Essay 2 Bilbo Baggins

OCdt Tam, Harry
Dr. M. Hurley
ENE100
10-Oct-2014

The Hobbit:
A Romance Narrative

Bilbo Baggins’ journey through Middle Earth has been argued to be many different types of literature from an epic to a fairy tale, but many of its aspects point out The Hobbit as being a romance. One important factor in the creation of a romance is the environment, one of mystique and the supernatural. Bilbo travels through the fantastical land of Middle Earth to accomplish a mission that could save the world, he performs deeds that seemed impossible to him before and encounters creatures he had never believed could be real. In journeying through this land the hero demonstrates his bravery and selflessness. By embracing this adventure, Bilbo goes against his subconscious profile of a peaceful hobbit, he joins the fight to free a population that is not his and liberates both himself and in this case, the dwarves. This classic adventure consists of the three fundamental stages of a romance: the journey to accomplish the mission, a temptation of the hero and finally, the successful accomplishment of the mission. In hindsight as Bilbo’s adventure comes to end, it is evident that this novel was written as a romance.
A romance, more often than not, takes place in a fantastical, supernatural universe. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth is a prime example of such a universe. With the several races of peoples, creatures never heard of and written accounts of magic, Middle Earth is the perfect setting for the journey of the hero, Bilbo Baggins. Another factor that contributes to The Hobbit being a romance is Bilbo’s discovery of himself, the skills he thought he never had and performing feats he thought he could never do. When Bilbo rescues Thorin from the dungeons of the wood-elves, he uses cunning that he might not have thought possible of possessing had he remained in his hobbit-hole. As Bilbo encounters more and more obstacles that require him to stretch beyond his comfort zone, he reaches above the “norm” of comfort and beyond to limitless possibilities. He also discovers many new concepts in his surroundings, from magic to peoples of different race and creatures of folklore. Bilbo recounts Smaug “with wings folded like an immeasurable bat […] and his long pale belly crusted with gems and fragments of gold from his long lying on his costly bed”. He has never encountered, nor have we, a creature such as a dragon or people like dwarves and elves. These mystical creations out of Tolkien’s imagination reinforces the structure of the novel to resemble that of a romance.
The hero in a romance typically holds the mission at hand above and before himself, implying bravery and heroism. As mentioned before, Bilbo builds his character gradually from the moment he steps outside his hobbit-hole up to the point where Smaug is defeated. Bilbo has many doubts and is afraid at the thought of losing comfort and embarking on an adventure with Gandalf and the 12 dwarves, but finally puts his foot down and decides to become a part of the entourage. Even when he has the choice to stay within the safety of his hobbit-hole, Bilbo takes the chance of encountering the unknown dangers and possibility of death to join Gandalf and the dwarves. Bilbo shows his physical bravery and courage when rescuing the members from certain death. After being captured by the spiders and freeing himself, Bilbo rushes to the aid of the other dwarves and volunteers to lure the spiders away to ensure the dwarves’ safety, telling them to “[g]o on! Go on! I will do the stinging!” This act with the intent of self-sacrifice develops the heroism, courage and bravery within Bilbo. Another example of Bilbo’s selflessness is the objective of the mission itself. The fact that Bilbo is not a dwarf, does not have any right to the treasure lying inside the Lonely Mountain or that he is in any danger from Smaug reinforces his role as a selfless hero. Regardless of the lack of reasons for him to embark on this adventure, Bilbo accepts this request. Bilbo’s role as a hero and the choices that he makes to protect the fellow members of his entourage support The Hobbit as a romance.
Much like most novels, a romance advances through stages as the story progresses, and the three stages associated with romance appear within The Hobbit. The first stage, the journey to accomplish the mission, consists of Bilbo finding the courage and discovering the skills to deal with the final moment of encountering Smaug. Bilbo’s first encounter is that with the trolls, where he attempts to fulfill his role, as labelled by Gandalf, of a burglar. Although he is unsuccessful, this first encounter is a step for Bilbo in building the courage that he will later need. The second stage, a temptation of the hero, shows more clearly that even a hero is not perfect, and Bilbo is not an exception. When finding the Ring within Gollum’s lair, Bilbo tries his hardest to keep the ring within his possession, even engaging in a competition of riddles just to keep it. The third stage, the successful accomplishment of the mission, is the end of Bilbo’s journey on this mission and the last stage in a romance. Bilbo spots a weakness in Smaug’s armor as he ventures into Smaug’s lair once more, a weakness that is sent down to the men of Lake-Town where Smaug is finally killed. The presence of these three stages keep The Hobbit along the guidelines of a romance.
Having followed Bilbo Baggins’ journey there and back again, Tolkien recounts his journey in such a way that classifies the novel as a romance. The important aspects of a romance are found throughout The Hobbit and are what builds its foundation as a novel. The fantastical world in which the entourage journeys, the hero’s fall and rise throughout and the success of their mission. Even though it is contemplated by many whether or not it is a different genre, there is none more fitting than a romance.