I didn't share my free write in class so I suppose I will use it as my blogging entry for this week.
I enjoy free writes and always imagine myself eventually using them to start a paper. each free write is a great way to get thoughts and ideas into words on a page. from this point forward, it's much easier to manipulate and mold these words into a presentable paper or article.
My topic was Topic 1 – Why does Tolkien insist on making Bilbo's character initially timid, unwilling to go adventuring, or reluctant to take risks? Many see him as socially conservative and rigid in his ways. Would you agree or disagree? Tolkien could just as easily have written him to be brave and fierce. So, why doesn't he? What is Tolkien’s purpose in constructing Bilbo’s character as he does?
Hobbit free write:
How much more interesting is a book about an unlikely hero. How many tales are there about a brave, powerful, and courageous hero that comes to save the day with little effort to himself. In the hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien makes Bilbo the main character originally timid, however he also writes about the “Took “ side of Bilbo that craves for adventure and ultimately gets the better of him. However, for the most part, Bilbo is a timid creature who doesn't take risks and is stuck in his delightful ways. I think it's much more relate able to the reader. Those who really crave adventure and danger will go out into the world and find it. However, those who want to be entertained without the risks will maybe choose to sit down and read a book. This is now always true, sometimes brave souls will choose to relax and enjoy a book or movie, and sometimes a timid creature will be encouraged outside of their comfort zone to experience something thrilling. However I think Tolkien was trying to appeal to his major audience. Fantasy books can sometimes be over the top and way too crazy to believe with sci-fi adventures where entire worlds live on spaceships and have super powers. However I think Tolkien makes his stories more immersive by making the main character, common place and maybe even more wimpy than any human being. In the case of the Lord of the Rings, The hobbits are “Little people” smaller and weaker than humans. However this little hobbit, and his merry band of dwarfs go on an amazing journey full of dangers. This goes to show that now matter how scared, weak, timid you may be, you can always go on an adventure. Don't let your timidness decide whether or not you can do something. J.R.R. Tolkien writes later in the hobbit about how Bilbo overcomes his fear, and becomes one of the ring leaders of the group. Eventually all the dwarfs look up to him as a leader of the group. Leader and timid do not go hand in hand. They are not synonyms, Bilbo was able to overcome his fear and become a leader. I believe Tolkien's purpose of constructing Bilbo the way that he did was to show that you don't have to be born extraordinary to do extraordinary things.
Thank you for sharing. I absolutely agree with you. Making Bilbo a timid character makes him so much more relatable and the plot more entertaining. Imagine if Bilbo was a determined and adventurous hobbit from the get-go. Parts of the story would still be fun to read, but the alternative version in which Bilbo has to develop throughout the course of the story would be much better. I am definitely glad J.R.R. Tolkien decided to write Bilbo's character the way he did.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Tolkien's use of "unlikely heroes" is a consistent trend throughout all of his writing. Yes there are some magnificent and noble characters of impressive lineage (think Aragorn), but the characters that consistently end up saving the day are usually "lesser" characters (think Hobbits). Even his non-Middle-Earth writings exemplify this. The protagonists in stories like "Leaf by Niggle" and "Farmer Giles of Ham" are initially humble characters, and their notable actions come later, in unexpected fashion. Everyone expects Gandalf to do great things, but who expects a halfling.
ReplyDeleteExpanding on the idea that Bilbo is meant to represent the audience in an epic adventure, I think we can also identify with the internal conflict he has. Bilbo, throughout The Hobbit, is influenced by both the Baggins and the Took side of his ancestry. The fact that he was raised as a Baggins means that side has more of a hold on him, however, we see the Tookish side call to him especially when the dwarves sing about their lost treasure that first night. Bilbo looks out his window at the darkening world and "something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains" (Tolkein, 16). The audience can relate to this because we have all dreamed of going on fantastic adventures and being the hero but we also are afraid to jump at oppurtunies presented to us, we fear what we do not know. We can both sympathize with Bilbo as a character and as someone fantasizing about adventure but being too afraid to go on one. It would be well for all of us if we had a wizard rushing us out the door without thinking about what lies ahead.
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