The Hero's Cycle In The Hobbit By JRR Tolkien

Life is the very epitome of change. Every day, people learn, grow, and develop. They have new experiences that influence their thoughts, ideas and actions. They meet new people who, in turn, share their own unique beliefs and philosophies. In literature, the process that characters go through in order to grow and change is referred to as the hero's cycle. This cycle is marked by three major events: departure, fulfillment, and return. In his novel The Hobbit, author JRR Tolkien uses a small hobbit named Bilbo Baggins in order to illustrate this series of events.

Bilbo Baggins' actions at the beginning of the Hobbit mark "departure" in the hero's cycle. Bilbo is at first portrayed as a weak and insecure character. He is not aware of himself

or the world around him and is afraid to take risks or try new things. To Bilbo, there is no other life except that which he lives in his Hobbit hole. When Gandalf first invites Bilbo to join his adventure, he responds by saying "'We don’t want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water.' By this he meant that the conversation was at an end(Tolkien 58)." Bilbo's refusal to go on an adventure shows his unwillingness to expand his horizon. It also demonstrates his strong sense of insecurity and lack of confidence in his self. Often times, heroes are afraid to depart on a journey because of a fear of the unknown. However, they eventually learn that the unknown is not something to be afraid of and that taking risks is a part of life.

Midway through his adventure, Bilbo begin's to mark "fulfillment" in the hero's cycle.

From the beginning of the story, Gandalf sees great potential in Bilbo. Although he does not believe him, Bilbo proves that he is capable of doing extraordinary things. Bilbo's first display of fulfillment occurs when he escapes the depths of the misty mountains without the help of Gandalf or the dwarves. Bilbo says “And here’s the burglar!”...slipping off the ring. Bless me, how they jumped! Then they[the dwarves] shouted with surprise and delight...It is a fact that Bilbo’s reputation went up a very great deal with the dwarves after this(214)." Following this event, Bilbo becomes more confident. He now knows that nothing is impossible if he believes in himself and is beginning to understand that the unknown is not an enemy, but a force that can be conquered. Bilbo once again displays fulfillment when he kills a giant spider in the heart of Mirkwood. Tolkien writes"“The spider lay dead beside him, and his sword-blade was stained black. Somehow the killing of the giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark without the help of the wizard or the dwarves or of anyone else, made a great difference to Mr. Baggins. He felt a different person, and much fiercer and bolder...as he wiped his sword on the grass and put it back into its sheath(179)”. Bilbo's display of strength and fearlessness shows a dramatic change from his personality at the beginning of the book. He is now starting to fulfill

Gandalf's high expectations and is surpassing his own.

"Return", the final stage of the hero's cycle, occurs towards the end of Bilbo's journey. At this point in the story, Bilbo has come to see the world in a new light. He is now an active participant in society who is not afraid to take risks and try new things. His journey has also caused him to become more aware of the world around him. Over the course of his adventure, Bilbo has come into contact with many new people, both good and bad. Each of these individuals help to give Bilbo a bit of insight into his own life and improve him as a person. Unfortunately, these changes are not appreciated by his neighbors and other residents of The Hill. They now see him as "queer(579)" and unusual. However Bilbo has gained a new sense of peace and happiness. He feels that his life has become "more musical than it had been even in the quiet days before the Unexpected Party(579)." Often times, heroes develop a new sense happiness after returning from their adventures. They are proud of their accomplishments and continue to enjoy living in the present.

Bilbo's actions symbolize the events of departure, fulfillment and return in the hero's cycle. Although the hero's cycle is often an idea associated with literature, it can be applied to the everyday lives of most people. In many cases, people are afraid of the unknown and are unwilling to take risks. However, they soon overcome their fears, become stronger, and often return to their original situations as wiser and more intelligent people.