The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien - Essay Example

?Bilo Baggins was a hobbit, who lived in an average neighborhood which went by the ‘The Hill’. He was not considered as very respectable, not based on riches or popularity but it was due to the fact that he had experienced something unexpected, an adventure, which was rare and frowned upon when it came to hobbits. Bilbo Baggins might have initially protested going to the adventure as it was against the common perception and socially acceptable behavior of Hobbits but later, he changes his mind due to his inner curiosity to know more and experience the unknown giving up his comfortable home and joining Gandalf and the dwarves on the adventure. This story told is about the adventure that Bilbo undergoes. Initially Bilbo had indeed protested going on the adventure when the wizard Gandalf invited him. His decision seemed to be set in the way he had quickly declined Gandalf’s invitation embarking on the fact that Hobbits and adventures did not go together and that Gandalf would have to search for a companion away from The Hill. “We don’t want any adventures here. You might try over The Hill or across The Water”(pp.137, Chapter 1). However before declining Gandalf Bilbo had invited him over for tea the next day, as a gesture of civility and politeness. Gandalf was not discouraged by Bilbo’s blunt rejection to his invitation. He saw in Bilbo something that he himself had failed to see; the desire, the inner curiosity and the desire for something so much more than a normal boring life. Gandalf had noticed Bilbo’s “love of tales, and his question about the wide world outside of the Shire” (pp.148). He showed up for tea along with a party of thirteen dwarves and it was this fascination of the unseen and different that evoked in Bilbo a spark for an adventure which was buried deep down inside him. His desire to know more and to explore what was out there played a huge part in his decision to join Gandalf and the dwarves. It was then that he packed up and found himself accompanying the wizard on a series of adventures which were beyond anything he had ever imagined. There are many reasons as to why the notion that Bilbo’s decision to go on the adventure was not due to peer pressure but one which was associated with his inner most desires being put forward. It is easy to believe that people never change, however while some might believe that others put faith in the notion that if given an opportunity everyone changes. As far as J.R.R Tolkien’s character Bilbo Baggins is concerned, an alteration of this character that undergoes significant changes is evident to the reader. The truth of the matter is that the true nature of an individual is brought to the surface when he is put under several tests. These tests for Bilbo were the adventures he undertakes. So we might say that this transformation might have been insightful but these characteristics, brave, resourceful and adventurous were always who Bilbo Baggins was. These hidden characteristics were a big part of why Bilbo Baggins decided to undertake this journey in order to find himself. His boring monotonous yet comfortable life and his forthright denial were just based on the forced perception of the Hobbits as creatures who were not at all adventurous or brave or prone to taking risks. Where society believed he was a coward he managed to prove them wrong in the way we see Bilbo fight the great spider by using his little sword. We see how slaying the great monster made Bilbo realize that without anyone else’s help he had managed to overcome a great hurdle. This independence and bravery were his defining characteristics as he had gloriously prevailed as the victor despite the enormity of his opponent. He now managed to see himself as the person Gandalf was known he was when he had extended to him the invitation to embark on the adventure. There are other reasons which would explain why Bilbo was so against the idea of going on the adventure when Gandalf had initially asked him. It had little to do with the Hobbit really wanted but instead it was a decision automatically structured in his mind based on the norms and the acceptable perception that society had of Hobbits; one of docile and risk averse creatures who lead a monotonous life. More importantly it had to do with the perception that Hobbits had of each other in order to be part of a socially acceptable community. Like any other community they had rules and norms which defined the activities that were deemed appropriate for Hobbits, like tea parties and managing a household, and which weren’t, such as going so far away from The Hill and taking part in a quest along with dwarves and wizards. Hence Bilbo’s rejection was based primarily on the norms and rules that were such a critical part of being a socially acceptable part of The Hill. He was already perceived by the other Hobbits as ‘bit queer and, and went off for days by himself. He could be seen talking to strangers, even Dwarves” (pp. 337). So what Bilbo Baggins wants comes later. Once he has had the time and the opportunity to really grasp what the wizard Gandalf was offering – something new and different. When he grasps the reality of what it would be like to go on an adventure Bilbo was quick to give up the comforts of a nice cozy little Hobbit hole and embark on a journey of self-discovery despite his initial reluctance and aversion to the idea. You realize the solid determination of Bilbo and how this characteristic flourishes in the way that during his adventures he begins to trust himself more. A good example is the way the way the dwarves suggest he be the first one to go inside the cave and enter Smaug’s mountain. Just like the time Gandalf asked him to join him on the adventure Bilbo’s name had been brought up once again. In both situations he had not volunteered. However going on the adventure, despite taking a lot of time and a nudge by Gandalf, was a decision Bilbo makes himself. Now being more informed and aware of the person he really was he is quick to trust himself and enter the cave and have enough nerve to steal the golden cup from the dragon. Bilbo Baggins decision to embark on this adventure with Gandalf was one based on his own desire and curiosity to experience something new. His initial hesitation was a result of the social pressure and based on the acceptable perception of what a Hobbit should and should not do. And so when Bilbo finally packs up and decides to go with Gandalf leaving his boring comfortable home it was because of his own inner desires and not due to any sort of pressure. Reference Tolkein, J.R.R. “The Hobbit.” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 15 Feb 2012, 288 Pages. Read More