The Hobbit, or There and Back is a fantasy novel written by JRR Tolkien. It was published on September 21, 1937, to wide critical acclaim and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Bilbo Baggins was a Hobbit of the Shire, the main protagonist of The Hobbit and a supporting character in The Lord of the Rings, the sequel to The Hobbit. Gandalf suggested that Bilbo Baggins be hired by Thorin and Company to be their burglar in the Quest for Erebor, and later fought in the Battle of the Five Armies. Bilbo was also one of the bearers of the One Ring, and the first to give it up voluntarily, although with some difficulty. He wrote several of his adventures in a book he called There and Back Again. Bilbo is believed to be an underdog, as there have been many instances where he showed his potential but was shut down. It is obvious that Bilbo has the qualities of an outsider. Bilbo Baggins can be described as an underdog as he strives to prove that he is capable of overcoming odds and prevailing. The role of the underdog resonates with the reader as they are enchanted by characters who overcome all types of adversity. In Bilbo's case, it is his physical attributes as well as his fear of the unknown that cause him to fall into the category of outsider. He sets out on a journey to prove that an underdog can be a hero. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Throughout the novel, Bilbo goes from being a frightened hobbit to proving that he possesses the noble and courageous qualities of a hero. When Gandalf convinces the dwarves of Bilbo, he says, "There is more to him than... he has no idea." This statement appears several times in the book when Bilbo goes on and uses his wit and cunning personality to overcome his psychological and physical disadvantages, as well as to change the way he is perceived by others, to prove that he is a hero unexpected. Courage, loyalty, strength, eloquence, and cunning are some of the main characteristics readers hope to find in an epic story hero. This idea of ​​an epic presents us with a hero who has virtues greater than the ordinary man, someone who is a natural leader and respected by his group. Tolkien can certainly be considered an epic, but Bilbo Baggins is not the classic type of hero. Bilbo Baggins is sometimes considered an anti-hero, as the differences between his nature and that of the classic hero are numerous. Throughout the story, Bilbo undergoes many changes, being at the end of the story closer to the epic hero than he was at the beginning. Being a hero mostly revolves around the idea of ​​knowing when to spare a life rather than take one. In chapter five, “A sudden understanding, a pity mingled with horror, welled up in Bilbo’s heart. ", this shows that even though Bilbo has the opportunity to kill Gollum, he does not - which suggests that Bilbo is a moral hero and that Gollum's character is complex: he is not pure evil, but a creature worthy of pity. This is the clearest part where Bilbo's true intentions come to light. The greatest opposition that can be made between Bilbo and the characters occurs in the early chapters of The Hobbit. In these first chapters, readers can easily realize that this Hobbit is not as "heroic" as one might initially think: readers notice immediately that, although curious, he is not willing to participate in such a dangerous adventure. In fact, his origins are also a factor in his decision not to go: readers are told that his Baggins side (his father's family)is composed of calm and domestic people. Eventually, Bilbo "decides" to join the quest and although this journey proves to be a journey of initiation for Bilbo, readers soon realize how different this Hobbit is from the classic hero. Sometimes Bilbo longs for his home, not only when he is in danger, tired and afraid, but also in times when he is physically fit, such as in Beorn's house. Bilbo is not particularly strong or brave; Bilbo sometimes has to be saved by the other members of the group, as happens during the confrontation with the Trolls, when Gandalf saves them. Additionally, the greatest signs of bravery that Bilbo gives the reader occur when he discovers that the ring can make him invisible - Bilbo Baggins had to disappear to be bold enough to exceed his limits. So, as he has no qualities superior to the others, Bilbo is certainly not in a leadership position among this group (Thorin is the one who comes closest to being the leader). But Bilbo knows that this is not his natural terrain, and even when he begins to become useful to the group, he still has a defensive posture, which is seen, for example, in the fact that he is humble; Bilbo does not mock those he defeats, as the classic hero tended to do. Unlike the classic epic hero, Bilbo does not also fight great wars; he tends to be protected by chance and luck, which can be confirmed in The Hobbit's biggest brawl, The Battle of the Five Armies, in which Bilbo does not directly participate because he was knocked out. In the quote from “He felt like a different person…fiercer and bolder despite an empty stomach.” » this shows that this was the first time Tolkien showed Bilbo as a hero - his transition is slow, but he begins to think and feel more like a hero - a reminder that heroism is not born overnight . This also happens because Bilbo has no intrinsic heroic qualities, he grows as a hero as he overcomes dangers, and even when his "heroic qualities" are at the highest level, he still seems very insecure about this. this is proven at the very end of the story, when Bilbo becomes a domestic Hobbit again - his character turns out to be "round": originally he is domestic, then adventurous, then domestic again, which confirms that, even in a current context In a different way, Bilbo is more comfortable in the role of a quiet Hobbit rather than one who takes risks. However, something that differs about Bilbo Baggins from the concept of the classic hero is the fact that he "betrays" his group. By giving the Arkenstone to Bard, Bilbo is accused of treason, something a hero should never be accused of. But this “betrayal” is linked to other differences between Bilbo and the classic hero: the fact that he is fair, and far from being greedy and obsessive. Bilbo gives the Arkenstone to Bard because he thought it was the right thing to do. The connection between Bilbo Baggins and the classic hero is not just a difference; The Hobbit shares certain characteristics of the epic hero, characteristics, ones that become quite clear after the moment when Bilbo kills the Spider all by himself. If the Baggins side of Bilbo's family made him fear adventure, his Took side (that of his mother) pushed him to embark on the quest, as evidenced by the temptation he feels to say yes to the quest. But after killing the spider, Bilbo reveals himself; from then on, his bravery gradually increased. Another main characteristic that Bilbo shares with the classic hero is the fact that he is very clever. Furthermore, Bilbo and the classic hero are not that intelligent or erudite, however, they think quickly and are able to.