Bilbo's Growth In The Hobbit

The Hobbit Essay

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” (goodreads) In the novel The Hobbit, a timid hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, takes on a mission filled with peril and danger in the company of thirteen dwarves and the wizard Gandalf. After meeting new foes and allies, the dwarves retake Erebor from the reign of evil Smaug. Throughout the story, personal growth is displayed at three main points of Bilbo’s adventure. Firstly, Bilbo is put into a fight or flight situation where his friends were captured by spiders. Secondly Bilbo takes matters into his own hands and decides to give Bard the Arkenstone; therefore he can use the stone as a bargaining chip for his part of the treasure. Finally, Bilbo finds Gollum's ring, and musters up the courage and power to escape the grasps of Gollum. Thus Bilbo experiences personal growth that highlights his true qualities and abilities.

Firstly, when Bilbo and company are captured by the spiders, Bilbo is put into a situation he has never been in before, and must choose between his safety and his friend's lives. Bilbo makes a split second decision “...when suddenly Bilbo reappeared, and charged into the astonished spiders unexpectedly from the side. 'Go on!' Go on!' he shouted. 'I will do the stinging!'”(Tolkien 151) When put

into stressful situations often times people will show their true nature; Bilbo choose to fight for his friends, forgoing regard for his own safety. Bilbo demonstrates his purity of heart and makes a sacrifice to do what is best for all.
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Secondly when Bard and his army of elves come knocking on Erebor's front door, they intend to go to war if their demands aren't met. Bard is trying to be compensated in having Laketown destroyed and Smaug killed for Thorin. Bilbo gives Bard the Arkenstone so he can use it as a leverage on Thorin to get what he wants out of Thorin. Gandalf comments on Bilbo's
actions saying “'There is always more about you than anyone ever expects.'” (249) This shows that everyone thought that Bilbo would always be following someone when in reality, through this decision he shows he isn't affiliated with anyone but the pure good. Bilbo in a way is saying that he's done being a follower, and wants to lead his life in the best way possible, no matter the sacrifices it takes.
Finally, the event that starts to turn Bilbo into his true character is when Bilbo beats Gollum in a game of Riddles and escapes before Bilbo is eaten.

Bilbo is able to do of all of this because he found the One Ring, which allows him to turn invisible. Bilbo has to leap over Gollum and his jump is described as “No great leap for man, but a leap in the dark.” (82) When Bilbo jumps over Gollum the quote says that it's not a question of physical ability to make the jump, but that he's jumping without knowing what's ahead. This forces Bilbo to find the courage in him to make the jump, which symbolizes Bilbo's true character start to

develop.
In conclusion, Bilbo grows as a character drastically throughout the story. Bilbo changes physically while saving himself and others from the perils of the spiders of Mirkwood. He changes mentally when he chooses to give bard the Arkenstone as a bargaining chip. All of this starts from when Bilbo escapes from the terrible creature Gollum, and takes the One Ring. Overall, personal growth can show the true character in us, whether we know we have it in us t or not.