Character Analysis
In this page I want to stand out the most important features and characteristics refered to the most significant figures in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit". Some of them, as you will see, are collective and this is because I don't want to stand them out one by one but rather the group they represent in the novel. I have divided the characters in "The Hobbit" in two parts, on the one hand heroes and on the other hand antiheroes.
Heroes Antiheroes Bilbo Baggins Smaug Gandalf Gollum Dwarves Trolls Elves Wolves Men Gobblins Eagles Spiders Every character, let it be individual, in other words, with their own name, or let it be collective, not only do they represent a physichal description given by J.R.R. Tolkien in "The Hobbit" but rather they also portray a characterization which we will analyse in this page.
Bilbo Baggins"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and a oozy smell, not yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."(Chapter I, page 13, "The Hobbit")
This is how J.R.R. Tolkien begins reporting "The Hobbit" and these words give us an idea about how Bilbo Baggins was. He was a hobbit and, as the author says, that means he was homeloving and a lazybones: "No going upstairs for the hobbit."(Chapter I, page 13, "The Hobbit")
But you will be wondering what is a hobbit: "They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them...They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good-natured faces, and laugh depp fruitly laughs."(Chapter I, page 14, "The Hobbit")
So hobbits are defined as such, and this is how we must imagine them, although every reader can characterize the rest of physichal features described by the author at their own will, but we have to start from the exhaustive description given by the author.
From what we can withdraw from the description of the hobbits, Bilbo could be included in these features and, therefore, the idea of leaving his warm dwelling looking for adventures is not very pleasing. But Bilbo accepts the proposal of departing searching for peril and, therefore, Tolkien gives a new vision, not only in regard to the character, but also rather the image we have of him. Tolkien, represented by Gandalf in the book, maintains the idea that everyone can change their way of being, thinking and working, just trusting themselves and thanking people's aid. I want to assert with this that every man, woman or hobbit is able to change, risking all they are and what they have, believing in themselves and forgetting everything you consider you are or everything people say you are.
In my opinion, Tolkien lectures not only those who think they are useless, but also rather those who think that are stronger or cleverer than the rest of the people and this is why they have to impose their will.
Gandalf"If you had heard only a quarter of what I have heard about him, and I have only heard very little of all there is to hear, you would be prepared for any sort of remarkable tale."(Chapter I, page 15, "The Hobbit")
Gandalf represents the wisdom in the text. Being a wizard rover in relation to the description given by Tolkien, shows the idea of a cultured "man" which we might have in mind when reading or listening to some fantastic tale. Tolkien describes him as an elderly person with a walking-stick; a blue tall pin-pointed hat; a long grey robe; a silver scarf; a long grey haired beard; black riding boots and long thick eyebrows; in other words, like everyone imagines a conjurer.
But not only does Gandalf represent knowledge, but also he gives echoes of how the author-narrator is, in other words, Tolkien narrates a far-fetched tale and feels identified with this character as we can see from the forementioned quotation. Tolkien is astonished, or so he says, about the things and stories that he has heard from Gandalf, but this is nothing but a mere representation because, all in all, Tolkien is narrating a superb and whimsical legend.
To put the whole matter in a nutshell, Gandalf epitomizes sense, oportunism (he is always found when needed), the traditional elderly figure of a wizard and, above all, the preposterous narrator of tales that everyone sits down to listen, that is, J.R.R. Tolkien.
DwarvesAlthough the dwarves are characterized individually; they have name and surname and quoting from the book: Dwalin, Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur y Thorin, and everyone is described with different features like, blue, yellow, black,...beard; dark green, scarlet, blue, glitter, grey, chestnut, white, yellow, pale green, pale blue with a silver tassel, hoods; golden plated, silvery, silver and gold, belts; all these features have a common factor which is "the love the dwarves had for gold" and, that is way I am going to treat them as a group.
"...fitted out in fine cloth of their proper colours, with beards combed and trimmed, and proud steps. Thorin looked and walked as if his kingdom was already regained and Smaug chopped up into little pieces."(Chapter X, page 191, "The Hobbit")
"...and there is no knowing what a dwarf will not dare and do for revenge or the recovery of his own."(Chapter X, page 193, "The Hobbit")
"...dwarves are not heroes, but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not, but are decent people like Thorin and Company, if you don't expect too much."(Chapter XII, page 204, "The Hobbit")
All the details proportioned by the writer are useful for clarifying that the dwarves are an ancient, proud and belligerent folk that move for their own interest and do not hesitate to use whoever to make any kind of benefit. In this case, in the beginning, the thirteen dwarves doubt about Bilbo's capability for satisfying their goal, but as the narration goes on they realize the hobbit is someone trustworthy and he will be the key they heed for fulfilling their aim.
To sum up, the same way Bilbo changes, so do the dwarves improving their condition and demonstrating to be faithfull collegues.
Elves"Elves know a lot and are wondrous folk for news, and know what is going on among the peoples of the land"(Chapter III, page 57, "The Hobbit"). This is the first comment which the author give us in regard to the elves, in the beginning these dwellers are not well defined, but the elves give us the impression that they weren't very much appreciated by the dwarves "For some elves teaase them and laugh at them"(Chapter III, page 56, "The Hobbit"), although as we will see further on, and that is the reason I consider them as heroes, they will be a key issue for fullfilling the aim of our well known group formed by the fourteen main characters.
"The elvish folk were passing bowls from hand to hand and across the fires, and some were harping and many were singing. Their gleaming hair was twined with flowers; green and white gems glinted on their collars and their belts; and their faces and their songs were filled with mirth."(Chapter VIII, page 150, "The Hobbit")
"These are not wicked folk. If they have a fault it is distrust of strangers. Though their magic was strong, even in those days they were wary."(Chapter VIII, page 162, "The hobbit")
"Still elves they were and remain, and that is Good People."(Chapter VIII, page 162, "The Hobbit")
"His people neither mined nor worked metals or jewels, nor did they bother much with trade or with tilling the earth."(Chapter VIII, page 163, "The Hobbit")
The image of a community gathered around a leading figure, makes us think in that hierarchical and romantic society of the medieval literary anglosaxon culture, commonly idealized by King Arthur's court. The goal of a fellowship going around a respected, accepted and loved leader, both in the elves' and in the medieval's civilization, gives a clear representation of the author's literary preferences, and that is why, Tolkien introduces the concept of a feudal community, idealized to the limit with this way of living.
All this goes to show that Tolkien, as it happens to any literary person, is influenced by a concrete literature which the author shows clearly, happily and joyfully. The maximum representation of these influences in the novel is outlined by the elvish folk.
MenMen's role in the Middle Earth is not exactly the same as the one we have in our society, in other words, the author demotes men stablishing them in the last rank of creation. Tolkien, as stated in the book, emphasizes a glorious civilization which is already in decay. Men, in spite of this secondary role, will also act saving the main characters "in extremis" while they carry out their raids.
EaglesIn spite of having a leading role in the book, the eagles act as "deux ex machina" of the classical Greek tragedies, because they always turn up on the precise moment for saving the main characters from a terrible death.
Smaug"There he lay, a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; a thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils, and wisps of smoke, but his fires were low in slumber. Beneath him, under all his limbs and his huge coiled tail, and about him on all sides stretching away across the unseen floors, lay countless piles of precious things, gold wrought and unwrought, gems and jewels, and silver red-stained in the ruddy light."(Chapter XII, page 205-206, "The Hobbit")
"Smaug lay, with wings folded like an inmeasurable bat, turned partly on one side, so that the hobbit could see his underparts and his long pale belly crusted with gems and fragments of gold from his long lying on his costly bed."(Chapter XII, page 206, "The Hobbit")
"His rage passes description - the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they con enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but never before used or wanted."(Chapter XII, page 208, "The Hobbit")
Gollum"Deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum, a small slimy creature. I don't know where he came from, nor who or what he was. He was a Gollum - as dark as darkness, except for two big round pale eyes in his thin face. He had a little boat, and he rowed about quite quietly on the lake; for lake it was, wide and deep and deadly cold...He was looking out of his pale lamp-like eyes for blind fish, which he grabbed with his long fingers as quick as thinking. He liked meat too."(Chapter V, page 77, "The Hobbit")
Gollum is one of the most central characters of the novel despite not being one of the main characters, he is the owner of the magic ring which he loses in favour of Bilbo and it will serve J.R.R. Tolkien as the key issue of the story in the "The Lord of the Rings".
Trolls"Three very large persons sitting round a very large fire of beech-logs...from the great heavy faces of them, and their size, and the shape of their legs, not to mention their language, which was not drawing-room fashion at all, at all."(Chapter II, page 42-43, "The Hobbit")
"...for he stood turned to stone as he stopped...and there they stand to this day...and never more again."(Chapter II, page 49, "The Hobbit")
J.R.R. Tolkien defines trolls as despicables and silly entities, big size creatures with not too much intelligence. With this, I want to make a reference to the great distinction the author makes when saying that smartness can beat physical strength, whether you were physically stronger or not is not important for the author, because three big trolls are defeated by a small wizard just using his grey matter.
Wolves"All of a sudden they heard a howl away down hill, a long shuddering howl. It was answered by another away to the right and a good deal nearer to them; then by another not far away to the left. It was wolves howling at the moon, wolves gathering together."(Chapter VI, page 101, "The Hobbit")
"Wolves of that sort smell keener than gobblins, and do not need to see you to catch you!"(Chapter VI, page 101, "The Hobbit")
"But even the wild Wargs (for so the evil wolves of the Edge of the Wild were named) cannot climb trees."(Chapter VI, page 102-103, "The Hobbit")
The Wargos, or so were they know in those whereabouts, will be a major and important part in the great war at the end of the novel where dwarves, men, elves fight against gobblins and wolves.
Gobblins"The gobblins were very rough...and chuckled and laughed in their horrible stony voices..."(Chapter IV, page 67, "The Hobbit")
"For gobblins eat horses and ponies and donkeys, and they are always hungry."(Chapter IV, page 68, "The Hobbit")
"Now gobblins are cruel, wicked, and badhearted. They make no beautiful things, but hey make many clever ones...It is not unlikely that they invented some of the machines that have since troubled the world, especially the ingenious devices for killing large numbers of people at once...They did not hate dwarves especially, no more than they hated everybody and everything..."(Chapter IV, page 69, "The Hobbit")
This is how J.R.R. Tolkien defines gobblins, making as understand they are real creatures, which existed time ago and, because of their fault, many wars and human massacres have happened. Or the writer has simply personified some people in our society.
Spiders"The nastiest things they saw were the cobwebs: dark dense cobwebs with threads extraordinarily thick, often stretched from tree to tree, or tangled in the lower branches on either side of them." (Chapter VIII, page 138, "The Hobbit")
"...a place of dense black shadow ahead of him, black even for that forest, like a patch of midnight that had never been cleared away. As he drew nearer, he saw that it was made by spiders-webs one behind and over and taugled with another. Suddenly he saw, too, that there were spiders huge and horrible..."(Chapter VIII, page 152-153, "The Hobbit")
Notes:- "The Hobbit", J.R.R. Tolkien, Caledonian International Book Manufacturing Ltd., Glasgow, 1993.
© Copyright Juan Pérez Moreno
Created 28/11/99 Updated 06/12/99
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