Journal #4 The Hobbit

In J.R.R. Toliken's novel The Hobbit, the main character Bilbo Baggins struggles with many issues that, quite frankly, he hadn't had to deal with before. These issues, contrary to other first person narratives, makes him an outcast when he gets home, instead of the usual, "was an outcast already" plot. Yet, becoming an outcast in his own society thrusts Bilbo into a whole new light. Bilbo is now respected by elves, dwarves and wizards. He becomes increasingly more open-minded to other societies and happier with himself, despite the fact that even the smaller, more adventurous hobbits are strongly advised to stay away from Bilbo, truly(as stated above) leaving him a recluse in his own society.

Towards the end of the book, Bilbo visibly begins to wish he was home less frequently. The "Tookish" side of him begins to come out full blast as he begins to take on more adventurous tasks such as going down into Smaugs lair alone, bringing the Arkenstone to the elves, and saves the dwarves on four separate occasions. Some of those occasions being the incidence with the spiders, the incidence with the woodland elves, and the incidence in which Bilbo scoots the dwarves into a cave for protection from Smaug. These are the situations which transform Bilbo from a hobbit whose most dangerous daily adventure used to be turning on the oven, into a hobbit who isnít afraid to take action and save 13 lives in the process, even if it meant risking his own life.

These situations are situations that Bilbo would not have become exposed to if he had simply existed in his little hobbit hole for the rest of his life.. Gandalf came along, somewhat like a father figure, believed in Bilbo, and not only accomplished his goal of defeating Smaug, but accomplished and even greater goal by presenting Bilbo with a life altering experience like no other.

The theme of the book now seems to be one of change and transformation. All of the components listed above, along with the ones that will be mentioned below aide Bilbo in his emotional and mental transformation. The entire last half of the book is about Bilboís evolution to a hobbit that is more confident, knowledgeable and adventurous. Bilboís change was imperative to surviving in the situation that he was thrown into. Yet, the change stays with Bilbo, and in the end is healthy for him. He is no longer passive, and simple. He knows that, for him, being aggressive may help him further on in his "not so simple anymore" life.

Another theme in a portion of the book seems to be greed and how it causes warfare. On page 258 it is remarked that peace may cost much gold and treasure. And then, again on page 263 Thorin reuses to give ANY treasure to the elves. Even though the elves were the ones who had defeated and killed Smaug, allowing their village to be destroyed in the process, AND a portion of the treasure had been stolen from them to begin with, so it is to be rightfully relinquished to them. Therefore, since peace and gold may cost much treasure, and treasure will not rightfully be relinquished, peace will not be achieved. Just the opposite will occur. A war breaks out, with every ìraceî represented. When the dust settles, Thorin lay dying and calls for Bilbo. This is a crucial moment in the plot, where Thorin compliments and praises Bilbo and dies, then everything comes together and it is made abundantly clear that the war was not necessary after all.