But the dragon did not wake not yet but shifted into other dreams of greed and violence, lying there in his stolen hall while the little hobbit toiled back up the long tunnel. I mean even a burglar has his feelings. said the man striding forward. Suddenly he was aware of a man climbing up and coming towards him. Id classify him as much as a spy as a thief. Dragons may not have much real use for all their wealth, but they know it to an ounce as a rule, especially after long possession; and Smaug was no exception. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1916/50/section/2/enacted, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/data.pdf, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/58. He was said to be a burglar but Gandalf said As soon as I clapped eyes on the little fellow bobbing and puffing on the mat, I had my doubts. Beorn indeed became a great chief afterwards in those regions and ruled a wide land between the mountains and the wood; and it is said that for many generations the men of his line had the power of taking bear's shape, and some were grim men and bad, but most were in heart like Beorn, if less in size and strength. He had passed from an uneasy dream (in which a warrior, altogether insignificant in size but provided with a bitter sword and great courage, figured most unpleasantly) to a doze, and from a doze to wide waking. Good bye!, Bother burgling and everything to do with it! I have drunk much of your wine and eaten much of your bread." "I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent," said the king gravely. At any rate I am not yet one of the fallen heroes; but I suppose there is still enough time for that (Tolkien, The Hobbit, 310)! A terrible business, and it nearly was disastrous. Closing his eyes and straightening his back, he drew in a deep breath smelling the fragrant summer air of the magnificent garden around him. He was a kindly little soul. The shadow that crept into the forest was first thought to be a Nazgl. Each fear he faces develops Bilbo as a hero, getting him ready for his greatest quest, stealing the treasure from Smaug.. Another example of Bilbo putting others before himself is the treasure he willing to give in order to bring peace to the men, elves, and dwarves. Smaug definitely has no right to possess any property within Erebor. Whatever Bilbo was supposed to take out of Erebor, it would have been a chattel and thus personal property. However, any indictment would fall apart on the elements of with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it and dishonesty. May your shadow never grow less (or stealing would be too easy)! A cloudless day, but cold, was broad above him. In Dale, Men and Dwarves stood together against the Easterlings. Bilbo decides first to go on an adventure with Gandalf and thirteen dwarves. Every book has its hero, mentor, and guardian, but not just every book has Bilbo Baggins as their hero or The Great Gandalf as its mentor. Now at journey's end, examine why the Elvenking would call Bilbo the magnificent as well as burglar. Simple yet when applied to daunting obstacles or dragons ;) I've found many times this outlook is not only encouraging but true. [Gollum] meant to kill him. Farewell!". So they went on until they drew near to the borders of Mirkwood, to the north of the place where the Forest River ran out. What are your favorite parts from The Hobbit? Evidence shown above represents how Gandalf opened the border that guarded the threshold. The goblins and wild wolves (a.k.a. I beg of you, said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, to accept this gift! and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting. Victory had been assured before the fall of night, but the pursuit was still on foot, when Bilbo returned to the camp; and not many were in the valley save the more grievously wounded. Impossible! Stealing from a thief is still theft. There was no lie in Bilbos eyes. I have drunk much of your wine and eaten much of your bread. When Thranduil questioned why Bilbo offered this gift, Bilbo confessed to have been an uninvited guest at the king's halls, using his food and wine. [Bard] asked at last with an effort. "Victory after all, I suppose!" he asked Gandalf that evening, as he lay wrapped in many warm blankets. Bilbo must further have appropriated such property. The events of the Third Age, when Thranduil was the ruling king of his people, reveal a strong charismatic, wise leader, who despite his own fears and worries, was able to guide his people, survive hard trials, and emerge in one piece at the end of the age, providing his people with a renewed realm at peace with its neighbors. Oropher, Thranduil's father is mentioned only in the Unfinished Tales. "I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent," said the king gravely. Gollum had no sword. Nevertheless, throughout the Second Age, there was constant conection between the elves from Greenwood and Lrien. The Dwarves get jumpy about the object of their quest (which may well not actually be a reclamation of the mountain but of the Arkenstone for Thorin's crown). Press J to jump to the feed. T. New. . "You are needed and we have looked for you long. At last the time came for him to say good-bye to his friends. Obviously, that line in the first chapter that Bilbo looks "More like a grocer than a burglar" really smarts. He encounters goblins, creatures, trolls, wargs, spiders, and greed, but not without his friends and his new magic ring. Bilbo pities Gollum and so, even though Gollum "meant to kill [Bilbo]," he can't just stab Gollum without warning in the dark. The change is further displayed when he names his sword Sting, alluding to the heroism incited in him by the entrapping wretchedness. "I beg of you," said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, "to accept this gift!" Then dismay fell on the Goblins and they fled in all directions. Tea is at four; but any of you are welcome at any time!". Misery me! However, this hobbit did, and all it took was a party and a bit of prompting from a wize wizard. I suppose I shall be going home soon?". The Hobbit, Chapter-By-Chapter: The Return Journey Are Bilbo's "gifts" due to the influence of the ring? Get personalized recommendations. That cant be right. When the dwarves found out that Bilbo was going to be their burglar they were skeptical. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Fili and Kili had fallen defending him with shield and body, for he was their mother's elder brother. That home was the great forest Greenwood the Great. (18.46-9) Bilbo's moral code is incredibly rigid when it comes to payment: if he has received a service or profited off somebody, he has to pay for it. "Well, it seems a very gloomy business.". All that had happened after he was stunned, Bilbo learned later; but it gave him more sorrow than joy, and he was now weary of his adventure. His ominous description of Mirkwood Forest explains the hesitation in the company to pass onto the realm where The entrance to the path was like a sort of arch leading into a gloomy tunnel(153). But I would categorize him as an honest thief. It was not long before Bilbo was set down before a tent in Dale; and there stood Gandalf, with his arm in a sling. He meets a man who takes him to the Dale, where Gandalf, his arm in a sling, is standing beside Thorin, who has been fatally wounded. May your shadow never grow less (or stealing would be too easy)! Thus, the morality of Tolkien's novels seems difficult to apply in the real world. Then the elves turned towards the Forest, and Bilbo started on his long road home. The Eagles had long had suspicion of the goblins' mustering; from their watchfulness the movements in the mountains could not be altogether hid. "Well, er, I thought, don't you know," said Bilbo rather confused, "that, er, some little return should be made for your, er, hospitality. "May you ever appear where you are most needed and least expected! he said to himself. I wish I was well out of it." The imagery evoked by Trees too old and strangled with ivy to bear more than a few blackened leaves (153) places the reader in the foreboding atmosphere in which the company is presently ensnarled, and effectively forewarns of sorcery, monsters and misery at play. Bilbo's moral code is incredibly rigid when it comes to payment: if he has received a service or profited off somebody, he has to pay for it. Welcome to r/tolkienfans! However, some overall picture of his character can be deduced from what is said about him directly and in scenes related to him, indirectly. I would rather old Smaug had been left with all the wretched treasure, than that these vile creatures should get it, and poor old Bombur, and Balin and Fili and Kili and all the rest come to a bad end; and Bard too, and the Lake-men and the merry elves. On page 318, Bilbo has been cited listening, "I will take your gift O' Bilbo the Magnificent!" said the king gravely" (Tolkien, The Hobbit, 318). In fact, when Thranduil questioned them and they refused to answer, he imprisoned them. Bilbo Baggins is quite a boring character yet he has some moments in which he is adventurous. A cave it might have been, but the place was filled with life and light. The History of The Hobbit shows that for a long time Tolkien did intend the Arkenstone to be a Silmaril and only changed it relatively late in the editing process and only just barely enough to differentiate the two. 26 of the best book quotes from Bilbo Baggins, Go back? he thought. It was not long before they had freed the Lonely Mountain, and elves and men on either side of the valley could come at last to the help of the battle below. Although that may raise a question as for the character's existence or his deeds, that is a subject for separate research, and has no direct bearing over this article. Looking into the valley he could see no living goblins. He was invisible now. The book The Hobbit, written by J. R. R. Tolkein, has many universal themes connected to finding out who someone really is. said the king. What if someone went on a crazy, dangerous adventure and came back a hero? In their day the last goblins were hunted from the Misty Mountains and a new peace came over the edge of the Wild. This subreddit is a space for the Tolkien nerds of reddit to debate and discuss the whole Tolkien mythos. 'More like a grocer than a burglar' indeed! Even a fourteenth share was wealth exceedingly great, greater than that of many mortal kings. That's not the actions of someone acting under the influence of the Ring. "Hail! A cloudless day, but cold, was broad above him. He stumbles around, and sees that the goblins have been defeated. Well, er, I thought, dont you know, said Bilbo rather confused, that, er, some little return should be made for your, er, hospitality. To Bilbo he said: "This treasure is as much yours as it is mine; though old agreements cannot stand, since so many have a claim in its winning and defence. I cant think what anybody sees in them., Victory after all, I suppose! The knowledge that the Arkenstone was in the hands of the besiegers burned in their thoughts; also they guessed the hesitation of Bard and his friends, and resolved to strike while they debated. This magnificent giant from Red Eye Glass features a dual chamber design, a matrix perc, and is 42% as tall as Shaquille O'Neal. "I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent!" said the king gravely. He was lying on the flat stones of Ravenhill, and no one was near. Whatever Bilbo was supposed to take out of Erebor, it would have been a chattel and thus personal property. When Bilbo regains consciousness, he is alone. Yet even though you were willing to lay aside all your claim, I should wish that the words of Thorin, of which he repented, should not prove true: that we should give you little. Bilbo is a thief. ", "I am sorry. "You are called for;" and leading the hobbit he took him within the tent. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. He fights in many battles, verbal and physical, to fight for the greater good. Other texts lead the reader to conclude that it was Thranduil setting out of Lindon eastward, who led such group. While on his way, messengers sent from the ruined Esgaroth, the town of Men which was burned by the dragon, reached him, begging for help for Asked by cody f #263209 on 9/3/2012 5:07 PM Last updated by jill d #170087 on 9/3/2012 5:32 PM Answers 1 Add Yours. I mean even a burglar has his feelings. He risks his life on more than one occasion to save his friends and bring peace between the different races. The Arkenstone sounds like a Simaril because it was meant to be one at one point. And may your shadow never grow less (or stealing will be too easy)." It just fit so perfectly with Lee Pace's portrayal of Thranduil. I dont want any adventures, thank you(Tolkien 4) and ultimately shows his cowardness. Gollum had not actually threatened to kill him, or tried to yet. In 2850 Gandalf came once more to Dol Guldur and found that Sauron had collected by then all the seven rings of the Dwarf lords, in addition to the Nine with which he controlled his Nazgl. Absolutely! And eventually the keys (which he returned). I would rather old Smaug had been left with all the wretched treasure, than that these vile creatures should get it, and poor old Bombur, and Balin and Fili and Kili and all the rest come to a bad end; and Bard too, and the Lake-men and the merry elves. They buried Thorin deep beneath the Mountain, and Bard laid the Arkenstone upon his breast. and if it was sadly lessened, yet many were glad, for now the northern world would be merrier for many a long day. The Wood Elves did not work the land, mined or worked metals or jewels, nor did they trade.7 It seems that they didn't have any income source, so it is safe to assume that all their needs were purchased with the king's treasure, namely the realm treasury.