Character Analysis Essay of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit
J.R.R. Tolkein wrote The Hobbit as a prelude to his much larger and famous work, The Lord of the Rings. It is a story about a hobbit that was recruited by a wizard to help dwarfs recover their ancient home from a fierce dragon. He was chosen by the wizard, Gandalf, because he always believed that there is something about Bilbo that makes him the perfect one for the mission. They need a “burglar” and Bilbo is chosen to become one. One of the dwarfs state: “He looks more like a grocer than a burglar!” Yet, Gandalf defends him, “There is a lot more in him that you guess and a deal more than he has any idea of himself.” With this praise, Bilbo accepts the challenge: hesitant at first, but nevertheless, committed. The story primarily revolves around the group’s quest and Bilbo’s transformation.
Bilbo Baggins is a bourgeois who enjoys complicated-free life. He has lived fifty comfortable, yet unremarkable years. Despite being safe and warm, Bilbo somehow knows that there is something missing in his life. A visit from Gandalf somehow sparked an old flame that has always been inside Bilbo (Hardy, 6). It is known to many that Bilbo comes from the family of Baggins—a respectable family, conventional and traditional hobbits. Yet, his mother is a Took—a family known for their known for their love excitement and adventure. Thus, it can be expected for Bilbo to be enthusiastic in his unexpected journey with Gandalf and the Dwarves. Gandalf knows much about hobbits, especially about Bilbo. Gandalf knows that he needs to spoil and pamper Bilbo first before the real hardships begin. He needs to be certain that slowly, but surely, Bilbo’s Tookish side will rise amidst the challenges (Arthur, 28).
Throughout the story, we can see these two personalities of Bilbo. Sometimes, he can be too cautious and reserved. At times, especially in the first half of the novel, Bilbo continues to look back, to desire for his life back in the Hobbit hole, where he can be war, safe, and comfortable (Markos, 25). Nevertheless, Bilbo’s exotic and enthusiastic Tookish blood had been more apparent. He had been heroic in most of the group’s endeavors. He emerged to be successful in finding his courage. He lives up to Gandalf’s expectations: “There is always something more about you than anyone expects.” With the help of Gollum’s ring, Bilbo acts with physical courage, selflessness, and loyalty to his comrades (Clark and Timmons, 43). The ring serves as his salvation and comfort zone. There are various points in the story where is being saved by the ring. Yet, he does not keep the salvation by himself. He used being invisible for his own advantage, but, even more, he used invisibility to save his comrades.
Bilbo is the strongest personality in Tolkein’s The Hobbit. He is good natured and a very likeable character for the readers. At times, he can be unpredictable—we never know which personality can arise, Took or Baggins. In the personality of Bilbo Baggins, Tolkein creates a new kind of hero: hesitant at first, yet successfully fulfills his task. In the end, on top of all his achievements, the most notable point about Bilbo Baggins is that he never really changed. He does not become arrogant or big-headed like other heroes. Rather, he remains to be humorous, charmingly calm, and amicable. In the end, Bilbo goes back to Bag End or the Hobbit Hole, where he lives for another fifty years. The story ends with his charming laugh and final words: “Thank goodness!”
Works Cited:
Arthur, Sarah. Walking with Bilbo. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1996.
Clark, George; Timmons, Daniel. J.R.R. Tolkien and His Literary Resonances: Views of the Middle-earth. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2000.
Hardy, Gene. CliffNotes on Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit. Lincoln, Nebraska: Cliff Notes, Inc.
Markos, Louis. On the Shoulders of Hobbits Sampler: The Road to Virtue with Tolkien and Lewis. Chicago, IL: Modify Publishers, 2001.