Influence Of The Characters In 'The Hobbit'

There are many important characters in The Hobbit that are vital to the story and influence the outcome of the book in various ways. Two important characters in the story are Gandalf the Grey, a wandering wizard, and Beorn, a skin changer who can turn into a bear or a man.
Gandalf the Grey’s physical appearance is very unique compared to the dwarves and Bilbo. For one, he is about twice as tall as them. The rest of Gandalfs appearance is well summed up in this quotation,”All that unsuspecting Bilbo saw that morning was an old man with a staff. He had a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, a silver scarf over which his long white beard hung down to his waist, and immense black boots.”
Gandalf the Grey is a very powerful, old wizard who
is different from the other characters in many ways. In this book, his background is rather vague. For one, he is a member of the White Council, a group of powerful wizards. Also, he has been on many adventures for various reasons including one in Dol Guldur that led him to find the map and key for the Lonely Mountain. Also, he was quite fond of the Old Took, one of Bilbo’s ancestors. As a matter of fact, the fireworks he gave to the Old Took are one of the few reasons he is remembered in the Shire. In addition to Gandalf’s unique background and appearance, he also has a very interesting personality. For one, he is a no-nonsense person, which is displayed quite well within this quotation,”...and I think I have already earned some of your dragon-gold--when you have got it.” Also, despite his no no-nonsense attitude, he also likes joking too, which is also displayed well in the previous quotation. In addition to the past two characteristics, he also makes very strong friendships in a very little amount of time, as displayed by Bilbo and Gandalf’s deep friendship by the end of their journey. Gandalf also plays a very important role in the story.
For one, if Gandalf had not found Thrain in Dol Guldur, then there would be no map and key, and hence, no knowledge of the back door. In other words, without Gandalf, this story wouldn’t have gone too well. Also, Gandalf gets the dwarves out of two considerably dangerous, sketchy situations in the book, the goblin tunnels, and the trolls, not to mention helping fend off the wargs. He helped them escape the trolls by mimicking them until the sun turned them to stone. Also, in the goblin tunnels he helped them by leading the way and freeing them from the great goblin’s halls. Lastly, he helped fend off the wargs from biting them in the trees by throwing flaming pinecones at them. Also, without Gandalf’s connections with people like Elrond and Beorn, the story would have gone quite differently. Lastly, Gandalf drove the Necromancer from Dol Guldur, which made him leave the dwarves for quite some time in Mirkwood. As a result of Gandalf leaving, Bilbo became more brave and a magnificent leader. In addition to having a tremendous effect on the storyline, Gandalf also has many strengths. One of his main strengths is his ability to cast various powerful spells, and also many useful everyday spells. A few examples of his more potent magic are making pinecones burst into a magical multicolored fire that maims and burns warg fur, zapping enemies with
lightning as he did in the goblin tunnels, and mimicking voices as shown in the encounter with the trolls. Also, he has some useful magic for “everyday” use. A few example of these are coloring smoke rings, making a light on the end of his staff, and making magnificent fireworks. In fact, Gandalf is especially skilled in magic relating to fire and light. In addition to all of these strengths, Gandalf also is a very wise guide who has many connections with characters vital to the story. For example, Gandalf’s knowledge of Beorn, Elrond, and their houses were crucial to the completion of their quest because they were safe from goblins at Beorn’s and learned of the way to open the back door. Also, Gandalf had the knowledge that trolls have hoards, so they found Glamdring and Orcrist, which without them the goblin tunnels may have gone quite differently. Lastly, Gandalf has very few weaknesses, and they are all quite petty. One of his most important disadvantages ( and perhaps his only one) is always being busy with other engagements, such as the Necromancer and the White Council. Overall, Gandalf is a very valuable, powerful character without whom the book would have gone quite differently. He is a skilled wizard who is very hard to defeat, and he is also a good, wise guide who makes few errors. In addition to Gandalf, there are other characters in The Hobbit that are also very important such as Beorn. Beorn’s physical appearance is a large, strong skin-changer who can transform into a bear. His appearance is well summed up by this quotation ,”Standing near was a huge man with a thick black beard and hair, and great bare arms and legs with knotted muscles. He was clothed in a tunic of wool down to his knees, and was leaning on a large axe.” Beorn also has a queer personality, as did his lodgings. For one, he is not very fond of people, especially dwarves, and he has a strong distaste of large groups of them, especially strangers. Also, he is quite interested in stories, and hates Goblins with a passion. Also, he was quite churlish and not very polite. In addition, he treats his animals like his children and loves them dearly. In addition, Beorn has an interesting background. There is a high likelihood he came from the mountains, as shown by this quote he spoke towards the mountains,” The day will come when they will perish and I shall go back.” He is also a skin-changer who can change into either a bear or a man. Beorn’s role in the story , however small, is just as important as other character’s.
Without Beorn’s help, the dwarves may have gotten into terrible trouble with the goblins, as shown by this quote when leaving Beorn’s house,”... for if they make their raid soon, they will cross the river to the south and scour all the edge of the forest to cut you off....” Also, he gave them food such as nuts, flour, and honey that would last them for quite some time for their journey through Mirkwood. Beorn has some very good qualities and strengths that helped progress the story more.
One of his most notable strengths was a skin changer, which means he can transform from a man into a bear. Also, even in his man form, he is incredibly strong. In addition, he also has many HIGHLY intelligent animals under his service such as dogs that can stand on hind legs and horses who can understand him. In addition to his strengths, Beorn also has some weaknesses. One example of one of his weaknesses is his distaste towards people, which can make him quite mad and kick the visitors out of his house. Also, sometimes he summons all of his bear-friends for meetings, which can be quite perilous to guests who wander outside his house. Lastly, he is very protective of his animals, as shown when he follows Thorin and Co. to the edge of mirkwood to make sure his ponies are returned , which proves he is willing to punish people who take his animals. Overall, Beorn is a skin-changing animal-lover who is not quite fond of guests, and he hates goblins with a fiery
passion. So, in conclusion, two characters from The Hobbit, Beorn, a skin changer, and Gandalf, a powerful wise wizard, have many strengths and weaknesses , and played critical roles in the outcome and plot of the story