Changes of Bilbo Baggins through the Journey - Book Report/Review Example

Changes of Bilbo Baggins through the Journey Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit living in a hobbit hole, enjoyed a comfortable and peaceful life at the Hill. The hobbit illustrates the gradual journey of personality changes in Bilbo to bring out the heroic Bilbo at the end of the story. The journey of Bilbo demonstrates the stepwise changes in the characters of the naive, timid and complacent Bilbo to a courageous, eloquent, honest, strong, and shrewd person. Bilbo, the son of Belladonna Took is one of the hobbit that hated a company of many people and regarded adventure as waste of sleeping time (Tolkien 18). Gandalf who was an exemplary storyteller and wizard played an important role in the transformation of Bilbo usual characters to the respectable and heroic characters at the end of the adventurous event. Gandalf managed to unravel the hidden potentialities in Bilbo hence, the journey brought Bilbo at the end as a hero of the hobbits. Gandalf on his way down The Hill met Bilbo outside his hole. Although, at first the conversation between Gandalf, regarded by Bilbo as a stranger, and Bilbo was not a pleasant conversation, Later, Bilbo became politer to Gandalf after Gandalf further introduced himself to Bilbo (Tolkien 18-25). For that reason, Bilbo invited Gandalf for a cup of tea set on Wednesday. The cunning Gandalf changed the breakfast moment with Bilbo only to a meeting time with other dwarves in Bilbo place to organize for the adventurous event. Hence, the presence of the thirteen dwarves in the meeting disregarded Bilbo protest to refuse to participate in the adventure. As a result, Bilbo had to play the role of a burglar in the adventure (Tolkien 53). Therefore, the role of change in personality of Bilbo started once, Bilbo reluctantly accepted the role of a burglar. During the adventure, the dwarves embarked in a journey to reclaim the lost treasures guarded by the giant dragon known as Smung. The treasure located at a Lonely Mountain was part of Thorin’s dynasty. Therefore, Bilbo, the hobbit, was an addition dwarf team. Therefore, Bilbo had to lead other dwarves to recover the treasures. The twelve dwarves are not comfortable of the choice of Gandalf to make Bilbo their burglar (Tolkien 50- 93). Moreover, Bilbo full of fear of leaving the peaceful and comfortable life was in doubt of successful performing his role. Gandalf did not buy into any person opinion because he saw more potential in Bilbo being the burglar and lead the group to reclaim the treasures than Bilbo physical outlook. Gandalf assured the other dwarves of his confidence in Bilbo leadership. Therefore, the adventurous journey towards the lonely mountain began with the thirteen dwarves and one hobbit. At first, Bilbo was unsure of his role and had wrong misgiving and regrets of going for the adventure event but he had no choice because Gandalf will not allow him to back out from the event. Shortly after the journey, the dwarves group bumped to three hungry trolls that captured the member of the team except for Gandalf. Gandalf, the trickster, tricked the nocturnal trolls to stay outside until sunrise (Tolkien 100). Hence, one the sun came up the nocturnal trolls turned to stones saving the dwarves from the trolls. After the trolls turned to stones, the dwarves took the trolls weapons from the trolls’ camp. Gandalf took the trolls magic weapon while Bilbo took a small weapon (Tolkien 102-105) Gandalf then, lead the group to the house of elves where Elrond expound in details the guidance of the map. After the short rest, the group left the house and went passed the Misty Mountain. Immediately, after passing the Misty Mountain the group bumped to Goblins. Thus, Gandalf saved the dwarves and accidentally left Bilbo. Bilbo got lost in the Goblins tunnel and as Bilbo wandered by to find his way out, he spotted a golden ring on the ground belonging to Gollum, which Bilbo picked and kept it (Tolkien 120-130). Thereafter, Bilbo encounters Gollum who he had to fight before managing to leave the tunnel. With the help of the golden ring, which make a person invisible, Bilbo used the ring to escape from Gollum. Thus, his courage and intelligence boost his trust to group the group on his role. After Bilbo escaped from Gollum, he rejoined the rest of the team but with increased courage and strength. The encounter with Gollum forced Bilbo to get out of his comfort zone and saved him from death hence, transforming his character of the timid Bilbo to courageous and brave Bilbo. Thereafter, the team went into the black forest called Mirkwood without the company of Gandalf. In the forest, the dwarves encountered the giant spider and Bilbo saved the dwarves from the prison of the giant spider using the golden ring (Tolkien 130-150). As the team continued to walk towards the lonely mountain, the dwarves met with Wood-elves and Bilbo still saved the team from the Wood-elves. Thus, Bilbo led the dwarves down the river safely through the barrels. The dwarves later arrived at the Lake Town, where human lives. The Lake Town was located near the Lonely Mountain where the giant dragon, Smung, stays with the treasure. The dwarves led by Bilbo secretly sneaked into the Lonely Mountain and the group managed to locate the secret door as illustrated in Thoror’s map. Bilbo as the leader of the group and professional thief had to device away to get the treasure from the giant dragon, Smung. Bilbo now with so much courage, eloquence, and shrewdness managed to reach the giant dragon and tricked the dragon to getting the treasure. Apart from Bilbo successfully stealing the great cup from the dragon and escaping, he also had the opportunity to know the weakness of defeating the dragon. Hence, Smung learning of the loss of the great cup, he went out and burnt the whole village of Lake Town and Bard managed to kill Smung (Tolkien 150-250). Therefore, the Bilbo is gradually changing his personality to a heroic character using his wit without his notice. Therefore, the humans of Lake Town and elves of Mirkwood knowing about the secured treasure went to the Lonely Mountain to seek a portion of the treasure as a form of compensation. Thorin, the oldest dwarf, valued the treasure Arkenstone jealously hence, refused to listen to the human in any way. For that reason, the furious humans and elves besieged the mountain trapping the dwarves and Bilbo inside. Bilbo comprehending what was happening decided to sneak out and joined the humans. Therefore, the outstanding courage of Bilbo and reluctance to tolerant Thorin’s greed led to Bilbo betraying the dwarves. Thorin termed Bilbo as treason yet Bilbo did everything for the sake of the group (Tolkien 243- 267). The loyalty of Bilbo was to bring peace between the humans and dwarves to save the dwarves. The scenario brought out the honesty and intelligence of Bilbo. Bilbo who was an anti-social man and hated a crowd now heroically joins the human group to negotiate for peace on behalf of the dwarves sieged inside the Lonely Mountain Bilbo decided to give Arkenstone, a great jewel cut and shining like a huge diamond to Bard who killed Smung, so as he can resolve the conflicts. Hence, Bilbo wanted Bard who had killed the great giant to decide on behalf of the people whether to give back the Arkenstone treasure to Thorin or remain with the treasure (Tolkien 112-200). At this moment, Thorin announced the coming of Goblins and Wargs. Therefore, forcing the human, elves, and dwarves to gang up and the army re-aligned to fight against the Goblins and Wargs. The battle was very fierce but the arrival of Eagles and Beorn managed to save the dwarves from the Goblins and Wargs (Tolkien 134-220). During the battle, a stone hurling from above smirked the invisible Bilbo and by the time Bilbo regained consciousness he was alone. As a result, Bilbo had to remove the golden ring so that the people sent to look for him can see him. The dwarves and the hobbit successfully finished their adventure and headed home. Although, Bilbo was returning to the hobbit community, he was going with a transformed personality. On their way back Bilbo the journey was smooth and pleasant and Bilbo could remember the challenges and hurdles the team encountered with nostalgia. Bilbo not only gained respect and heroic characteristic in the eyes of dwarves but he became transformed with the adventurous events. Although, at home the other hobbit Bilbo had died physically, indeed the timid, anti-social, and complacent Bilbo personality had died during the adventure. Thorin badly wounded during the fight of the battle of five armies could not live for long thus, he made peace with Bilbo before he died. Therefore, Bilbo only accepted a small portion of the treasure recovered from the Lonely Mountain (Tolkien 278-280). Bilbo became the richest among the hobbit from the portion of the treasure he had acquired. Hence, he became a rewarded hero physically and character wise The events that surrounded the journey of Bilbo in reclaiming the treasure with the help of the dwarves changed Bilbo character to a heroic person. The direct encounter of challenges such as fighting Gollum, saving the dwarves from the giant spider and wittily taking the treasure from the dragon are some of the encounters that compulsory transformed Bilbo personality without Bilbo notice. The amazing intelligence, courage, brevity, and strength accrued in Bilbo crowned his heroic stature. Therefore, the timid, comfortable, and complacent Bilbo at the start of the story of “The Hobbit” is not the Bilbo who emerged at the end. The Bilbo at the end of the story after the adventurous journey turned out to be heroic and highly respected by the dwarves. Works Cited Tolkien, John. The Hobbit, Or, There and Back Again. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print. Read More