Bilbo: An immature hero

We all have that friend. You know the one. "THAT" one. They laugh at their own mean jokes, they push boundaries for no purpose other than to frustrate others, they hold others to impossible standards - and yet expect understanding for all of their failures. A friend who believes they are the End-all Be-all of everything, despite having done nothing to justify that attitude. A friend who misunderstands the very idea of life, as if it should be lived for the sole purpose of their own enjoyment - damn the consequences! A friend who cannot grasp grave concepts unless it applies directly, and only, to them. You know the one. The chapter we read this week is about such an individual - Bilbo. We see, even though we have connected with him and come to love his oddities, that his antics are that of an overgrown child. For the upcoming tale, we need a more capable hero than a prankster.

This week's chapter, the very first chapter of The Lord of the Rings is called "A long-awaited party." The title is meant as a direct contrast to the first chapter of The Hobbit, "An unexpected party." That chapter begins Bilbo's involvement with The Ring. This chapter ends it.

Bilbo is considered an odd Hobbit - this chapter gives us several examples of his neighbors disliking him. He has visitors from outside the Shire (which, in Shire culture, is not respectable); he adopted Frodo, who, according to his neighbors, is from the wrong side of the Brandywine river; he is on awful terms with the Sackville-Baggins (Frodo, upon being adopted, replaces them as Bilbo's heirs). Only the Gaffer (Bilbo's gardener) seems to respect him, and his attempts at salvaging Bilbo's reputation at a tavern fall flat. It strikes us that Bilbo has been treated unfairly. The Gaffer, the only one who really knows Bilbo, likes him. No one else does. Well, what do they know?

Not much, apparently. Most of what they say about him is wrong - just drunks insulting a Hobbit with more wealth.  Jealousy, really.  Even within the chapter, their tales of Bilbo's wealth grow and grow until it is clear they have no idea what they're talking about. They know he has wealth and that he doesn't share it. So they assume he got it in a disreputable manner, and they assume he is hoarding a lot of it (because the more treasure you hoard, the greedier you are). These things aren't true. But even if Bilbo is being unfairly criticized, that doesn't mean he defies criticism.  And I don't mean to say Bilbo is merely imperfect. Reviewing what we know of Bilbo, we find a Hobbit who does not have much moral worth.

Let's head back to The Hobbit.

Bilbo's first major failing comes when he tumbles into Gollum's cave. He finds the Ring and puts it into his pocket. Gollum finds him and wants to eat him.  Bilbo draws his sword and demands to be shown the way out.  Gollum, upon seeing his sword, suggests a game of riddles, that only if Bilbo wins will Gollum show him the way out.  After playing several rounds, Bilbo, while thinking of a riddle, puts his hands in his pockets and, touching the Ring, mumbles to himself "What have I got in my pocket?"  Gollum tells his this isn't a fair question (it isn't a riddle).  The text says: "Bilbo, seeing what had happened and having nothing better to ask stuck to his question."  Gollum gets it wrong, but Bilbo is not sure he will honor the deal.  The text says, Bilbo "knew, of course, that the riddle-game was sacred and of immense antiquity, and even wicked creatures were afraid to cheat when they played at it.  But he felt he could not trust this slimy thing to keep any promise in a pinch.  Any excuse would do for him to slide out of it.  And after all that last question had not been a genuine riddle according to the ancient laws."  But not addressed, even though Bilbo is afraid Gollum will break the rules of the game, is that he has no particular issue about the fact that he also broke a rule.  He's only worried Gollum might use that fact against him.

Nevermind that Gollum goes back to his den to find the Ring to murder Bilbo.  That Gollum is going to break the rules in an even more extreme way doesn't mean Bilbo becomes innocent.  Bilbo can't think of a riddle, and when he realizes he asked something that wasn't a riddle, he insists Gollum answer it anyway.

This is a powerful example of Bilbo's tendency to hold others to a double standard.  Gollum can't break the rules.  That would be unfair.  But Bilbo can - as long as he doesn't get caught.  Bilbo thinks wicked creatures would be afraid to cheat at the sacred game, but Bilbo cheats without the slightest hesitation (except the fear of getting caught).  Again - we all know that friend.  They apply the rules only as they see fit.

Further, when Gandalf and the dwarves ask Bilbo what happened in the cave, Bilbo lies and doesn't mention the Ring.  "Indeed Bilbo was so pleased with their praise [of how he escaped] that he chuckled inside and said nothing whatever about the Ring."  We've all been praised for things we did not do - or at least been given more credit than we deserve.  And we do not always take the time to correct those who praise us - it is nice to hear the appreciation.  If this was the only egotistical thing he did, we could forgive Bilbo.  After all, we have can sympathize with his feelings during this moment.  However, as we have seen (and will continue to see), Bilbo's failings run deeper than that.

Back to the present chapter, even on his birthday Bilbo seems to delight in being pointlessly mean.  We are told that 12 dozen (144) is also referred to as "one gross," but that the phrase is not usually used when referring to people.  Bilbo has invited 144 individuals of various familial connection to a private dinner and says:

"'[We are here to celebrate] OUR birthday.  For it is, of course, also the birthday of my heir and nephew Frodo... Together we score one hundred and forty-four.  Your numbers were chosen to fit this remarkable total.  One Gross, if I may use the expression.'  No cheers.  This was ridiculous.  Many of his guests, and especially the Sackville-Bagginses, were insulted, feeling sure they had onl been asked to fill the required number, like goods in a package.  One Gross, indeed!  Vulgar expression."
Caps found in original

Perhaps Bilbo is not trying to be mean - at the least he is being insensitive.  What he means as a joke is taken as some kind of low-brow comedy meant to insult.  Bilbo surely knows that one gross is not meant to be used when speaking of people.  And yet he does it anyway, adding a sort of "no offense" after - as if that comment has ever prevented anyone from being offended...

Further, we are told: "Hobbits give presents to other people on their own birthdays.  Not very expensive ones, as a rule, and not so lavishly as on this occasion... Many of them had indeed been ordered a year before, and had come all the way from the Mountain and from Dale, and were of real dwarf-make."  Bilbo here uses his connections with the outside world to very positive effect.  Here he shows his capacity to bring joy to his community.  But these gifts are given out to anonymous party-goers.  The day after his party, after Bilbo has left the Shire, he leaves behind many gifts to his friends and family which Frodo is charged with distributing.  The presents are absolutely not kind-hearted.  Here is a small sampling:

"For ADELARD TOOK, for his VERY OWN, from Bilbo, on an umbrella.  Adelard had carried off many unlabelled ones.

For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo, on a large wastepaper basket.  Dora was Drogo's sister [Drogo being Frodo's father] and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo.  She was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century.

For MILO BURROWS, hoping it will be useful, from B.B., on a gold pen and ink-bottle.  Milo never answered letters....

For LOBELIA SACKVILLE-BAGGINS, as a PRESENT, on a case of silver spoons.  Bilbo believed she had acquired a good many of his spoons, while he was away on his former journey.  Lobeila knew that quite well.  When she arrived later in the day, she took the point at once, but she also took the spoons."

Caps found in original

It is truly baffling that Bilbo, with the capacity to bring in presents of true wonder to the Shire, takes this opportunity to take a parting shot at those he knew.  That he delegates this duty to Frodo only adds to the distaste.

Why am I spending so much time degrading Bilbo?  It is not that we dislike Bilbo.  Those who know The Hobbit probably have good memories of his journey and remember him fondly.  After all, while we all have that friend who is thoughtless and cruel and naive, that person is still our friend.  But we must know that, in the harder situations of our lives, that person will not be of much help, and may in fact become a great burden.  They must be cast off.

This chapter does just that.  This chapter takes Bilbo, uses him to introduce and connect us to Frodo, and then sends him away.  The upcoming journey is that of far more consequence than Bilbo's journey to the Lonely Mountain. And for that, we need a different kind of hero.  Not a joker hero, not an anti-hero.  A classic hero.  A hero of strong moral integrity.

The night after the party, as Bilbo is about to leave Bag End, he says to Gandalf: "What fun!  What fun to be off again, off on the Road with dwarves!  This is what I have really been longing for, for years!"  When Frodo leaves on his own journey, he will be in a much graver mood.  When Bilbo leaves, he casts off his final cares and worries.  When Frodo leaves, he will be shouldering those of all Middle Earth...