9
The Hidden Hero
Thus far in the story, Bilbo’s time in Mirkwood has been nothing less than transformational. And in many ways, his experiences actually have served as microcosms of the major themes I’ve been highlighting throughout this book.
For example, his most significant growth develops amid his most significant trials (James 1:2–4). On a divine mission, he destroys whatever forces of evil attempt to stand in his way (Psalm 92:7). He puts his life on the line in order to rescue his friends (Galatians 1:3). And the weakest player in the forest ends up shaming the creatures who had considered themselves strong (1 Corinthians 1:26–29).
In chapter 8, Bilbo replaced Gandalf within the company as Agents of Divine Wrath and Rescue. Now he will take on yet another mantle as Agent of Divine Initiation—and herein officially will become the expedition’s leader.
Bilbo for President
Actually, Bilbo’s ascension into leadership started back before the dwarves were captured by the wood elves.
At chapter 8’s beginning, after Gandalf’s departure, we don’t get a clear sense of who’s leading the company. At moments it seems Bilbo is already in command, such as when he takes charge of snagging the boat across the enchanted stream. But in other moments Thorin gives out orders, as when he directs Bilbo to climb a tree and note their progress through the forest.
After battling the spiders, the dwarves all turn to Bilbo when they realize Thorin is gone. Indeed, they not only look to him for a plan of escape, they go so far as to pledge themselves to his service and bow in front of him!
Still, we wonder, what will happen once Thorin rejoins the company?
That question, and that of leadership in general, is resolved once and for all in chapter 9. Held captive, unsure of his friends’ fate, Thorin becomes despondent. He loses hope to where he considers telling the Elvenking all about the treasure and his quest—a desperate maneuver for a dwarf, certainly.
That’s when Bilbo finds the king of the dwarves and restores his faith. From that point on, Thorin and the other dwarves willingly rest in their cells and wait for Mr. Baggins to come up with a plan. They trust the hobbit entirely—which is what Gandalf said would happen.
In other words, the torch of leadership has been passed.
At first, though, it’s not a happy development for Bilbo. Killing spiders in the heat of battle is one thing, but carrying the responsibility of his friends’ well-being? Forming strategies for the success of the quest? Figuring out how to escape? These new task-types place a heavy burden on hobbit shoulders.
Even so, as with everything else now, Bilbo rises to the occasion. He takes ownership. He makes the necessary plans. And he helps the entire company escape, thus preserving their venture.
Bilbo even rises to deft handling of dissension in the ranks. When the dwarves learn of his design to escape the cave in barrels, they grumble and complain. They call him crazy, alleging he should have thought of something more sensible.
Nonplussed, he rebuffs the arguments with a bit of Gandalf-ish sternness. He offers to take them back to their nice cells and let them sit there comfortably until they think of a better plan—although he reminds them he probably won’t be able to get the keys again, even if he felt inclined to try.
To see how the hobbit has grown, we need only compare this speech with the quivering, spluttering, self-justifying creature hosting the unexpected party in chapter 1. Truly, the old Bilbo is gone, and the new Bilbo is being formed.
Now he is an Agent of Divine Wrath, and of Rescue, and, like Gandalf, of Initiation. He is a hero, he is a leader, and he will be in need all of his pristine skills through the journey still ahead.
Naturally, he also will need a spot of luck.
Fortune and Providence
That’s a key word to keep an eye out for in chapter 9: luck. The narrator repeats it several times when describing Bilbo’s various efforts in the wood elves’ cave, and he’ll continue to use it through the hobbit’s remaining adventures.
Today, the idea of luck is often associated with negative implications. “He only won because he was lucky,” for example, or, “She’s done all she can; the outcome will just have to come down to luck.” In the contemporary sense, luck often implies a lack of skill or competence.
In Tolkien’s mythology, however, luck carries a different weight—the weight of divinity.
Proverbs 16:33 says: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” This theme appears often throughout Scripture, especially in the Old Testament. All kinds of people cast lots to make decisions—from kings to priests to peasants. And yet such actions did not imply that random chance decided what would happen. Rather, that worldview placed even something like rolling dice under the direct authority of God.
Thus, what we refer to as “luck,” they would have seen as divine action. What we refer to as “random chance,” they would have seen as Providence.
The latter view is very much in operation throughout The Hobbit as well as Tolkien’s legendarium on the whole. Several actions and events are credited to luck or good fortune—lots of rescues and escapes that come “just in the nick of time.”
A few examples in chapter 9:
That’s a lot of good fortune! In the hands of another author, all these expressions might seem like overindulgence of a theme or even poor writing.
For Tolkien, however, such examples are meant to reflect the ever-present, ever-helping hand of Providence.
Subtle Compassion
Before we move on, there’s a quick cave incident to highlight and explore.
After Bilbo sees the butler and the chief guard succumb to their wine, he takes the keys from the guard in order to free his friends. The whole affair is a lucky stroke, and Bilbo takes advantage of the situation in an admirable way.
But what happens as Bilbo and the dwarves pass them—both still asleep on the table—en route to freedom? Stealthily, silently, the hobbit sneaks back into the room and reattaches the guard’s keys. The returned keys will save the guard some trouble, Bilbo notes, remembering that the guard wasn’t a bad fellow and treated the prisoners well.
Do not overlook this incident. It happens quickly. It is subtle and has little meaning within the overall chapter, yet I believe it to be a vitally central moment, for two reasons.
First, it shows that, even with all the transformations he has experienced within Mirkwood, Bilbo has retained his capacity for thoughtful kindness and good-natured compassion. He has not gained courage only to lose empathy. He is compounding, not replacing, his virtues.
This is no small matter. As Bilbo has recently become leader of his small troop, it would be easy for him to adopt an “us versus the world” mentality. It would be easy for him to view anyone standing between him and his goals as an enemy. Easy, but destructive—to the hobbit and to his overall mission.
No, Bilbo realizes he is part of the forces of good. His enemies are the forces of evil, not two elves incidentally caught up in a misunderstanding. As Jesus said: “Whoever is not against you is for you” (Luke 9:50).
This wisdom will serve the hobbit well when he must make difficult choices after the destruction of Smaug (and before the Battle of Five Armies).
Second, this moment is important because of the Ruling Ring. Bilbo has been forced to stay invisible within the wood elves’ caves, which means he’s been wearing it nonstop for several weeks. And since he has no idea about the ring’s actual history, he has no awareness of what kind of danger he’s in.
But we do. We know the ring is deadly, a vehicle of destruction and carnage. And we worry that Bilbo’s prolonged exposure will wreak havoc.
That’s why we should be relieved to see him perform this simple act of kindness. Bilbo’s ability to behave decently—kindheartedly—toward the chief guard shows that the ring’s influence over the hobbit remains minor. Indeed, it’s probable that his kindnesses are what prevent the ring from gaining a stronger foothold.
These little moments of gentle virtue are why, decades later, Bilbo is able to pass the ring over to Frodo and move on down the road, unharmed.