In the second half of The Hobbit, we were shown a different Bilbo than the one portrayed in the first adventures of this tale. Throughout many experiences, he went from a timid hobbit who was intent on proving himself to the group, to an adventurer who let himself be known through his strong actions and helpful opinions. By the end of the story, Bilbo was well respected by his fellow companions and the many new groups he had become aquainted with. No longer was he a worthless old hobbit, just taking up space.
One of the main reasons Bilbo was so significant in the second half was because he saved the group time after time again. His first worthy accomplishment was his freeing of the dwarves from the horrendous spiders. If not for BilboÕs quick devising of a plan to lure the spiders away and then sneak back and cut loose the others, they would have all been dinner. The dwarves owed him much gratitude for this brave-worthy task. Not too long after this, Bilbo was called again to save his friends from the prisons of the great Elvenking. He had to seek out an escape route and come up with a plan before it was too late, and that he did. His idea and care of packing the dwarves up for shipment down the river was genius, but no one offered the thanks he deserved just yet. They were too busy fancying their comfort to be grateful for the life Bilbo had saved for them. This was the first reason I was disappointed in the dwarves.
Bilbo also played a key role in the finding of the dragon. It was he who figured when to push the secret door open, and it was only he who took the path down the cave to see the dragon. Overall, Bilbo was the bravest of the bunch, for he actually stole SmaugÕs cup, and later spoke to Smaug himself. Even more, if not for his keen sense of knowing SmaugÕs next move, they would have been smashed when Smaug destroyed the outer entrance. For all these reasons, Bilbo was substantial to the group once again, and because of his forceful actions, he somewhat became their leader. All the dwarves began to look up to him, and respect him for the hobbit he was, instead of questioning his sourcefulness. It seemed as if Bilbo had taken GandalfÕs position for the time being.
BilboÕs action of giving the Arkenstone to Bard and the elves was another true sign of good character, in my opinion. For him, after such a hard journey, to give up a stone of such value and extravagance in hope of restoring peace is just remarkable. It shows how good at heart the hobbit truly is. I was, however, appalled at how easily Thorin disowned Bilbo from the group, after all he had done and contributed to the journey. This only emphasized even more the greed that possessed Thorin and the others, making me look down once again on the pack. I feel the whole situation involving the treasure could have been handled in a much nicer way, with no means of threat whatsoever.
Returning to Bilbo, his change can be emphasized even further with the very ending of the tale. When he returned home, he had lost all respect from his fellow hobbits, and they now considered him Ôqueer.Õ Bilbo however did not care, for he had gained much self-assurance through his adventure and acquaintances with new folk. This represents a great step forward for Bilbo, for it seemed like before he needed the support of his fellow kind because of his sheltered life. Now, though, by no longer caring what others thought, he was able to just be himself.
Overall, I thought The Hobbit was very delightful reading. I enjoyed following Bilbo along on his journey and watching his character change. The light fantasy and stretch of the mind gave me the escape from reality that I sometimes needed, and I am glad I chose this novel as a selection.