“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with their freedom” (brainyquote.com). What does it take to be considered a hero? Dictionary.reference.com describes a hero as "a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his courageous deeds or noble qualities." This definition of hero is not complete. A hero must not only have the courage and ability to perform a courageous act; he must also demonstrate strength and humility. As Bob Dylan expressed in the previous quote, a hero must take responsibility and understand that freedom comes at a price. A true hero does not flaunt his exploits. Rather, he downplays his courage and returns the glory to God. This ability to turn attention away from oneself, whether toward God or not, shows the true measure of a man's strength. Bilbo Baggins, the main character of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, does not fit this definition of a hero. Without the magic ring, Bilbo would never have attempted the feats he accomplished. Baggins needed to be pushed before he did anything. Moreover, he was also dishonest. Bilbo should not be considered a hero because, without the magic ring, he would never have attempted what he accomplished. After being persuaded against his will to join the dwarves on an adventure, Bilbo discovers the ring. Not knowing his power of invisibility, Bilbo picks up the magic ring. Only when he finds himself in a tense situation does Bilbo use the ring's ability as a cheap escape. For example, when Gollum confronts Bilbo, he has no desire to face violence. As an alternative, Gollum offers a puzzle game. When Bilbo asks him: "What do I have in my pocket?" » Gollum knows he has been beaten. This question was inappropriate...amid the courageous actions of the paper. When we take into consideration the fact that Bilbo's reasons for accomplishing these feats were false, we must realize the fact that Bilbo was indeed not a hero. His bravery was false because it was assured by the magic ring. The dwarves would be the most affected by Bilbo's false heroism because for them he was their savior. His actions helped the dwarves, but they would have helped them more if the reasoning behind them had been true. All of these reasons indicate that Bilbo Baggins should not be considered a hero. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, and Web. April 3, 2014. “Heroes.” BrainyQuote. Xplore and Web. April 7, 2014. “The Hobbit.” SparkNotes. SparkNotes and Web. April 4, 2014. .MLA formatting by BibMe.org.