The Hobbit; Bilbo Baggins

Bilbo Baggins, a True Hero
“I wish I could be a hero!” Many adults in today’s society hear small children wishing they could become heroes. Children wish to be more like heroes for the reason that heroes are the type of people who risk their lives to help others. Throughout history, children have had a positive connotation with the word “hero.” The heroes many small children talk about are the fictional ones who protect cities from villains: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and others. However, these are not the only types of heroes in today’s world. Firefighters and policemen are also considered heroes because they save the lives of those in danger. Many adults consider their inspirations to be heroes, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Michelle Obama. Heroes do not always have to be real; for instance, they can also be literary characters such as Atticus Finch, Jonas, and Odysseus. Heroes, fictional or not, only have one purpose, to help people in need. These motivating people are in the rare category of people who willingly spend their whole lives helping people achieve their dreams. Heroes are the people who unselfishly help people live their lives in a peaceful manner. Many children wish they could become heroes, such as Bilbo Baggins. In The Hobbit, J.R.R Tolkien explores how Bilbo Baggins matures and ultimately becomes a hero.
A hero, as stated before, selflessly thinks about others’ well beings before his or her own. Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit who was enlisted to help the dwarves retrieve Thorin’s family treasure, does the same thing when he decides to take matters into his own hands, and end the fight between Thorin, the lake men, and the woodelves. Bilbo decides to give the Arkenstone, a prized possession of Thorin’s family, to Bard to prevent all the fighting from taking place. Bilbo knows that this is the only way he can stop Thorin from starting a war going after the prized Arkenstone and other family treasures. Thorin almost starts a war with the lake men and the woodelves, but is stopped by the entrance of the appalling Wargs and Goblins. Bilbo could have taken the prized Arkenstone for himself, but he did not. The reason Bilbo selflessly decides to give away the Arkenstone is because he wants to see peace between all five groups. Bilbo says, “He values it above a river of gold. I give it to you. It will aid you in your bargaining” (Tolkien 271). This quote reveals how Bilbo wants to make sure that the fighting is stopped from progressing. Bilbo atones for his mistake of secretly taking the Arkenstone by giving it to Bard to help stop the feud. Many people can argue that Bilbo takes the Arkenstone for his own pleasure, but Bilbo, being a hero, nobly gives the Arkenstone to Bard to help stop the fight from continuing. Bilbo generously gives the Arkenstone to Bard to make sure Thorin and the other dwarves are not hurt. If Bilbo had not done the right thing, then the elves and the humans would have hurt Thorin and the other dwarves. Thorin values the Arkenstone more than anything else in his life, making him ready to fight for it. Thorin exclaims, “In this debate they have no place. Begone now ere our arrows fly!” (Tolkien 264). Thorin reveals in this quote how much desire he has for this object that has been in his family for many generations. Bilbo knows of this and he wants to make sure that Thorin does not hurt anyone. Bilbo is a hero for selflessly risking his life for Thorin and the faction by going into the enemies’ camp at night and trying to bargain with Bard to create peace in exchange of the Arkenstone. Bilbo also exhibits hero like traits when he leads the dwarves into Smaug’s lair.
Bilbo also reveals his laudable trait of being a leader when he tries to help the dwarves figure a way to get out of the blocked cave. Bilbo knows that the dwarves are terrified of being trapped in a cave with a dragon, so he helps the group by trying to find an exit in Smaug’s lair. Even though Bilbo is aware of the life-threatening risks he faces by going into Smaug’s lair, he still decides to help the dwarves find a way out. If Bilbo does not lead the group in a stealthy way, Smaug will try to harm the whole group. Bilbo daringly says, “I have been that way twice, when I knew there was a dragon at the other end, so I will risk a third visit when I am no longer sure. Anyway the only way out is down” (Tolkien 233). Bilbo risks his life to save Thorin and the group by going to find an exit in the dragon’s lair. This quote shows how Bilbo has the quality of being a leader because he is ready to give his own life to save the dwarves. Readers of The Hobbit might argue that the only reason that Bilbo leads the dwarves to find a way out is because he wants to get out himself. J.R.R Tolkien states, “All the same Mr. Baggins kept his head more clear of the bewitchment of the hoard than the dwarves did” (Tolkien 238). Bilbo, in this quote, tries to lead the group out of the lair. Bilbo makes sure that the dwarves are not in any danger in Smaug’s lair. Even though Bilbo also wants to get out of the cave, he is still willing to help the dwarves. His laudable guidance is shown; “Quickly Bilbo trotted to the door and took the torch; but he could not persuade the dwarves to light the others or to come and join him yet” (Tolkien 234). This quote reveals how Bilbo wants the dwarves to come with him and find a way out, meaning he is not only doing this for himself. Bilbo is brave like a hero when he leads the dwarves to find an exit, but he is also very heroic when he wants to finish his job.
Bilbo also demonstrates the heroic trait of never giving up. Bilbo knows he was assigned his job as a “burglar” to help find Smaug and kill him, so Thorin can have his family treasures back. This reason is why Bilbo strives to find Smaug, even though the other dwarves do not want to. A real hero never gives up on what they are doing. Bilbo fearlessly says, “’ That won’t be till Smaug is dead”’ (Tolkien 242). This quote illustrates Bilbo’s intentions to not stop until the job is completed like a real hero would. Bilbo wants to make sure that Thorin will be safe in his family’s cave. Bilbo has matured from the beginning of this book, making himself a better hero. Bilbo observes, “Under the rocky wall to the right there was no path . . .” (Tolkien 242). This quote shows that Bilbo is not ready to give up even when he is faced with challenges. Bilbo faces many challenges, like Smaug, but he always makes sure to strive and face his challenges. Bilbo attempts to make sure that everyone is kept out of danger throughout this novel.
Bilbo maintains his courageous attitude and saves the dwarves many other times. Bilbo has built up his audacity allowing him to pursue difficult tasks. Bilbo saves the dwarves from the evil wrath of the enormous spiders. Bilbo, being the hero he is, makes sure that the dwarves are not harmed by the spiders. Bilbo’s actions make him proud himself because he accomplishes a task that many could not have accomplished. Tolkien mentions, “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” (Tolkien 155). This quote shows how the author accepts the fact that Bilbo has begun to become much more like a real hero. Fans of The Hobbit may argue over the fact that Bilbo used the secret powers of the ring to become invisible and kill all the spiders without the help of the others. Even if Bilbo did use his powers, he still had the courage to fight gigantic spiders without the help of anyone else. Fighting spiders much larger than Bilbo expose how he is very courageous. If Bilbo had met the spiders in the beginning of the book, he probably would have not been able to do such a courageous act to help the dwarves. Bilbo does many other acts that test how courageous he truly is.
Bilbo also helps the dwarves by checking if Smaug was in the cave the first time they visited Smaug’s cave. If Bilbo had not been there to help the dwarves, the dwarves would have woken up the dragon and died trying to run away. The dwarves habits are shown, “The dwarves could not, of course, compare with the hobbit in real stealth, and they made a deal of puffing and shuffling which echoes magnified alarmingly; but though every now and again Bilbo in fear stopped and listened, not a sound stirred below” (Tolkien 233). The dwarves listen, “They waited a moment or two, and still there were no dragon-noises . . .” (Tolkien 236). The group is very scared, and without Bilbo the whole group would not have lasted more than a little while in Smaug’s lair. Bilbo is the only reason that the group is able to make it out alive. It is arguable if Bilbo was able to save the dwarves just because of his ring. However, his ring only contributed to the fact that he had begun to become to stride more and start to become a more courageous Hobbit. These are only a few of the reasons Bilbo is a hero, there are many more.
Bilbo Baggins has all the characteristics that a real hero should show. Bilbo always wants the dwarves to have a better life. The hobbit pursues this by always taking care of the dwarves. Bilbo is the one that gives the precious Arkenstone to Bard to help stop a war from starting. If it was not for Bilbo’s courage, Thorin would still be fighting for the Arkenstone and might have also been hurt. Bilbo also helps the dwarves by being a good leader and helping them find a way out of Smaug’s lair. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would not have the audacity to try finding a way out of Smaug’s cave. Bilbo, like a real hero, always makes sure that he finishes the task he sets out to do. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would not be able to finish all the tasks that they want to finish. Bilbo is also the reason why the dwarves are still alive. Bilbo saves the dwarves from many different disasters. The disasters range from the spiders to Smaug. Through good or bad, Bilbo has been able to show the characteristics that a real hero should be able to show.
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