Traversing Middle Earth: Entry One — Bilbo’s Choice
We begin our journey just as our friend Bilbo did: In a hole in the ground.
I’ve read The Hobbit once before, a few years ago, and to be completely truthful it is not my favorite book. I find Bilbo particularly irritating, spending a majority of his time complaining and wishing he had never joined in on the adventure. But I given that I’ve put myself on this journey, I of course had to give him another chance.
I’m approximately one-third of the way through The Hobbit, and while I still feel frustrated with Bilbo and his constant complaining, I’m beginning to see that he really is a determined little Hobbit. In both the film and novel, Bilbo is a bit of a push-over. The dwarves walk all over him, helping themselves to his stores, making themselves comfortable in their home. They seem to be under the assumption that Gandalf had explained to Bilbo what their journey would entail. And in both versions, Bilbo has no clue what’s going on.
In the film, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”, Bilbo is given a contract. The dwarves leave him the following day, leaving it up to him to either sign and follow, or go on with his every day life. Ultimately, he makes the choice to run after them, joining on their adventure.
In the original novel, Bilbo doesn’t really seem to ever be given a choice. After an evening of music, eating, and discussion, the dwarves leave Bilbo’s house in a state of ruin, and he is left to clean up the mess. It isn’t until hours later when Gandalf returns, that he discovers the note left for him, telling him to meet the rest of the party at The Green Dragon in, and to be “punctual”. Bilbo suddenly finds himself outside, “without hat, walking stick or money” and off on his way.
No matter which way you look at it, Bilbo ultimately did choose to remain in the party. True he was in the beginning coerced into joining the dwarves. But he has every opportunity to go home and still he chose to continue on. Despite every hiccup in their trip, (be it orcs, giants, or strange riddling creatures in the dark) though he complained nearly every step of the way, he never once turned back. Even the dwarves thought he abandoned them on multiple occasions, but he never failed to turn up.
Bilbo blames his occasional bravery on the Took side of his ancestry, who enjoyed many the adventure, while the Baggins’ chose a quiet, safe lifestyle. It seems to me that whenever Bilbo craves excitement, he uses his Took relations as an excuse for his comparatively wild behavior.
I’ve grown a little fonder of Bilbo on this second reading, and impressed by his perseverance. I’m looking forward to what else I find different as I continue my readthrough.
When next we discuss the story, we’ll dive deeper into chapters one through six, which take us through the first film, “An Unexpected Journey”. In the meantime, let me know your own thoughts on our protagonist.
