J.R.R Tolkien’s, The Hobbit is a wonderful fantasy novel filled with magical creatures such as hobbits, wizards, elves, dwarves, trolls, as well as many other mythical creatures. Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, is the reluctant hero of the story. Throughout his many adventures, he is torn between his desire for security and comfort, and his desire for adventure, his Tookish side. Although never completely free from self-doubt, Bilbo struggles to overcome his fears and to become more confident and self-reliant. Bilbo is reborn on his adventure. He changes in many ways throughout the journey becoming a different hobbit.
At first, Bilbo prefers to stay in his hobbit-hole rather then seeking adventure. He is confronted by Gandalf, a very powerful wizard who invites him to share in an adventure. Bilbo wants nothing to do with it replying, “We don’t want any adventures here thank you! You might try over the hill or across the water” (18). Yet later despite his fears, he agrees to go. “He suddenly felt that he would go without bed and breakfast to be thought fierce” (30). So began his journey.
As Bilbo’s journey progresses he becomes increasingly self reliant and resourceful, although he does not start out that way. At first, Thorin and the dwarves order him to investigate a nearby light. He confronts three trolls, and is captured, and must be saved by Gandalf. Later on
in the story, Bilbo’s role is reversed, as he must save the others. When the spiders capture the dwarves, Bilbo bravely battles them. When the wood elves imprison the dwarves, Bilbo must plan and execute their escape. Although he does it, he is not completely comfortable with all of the responsibility as he, “did not like being depended on by everyone and he wished he had the wizard at hand” (171).
Bilbo always does the right thing. He is loyal to his friends, the dwarves, until he believes that there leader, Thorin, has been blinded by greed. He does not think that they should hoard the treasure, but rather share it with the lake people and the elves. He even offers to give up his share to make peace. Bilbo is now a hobbit who thinks for himself and follows what he believes to be right.
Bilbo still has fears, but has lost the doubt he had about himself. He can now do anything. He is confident, not afraid to do what he knows is right and must be done. As the narrator says, “he was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket-handkerchief from Bag-End long ago” (204). He would now become the best hobbit he could be. Although he had lost the respect of his fellow hobbits, he had gained something far more valuable, confidence and respect for himself. On his journey he had made many new friends, the dwarves, the eagles, the elves, and Beorn, but he learns that it no longer matters what others think about him. The power is within him, he just has to have the courage to take control. Bilbo has become a better hobbit.
