2
A Poor Beginning
Is there any experience more universal than failure? Whether the expectations are rooted in ourselves or in the people we care about, we all have felt the sting that comes from falling short of them. All of us too have suffered the shame and disgrace of having our failures immortalized in the memories of those who witnessed them.
Failure is so familiar in our society that we’ve churned out endless adages and maxims to help us deal with it: “If at first you don’t succeed—try, try again”; “It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how you play the game”; “What do you do when you fall off the horse? You get right back on it.”
In chapter 2 of The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins encounters his first prospect for moving away from his “old self” and beginning to live like the hero he’s destined to become. And he fails miserably. Before the chapter comes to a close, he needs much more than a cheerful cliché or a trusty proverb to see him (and his friends) out of peril.
First, however, Bilbo faces another unavoidable reality: disappointment.
My Kingdom for a Pocket-Handkerchief!
Before Bilbo rushes away from his home and his hankies to meet the dwarves, something fascinating happens. (And no, it’s not that he forgets to dust the mantelpiece.)
On the morning after the surprise party, he wakes up to an empty house. They and the wizard are gone, and at first Bilbo believes they’ve started their adventure without him. Shockingly, part of him is disappointed.
This is an important revelation. Tolkien once again emphasizes that Bilbo is meant to accompany the dwarves. He has been called; he has a job to do. Even more, Tolkien reminds us of that small, struggling seed of courage in Bilbo—that “Tookish” impulse awaiting the chance to be unleashed.
Of course, Bilbo does come to join the dwarves on their quest. At first, as it goes, he’s pleased with the results—even to the point where he began to feel that adventures weren’t so terrible after all.
Well, that feeling doesn’t last long. The road gets bumpy. The weather turns dreary. Food begins to run short. And Bilbo starts to complain. He grumbles about the whole idea of burgling. He wishes longingly to be back in his nice hole by the fire, with his kettle just starting to sing—then the narrator interjects to let us know this “was not the last time that he wished that!”[1]
As you read The Hobbit, watch for those moments when Bilbo pines for the comfort and security of his safe little dwelling back in the Shire. These significant landmarks serve to keep reminding us that Bilbo is still a work in progress—that he has a lot of growing to do before becoming the hero of his own story.
Remember Paul’s words from Ephesians 4:22–24:
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
When Bilbo longs for the comforting refuge of the Shire and Bag End, he really is refusing to “put off [his] old self” and work toward being “made new.” Any of us who’s honest will readily acknowledge that this negative response usually results in negative—and uncomfortable—consequences.
That is certainly the case with the trolls.
A Poor Showing for “Burrahobbits”
Bilbo’s encounter with the trolls Bert, Tom, and William is his first real experience with adventure. It does not go well.
To start, Bilbo is given a specific set of instructions. Thorin tells him to take a look at the fire they’ve spotted ahead and see if there’s a problem or if everything is “safe and canny.”[2] Either way, the hobbit is to report back quickly with news.
Naturally, things are neither safe nor canny. Bilbo discovers three trolls in a foul mood. But instead of updating Thorin, as directed, he attempts a little burglary. Not surprisingly, he is caught.
Perhaps this particular overzealousness can be forgiven, as, after all, the hobbit joined this squad to be their burglar. But as for what happens after his capture . . .
First, he betrays the presence of the dwarves when a troll asks if anyone else is sneaking around in the woods. (Bilbo says, “Yes, lots.”)[3]
Then, when the trolls begin to fight one another, Bilbo again forgoes the opportunity to flee in obeisance to his orders from Thorin. Instead, he remains on the ground, panting, because his poor little feet had been very squashed in the hands of the troll.
This pathetic scene is meant to be seen as pathetic. Though the hobbit has just escaped mortal danger, he’s too tired to run away and save himself or to alert his friends.
Later still, as the trolls capture the dwarves one by one, Bilbo makes no attempt to rescue them. Worse, he makes no attempt even to advise them of the imminent menace—he merely stands behind a tree, watching it all go down. Only when Thorin appears does Bilbo cry out in warning and take a stab at helping. For his trouble, he is kicked into a bush; he then spends the rest of the skirmish “not daring to move for fear they should hear him.”[4]
That is the key word for the entire incident: fear. Faced with impending risk, Bilbo is paralyzed in fright, just as he had frozen up back at his own house when the dwarves first informed him of their intentions—only this time their lives are in jeopardy.
“Be Strong and Courageous”
Bilbo’s struggle with fear is another way his story reflects the process of spiritual growth in the believer’s life.
Throughout God’s Word, His followers are reminded again and again not to be rendered useless because of fear. Here are just a few examples:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, “You are my servant”;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:9–10
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
1 Peter 3:13–14
The thread of these commands is straightforward and easy enough to understand. Those who follow God are on the side of an everlasting, all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present Being. Moreover, that Being loves us, cares for us, and desires only our good. More still, even if we should suffer in this lifetime, we know that our final destination is eternal life with Him in paradise. Therefore, we are never to be controlled by fear.
And yet, clear-cut, logical ideas are not always easy to carry out. This is certainly the case with fear—for hobbits and humans.
Focusing on chapter 2 of The Hobbit, the lesson to be learned is simple: at this point in the story, Bilbo is horrific at heroism. (He’s not a very good burglar either.) He has a long, long way to go—in terms of both distance and development—before reaching that tunnel under the Lonely Mountain where he will make the most crucial choice of his life.
Lucky for Thorin and Company, Gandalf arrives in time to save the day.
Speaking of Gandalf, this is an excellent time for a deeper look into one of Tolkien’s most popular characters—and inarguably the most mysterious.
Character Profile: Gandalf
J. R. R. Tolkien has long been recognized for wielding his phenomenal imagination on a grand scale. For Middle-earth he constructed a documented and detailed geography. He interwove diverse civilizations onto and over a historical platform. For the many races of beings within those civilizations, he created entire cultures, even formulating languages and mythologies for them.
But one area in which Tolkien is underappreciated regards his ability to originate and shape compelling characters within his stories—vital creatures who feel, who bleed, who err, who grow. That being the case, I will take opportunities throughout this book to highlight some of his more interesting creations, starting with Gandalf.
In order to plumb the depths of Gandalf as a character within The Hobbit, we will focus on two questions: who is he, and what is his role in the story?
WHO IS GANDALF?
It’s curious that, even though Gandalf plays a central role in this story, we as readers don’t learn much more about him. In fact, here, essentially, is all we can say for certain after we turn the final page:
Fortunately, Tolkien provided a few more details in his other books—especially in The Silmarillion.
For example, it’s important to know that Gandalf is not a human being, not a man like Bard the Bowman or Aragorn. Rather, he is one of several immortal beings sent into the world as stewards at its very beginning.
As first noted in “A Short History of Middle-earth,” these beings are split into two groups. The Valar—sometimes called the Lords of the West—are more powerful and are responsible for ruling the world. The Maiar serve the Valar in their divinely appointed stewardship. None of these are gods; they function similarly to how angels are perceived to function in our world, serving and representing the divine Creator.
Gandalf, one of the Maiar, was originally called Olórin and is renowned for his wisdom and compassion. The Silmarillion records that during the realm’s latter ages, he took special interest in the “Children of Ilúvatar” (elves and men).
Further, Gandalf is part of a unique group of Maiar—the Istari—re-sent to Middle-earth as representatives of Ilúvatar:
Even as the first shadows were felt in Mirkwood there appeared in the west of Middle-earth the Istari, whom Men call the Wizards. None knew at the time whence they were, save Cirdan of the Havens, and only to Elrond and Galadriel did he reveal that they came over the Sea. But afterwards it was said among the Elves that they were messengers sent by the Lords of the West to contest the power of Sauron, if he should rise again, and to move Elves and Men and all living things of good will to valiant deeds.[6]
Accordingly, one aspect of Gandalf’s divinely appointed mission is to spur on “the Children of Ilúvatar” and “all living things of good will”—including hobbits!—to “valiant deeds.”
We also know from Tolkien’s other works that Gandalf has many names. He is called Mithrandir a few times in The Lord of the Rings, as well as Gandalf Stormcrow. He’s also known as Tharkûn and Incanus.[7]
One other item of note: Gandalf is fallible. He is neither omniscient nor omnipotent, and he does make mistakes from time to time. It took him decades to realize Bilbo’s ring was the One Ring, for instance, and in The Hobbit he inadvertently sends Bilbo and the dwarves on a bad path through Mirkwood. Also, chapter 6 reveals that Gandalf can be killed (more on that, if you wish, in The Fellowship of the Ring).
As a character, the marvelously deep and complex Gandalf becomes more so when we comprehend the many roles he plays in Middle-earth.
WHAT IS GANDALF’s ROLE IN THIS SEGMENT OF THE STORY?
Again, Gandalf is an immortal being who was sent into Middle-earth on a divine mission. He is a representative of the Being who created the world, which makes him an angel-like agent of providence.
What exactly is providence? A distinction is usually made between “general providence,” which refers to God’s continually upholding the existence and natural order of the universe, and “special providence,” which refers to God’s extraordinary intervention in the lives of people. The latter variety in this story is demonstrated first through Gandalf and, later, through the eagles, through Beorn, and, in critical ways, through Bilbo.
Here Gandalf’s special-providence role manifests in three distinct ways.
First, in The Hobbit, Gandalf is an Agent of Divine Initiation. With the possible exception of Sauron, Gandalf is the prime mover and shaker within Middle-earth. On Ilúvatar’s behalf, he’s the one initiating chains of events and setting in motion the wheels that drive history.
Though in connection with Bilbo’s story, Gandalf performs this role on a smaller scale, the account still includes several examples. A short story called “The Quest of Erebor,” published posthumously in Unfinished Tales, reveals that Gandalf nudged Thorin Oakenshield toward setting up an initiative to overthrow Smaug and regain the dwarves’ lost treasure. (Gandalf had his own motives as well—he knew Smaug would be a powerful ally to Sauron if the dark wizard should ever return to power.)
In The Hobbit chapter 1 (and discussed also in “Quest of Erebor”), it’s Gandalf who joins Bilbo to the venture, and of course this becomes vitally important later on. Not only does Bilbo play a pivotal role in the destruction of Smaug and many other evil creatures, he also finds the Ruling Ring. Along the journey to the Lonely Mountain, Gandalf enlists the help of other beings, including Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles, and Beorn—both of whom provide invaluable assistance during the Battle of Five Armies.
Second, within The Hobbit, Gandalf is an Agent of Divine Rescue. The first time he assumes this function—in chapter 2, when the dwarves have been caught by trolls—surely is not his last arrival just in time to thwart disaster.
He rescues the dwarves (and Bilbo) from the Great Goblin after everyone is captured in the cave inside the Misty Mountains. He rescues the dwarves again by leading them from the tunnels back into daylight (Bilbo has to find his own way out of that one). Gandalf himself is technically rescued by the Lord of the Eagles once the goblins and wargs catch the company up a tree, but the quest is again saved when the wizard hatches an ingenious plan to befriend Beorn on the borders of Mirkwood.
Most of all, Gandalf arrives back at the last possible moment to rescue dwarves, elves, men, and a hobbit from the goblin horde’s attack after Smaug is killed and the treasure becomes up for grabs.
Third, Gandalf is an Agent of Divine Wrath. This pattern can be observed throughout The Hobbit (as well as The Lord of the Rings): Whenever Gandalf comes in contact with the forces of evil, they rarely survive for long.
The trolls—Bert, Tom, and William—are first among those forces to face Gandalf’s righteous anger and divine wrath. They are comical villains, yes, but he never flinches from ensuring their destruction. Next comes the Great Goblin, then several other goblins and wargs, and, ultimately, even Smaug was destroyed because of the plans and actions Gandalf commenced.
Literary Corner: Bilbo as a Divine Agent
As someone who loved great stories, Tolkien appreciated the ins and outs of great literature; he himself incorporated advanced literary techniques. One that pops up frequently is the use of foreshadowing—using present symbols or situations to point to a future event.
Chapter 2 offers an excellent example of foreshadowing during the incident with the trolls. Amid the action, we find all thirteen dwarves tied up in sacks and lain out on the ground. This image points toward three major events to come: (1) the dwarves trapped by the goblins at the tops of trees; (2) the dwarves (minus Thorin) cocooned in spider silk and hung from a branch; and (3) the dwarves packed into barrels and floated down the river.
We already know Gandalf comes to the rescue in chapter 2. But the trouble with Bert, Tom, and William also foreshadows Bilbo’s eventual replacement (or complement) of Gandalf as an Agent of Providence.
We see him in his Agent roles later on and throughout the book: (1) Bilbo rescuing the dwarves from the spiders—Agent of Divine Rescue; (2) Bilbo leading the dwarves in killing a host of the spiders—Agent of Divine Wrath; (3) Bilbo formulating the plan to free the dwarves by packing them in barrels—Agent of Divine Initiation (and Rescue).
Here again is the central purpose Bilbo fulfills throughout the story. He has been called out to act as a representative of Providence, to serve the forces of good at work in the larger world, as Gandalf does. But at the end of chapter 2, he still is not ready for such a role.
He’ll have plenty of chances to face his fear and begin his divinely appointed work when the company moves into the Misty Mountains. Fortunately, he is able first to rest with Elrond, in the Last Homely House.