For the last few weeks I've been re-reading JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit. Among other books, but this post isn't about those, it's about the little book that started it all.
I'm trying to remember how many times I've read the grand adventure of Bilbo Baggins. I believe this is the third time all the way through. Numerous times reading portions of it. I'm really a latecomer to the world of Tolkien. Tolkien and CS Lewis were neo-pagans and their works were to be avoided. I'm not kidding. I was really told that. I'm pretty certain it would have garnered me some kind of disciplinary action, if not the boot, in the fundamental Baptist schools I attended. But, let's save that nonsense for another time. As a result, I didn't discover Tolkien until after The Fellowship of the Ring movie came out. On DVD. Once I watched, I was hooked. The first time I read The Hobbit was 12 years ago.
Besides loving the story, and Tolkien's work, this current reading was prompted with my discovery of The Tolkien Professor podcast. Some of the first episodes of the podcast are lectures on The Hobbit, so I decided now was as good of a time to read it again. As I have been reading through, then I have been listening to the corresponding lectures. If you would like to know more information about the Tolkien Professor podcast, you can click the link above or follow him on Twitter @tolkienprof. He also has another website, The Mythgard Institute, where courses on Tolkien studies are offered. Both locations and podcasts have greast information, and I think will be enjoyed by any Tolkien enthusiast.
Some books and authors i can enjoy and read one time. It is rare that I can read over and over again the same book. Tolkien is one of those select few. Several things always strike me about Tolkien's main character in The Hobbit. Here are my thoughts, in really no particular order.
1. Bilbo is me. There is nothing special about him. He has no powers, abilities or anything else that makes him unique. He is ordinary, loves ordinary, and just wants to be left alone. Of course several "coincidences" take place - he meets a wizard, finds a magic ring - that radically change him.
2. Bilbo goes from being controlled by his circumstances to taking charge. Especially in the Spiders episode in Mirkwood. As the Tolkien Professor points out, Bilbo goes from being in the Darkness of Mirkwood to actively fighting back against it.
3. Sometimes Bilbo's pride gets the best of him.
4. Most of the time Bilbo always underestimates his worth and contribution.
5. Bilbo was able to play a very important part in something far greater than he could ever imagine.
Those are my thoughts for now.
Thnaks for reading.
Darth Baptist
