Bilbo Baggins, Protagonist
Bilbo smoking pipeweed from a wooden pipe.
Bilbo Baggins is by far the most important character in the story, and it is important that the reader is quickly able to form a picture of Bilbo in their mind. The author quickly begins to give a physical description of Bilbo, and soon the image of a small, human-like, slightly chubby creature with hairy feet and the ability to move quietly appears in the reader’s mind. At the beginning of the adventure, the reader sees Bilbo as a kind-hearted, fair hobbit that likes to stay at home. Throughout the adventure, the author shows the reader Bilbo’s thoughts, feelings, and actions that are the focus of the story and creates its plot. Through his good wits and common sense, Bilbo discovers courage and bravery that he did not realize that he had and transforms into a hero. Despite the Dwarves treating him badly at times, Bilbo’s determination and inner strength keep him going forward to confront trolls, escape from Gollum, rescue the Dwarves from spiders and the dungeons in Mirkwood, sneak into Smaug’s lair, find the Arkenstone, and try to prevent war between the Dwarves and Men. Despite his relationship with the greedy Dwarves, Bilbo was able to not be influenced by them and stayed true to himself as shown by him not taking much of the treasure at the end of the story and then returning to his home in Hobbiton. Bilbo is so well characterized by the end of the story that the reader almost believes that he is real and not a fantasy at all.