Bilbo Baggins's Greed In The Hobbit

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“Hobbits really are amazing creatures… You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch,” explained Gandalf (Tolkien 62). Bilbo Baggins is a Hobbit from the Shire; hobbits are creatures that are half the size of humans, also known as Halflings. He was hired in the Company, a group of twelve dwarves and a wizard. The Company’s mission is to travel to the Lonely Mountain and reclaim the dwarves’ treasure from Smaug, a fire breathing dragon. Along the way, they run into trolls, goblins, orcs, and giant spiders. As they reclaim the mountain, Laketown is attacked by Smaug as retaliation for the Company’s actions. During the attack, the town was damaged and had casualties, so they demanded reparations from the dwarves’ treasure. In order to prevent war, Bilbo relinquishes his portion of the treasure. However, the orcs and goblins learn that the dragon has been slain and gather an army to take the mountain. There is a war after all and the armies battle until the orcs and goblins are defeated. After the battle, the adventure is over and Bilbo heads home. Although Bilbo Baggins is only half the size of a human, the way Tolkien develops his character in The Hobbit shows the complexity of human nature in Bilbo’s personality, physical strength, and ethics. …show more content…

Tolkien clearly describes Bilbo’s Baggins-side, a well-respected and civil hobbit family, and his Took-side, the out-there and adventurous family that wishes “to go and see the great mountains… and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick” (Tolkien 15). It is easy to relate to someone who enjoys the comfort of everyday life, but also wishes for something fun, exciting, and new to happen. Tolkien successfully uses Bilbo to show this two-sidedness of human nature. Because of Bilbo’s Took-side, he is able to uncover skills that he does not know he

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