Blooms Literary Themes - THE HEROS ... - ymerleksi - home

110J.R.R. Tolkiena very uncomfortable thought was growing within him. Hewondered whether he ought not, now that he had the magicring, to go back into the horrible, horrible, tunnels and lookfor his friends. He had just made up his mind that it was hisduty, that he must turn back—and very miserable he felt aboutit—when he heard voices.The voices are those of the Dwarves, who have won free withGandalf ’s help, and he does not have to carry out his decision. Butthe reader feels that he would have if he had not found the Dwarves.We are shown, however, that the Dwarves might not have done thesame for him.The dwarves were grumbling and Gandalf was saying thatthey could not possibly go on with their journey leaving Mr.Baggins in the hands of the goblins, without trying to find outif he was alive or dead and without trying to rescue him. . . . Thedwarves wanted to know why he had ever been brought atall. . . . “He has been more trouble than use so far,” said one. “Ifwe have to go back now into those abominable tunnels to lookfor him, then drat him, I say.”We are not told Bilbo’s reaction to this, but the Dwarves areimpressed by his escape and the fact that he appears to have creptquietly up on them without their lookout spotting him (he doesnot tell them about the magic ring). They begin to depend on him,and even though they are rescued from their next scrape by eaglessummoned by Gandalf, the Dwarves rely on Bilbo, especially afterGandalf leaves them at the entrance to the great and grim forest ofMirkwood.In Mirkwood the Dwarves leave the safe path, against Gandalf ’sadvice, and are captured by giant spiders. With his sword, Bilbomanages to kill the spider who attacks him, andsomehow the killing of the giant spider, all alone by himselfin the dark without the help of the wizard or the dwarves orof anyone else, made a great difference to Mr. Baggins. Hefelt a different person, and much fiercer and bolder in spite