Bilbo Heroism

The attitude toward violence is a significant aspect of heroism. A hero, according to the usual stereotype, is equipped with named weapons and armor. Bilbo, lining up with this stereotype, acquires three pieces of equipment: the sword Sting, the Ring of Invisibility, and mithril chain mail once belonging to an elven prince. Bilbo obtains Sting as a reward when he manages to steal trolls' treasure key. The theft of this key is a symbol of power because of Bilbo managing to get a hold of something out of reach to others. With the help of Sting and the Ring of Invisibility, Bilbo finally discovers the courage and strength lying dormant within him upon slaying a spider:
Somehow the killing of the giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark without the help of the wizard or the dwarves or of anyone else, made a great difference to Mr. Baggins. He felt a different person, and much fiercer and bolder in spite of an empty stomach. (Tolkien, 141-142)
We also see in the novel that Gandalf and Thorin aquire named swords including "Orcrist, the Goblin Cleaver" and "Glamdring, the Foe Hammer". Naturally, swords represent great power in stores of heroes, kings, or gods such as Arthur's sword Excalibur or Thor's hammer Mjolnir. Bilbo names his sword Sting after killing the great spider. As William Green illustrates, with his sword and chain mail Bilbo
develops from a boy to a man, a military hero provided with a weapon (Green, 45, 55-57) Even Smaug feared Bilbo's presence when he dreams of Bilbo as "a warrior, altogether insignificant in size but provided with a bitter sword and great courage" (Tolkien, 195) Furthermore, Bilbo does not simply use the sword for slaying enemies, but he uses it primarily for self-defense. He could have easily joined the Battle of Five Armies and participated as a warrior, but Bilbo renounces war. This is ironically what saves the dwarves from the spiders. Bilbo also shows mercy when he raised his sword ready to strike Gollum:
He must fight. He must stab the foul thing, put its eyes out, kill it. It meant to kill him. No, not a fair fight. He was invisible now. Gollum had no sword. Gollum had not actually threatened to kill him, or tried to yet. And he was miserable, alone, lost. A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo’s heart … all these thoughts passed in a flash of a second. (Tolkien, 80)
A warrior such as Beowulf would have likely killed Golum, but Bilbo chooses mercy and this helps him remain a hero. According to Tolkien, a hero must be guided by conscience. Bilbo could have been a warrior-like figure, but his ethics and morality instruct him that it is wrong to kill such a defenseless creature; therefore, he gains a clear conscience which becomes a large part of his heroism. We see Bilbo is guided by new, elevated moral standards when he gives the Arkenstone to Bard and then return to his friends saying, "I don't think I ought to leave my friends like this, after all we have gone through together" (Tolkien, 244).
As Bilbo develops into a hero throughout the novel, rebirth is an important aspect that signifies the start of a new life and point of view. In order to reach the pinnacle heroism Bilbo needs to go through a litany of steps. The theme of rebirth deals with going through these necessary steps for proper heroic development.
Bilbo lives in Bag End, a small home made from a hold in the ground. It is described as a calm, comfy life. Bilbo is about fifty years of age. However, he lives a passive, childlike life with few distractions. He is seen as childish not only because of his size but in manners. His behavior his hardly "heroic":
There was a growling sound outside, and a noise as of some great animal scuffling at the door. Bilbo wondered what it was, and whether it could be Beorn in enchanted shape, and if he would come in as a bear and kill them. He dived under the blankets and hid his head, and fell asleep again at last in spite of his fears. (Tolkien, 117-118)
His childlike behavior is pitiful as first glance, but it is this kind of nature that makes him sensitive. The goal is to keep that same innocence but acquire maturity. Before he departs on his quest with the dwarves his life consists of polishing décor and smoking his pipe while never leaving home. Both Green and Hancock reference Bilbo's home being compared to a mother's womb isolated from the outside world. Rebirth in this context represents beginning a new life. Bag End is a place where Bilbo is safe, but not independent. It is argued that Bilbo's rebirth into psychological maturity rather than physical aging (Green “The Hobbit” 38-40, 53-55; “Where’s Mama?” 188-189; Hancock 49-50).
As Gandalf persuades and insists on Bilbo leaving on an adventure with the dwarves, Hancock suggests that Gandalf is as a father delivering Bilbo from the womb of the Shire where Bilbo separates from the mother image (Hancock, 45, 50). Gandalf plays the part of the parent who has the duty of teaching Bilbo the ways of life. He assists the team of Bilbo and the dwarves and is seen as the father-like figure who bails them out of impossible situations. With his wisdom and experience he works as a master or teacher and is seen as a father (Hancock, 45). However, Gandalf is not always with Bilbo on his journey and is in fact usually absent. Gandalf's absence is necessary for Bilbo to fully develop into the hero he becomes.
Bilbo's dual nature of peaceful and adventurous were always in conflict.
His decisions, personality, and sense of morality makes him the hero he is without being the stereotypical warrior. Bilbo is a small hobbit with a huge heart, who changes the world differently than any other hero. He chooses the life of a savior rather than a warrior. He doesn't fight his battles through sheer strength. He shows compassion, innocence, and ethics in developing into the unique hero that Tolkien intended. Bilbo represents a hero that will ultimately contribute in shaping an ideal and peaceful world in a lighthearted and caring
manner.