Bilbo Baggins Character Analysis in The Hobbit

In The Hobbit, written by J. R. R. Tolkien, the main character is Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit. He is short, fat, has thick hair on his toes and has long fingers. At the beginning of this novel, Bilbo’s character traits lean closer to his father’s family, the Baggins’. Bungo Baggins, who is Bilbo’s father, is a stay-at-home hobbit, just like Bilbo at the beginning of the novel. But slowly through the novel, Bilbo’s character traits start to lean over to his mother’s family, the Took’s. Belladonna Took, who is Bilbo’s mother, is an adventurous hobbit, just like her ancestors. Bilbo’s personality changes quite a lot though this novel, because of all the problems and difficulties he had faced. Bilbo becomes courageous, adventurous and loyal.

First of all, Bilbo procured courage. At the beginning of the novel, Bilbo is timid and doesn’t like to go anywhere or change anything about his lifestyle. This is because hobbits don’t go on any ventures. A major event that has proved the courageous side of Bilbo, is that Bilbo tries to steal from three trolls. The trolls are rude and always have arguments amongst themselves. Bilbo somehow realized that he couldn’t go back to his friends, who were Gandalf and the dwarves, empty-handed, so he attempted to pick-pocket a troll, named William, but he was caught when he was returning back to his friends after picking a purse from William’s pocket. Although Bilbo had created trouble for the dwarves because they soon got caught too, he still tried and was courageous enough to pick-pocket a troll. In the end, Gandalf had made the trolls have an argument again by talking like the trolls, and that saved the dwarves along with Bilbo. Bilbo had procured courage by attempting to pick-pocket a troll, even though it had created trouble, and that courage stayed with him throughout the journey as well as after.

Secondly, Bilbo gained the adventurous side of him. At the beginning of the novel, Bilbo was an unenterprising hobbit. A key event that has proved his adventurous side, is that he saves his friends from the prison of the wood elves. Bilbo stole the keys from a guard who was asleep, unlocked the gates of the prison cells, put the keys back, put his friends into barrels, and sent them down the river to Lake-town. He also got himself into a barrel and sent himself down the river. Although he had gained his adventurous side while rescuing his friends, he has also proven his confidence, cleverness and kindness.

Finally, Bilbo revealed the trustworthy and loyal side of him. He has never left the dwarves’ side ever since the journey began. Even if it was dangerous, he knew he couldn’t leave them no matter what. A major event that proved his loyalty is when he gave the Arkenstone to Bard. Bilbo knew that he could get caught roaming around the dwarves’ enemies’ houses, but he knew that he couldn’t abandon his friends without telling them. 

Bilbo, with all the troubles and difficulties that he had faced on the dwarves’ journey, has changed all in a good way ever since he had left his house at Bag-End, long ago. He has become courageous, adventurous and loyal.