular Hobbit,
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 journey that Bilbo endures transforms him into a hero. Bilbo encounters many tests and trials throughout the story which reveal character. These courageous actions display the heroic character of Bilbo. Throughout The Hobbit, Bilbo displays the universal message that anyone can develop into a hero. Even the smallest and seemingly weakest creatures and people can become as great as Bilbo.
The Hobbit Literary Analysis Would you be able to step out of your comfort zone for the sake of adventure and a promise of treasure? This was the predicament Bilbo Baggins is unexpectedly presented with one sunny afternoon. Thirteen dwarves appear at his door and put forward their offer. Bilbo is a little apprehensive at first but soon comes to the realization that in his ordinary life of a Hobbit in the Shire he will never get another opportunity like this again. When reading The Hobbit, being able to step out of your comfort zone is a major key.