Quote Analysis #3 - True Bravery

“It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterwards were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait” (193).

In this scene, Bilbo is heading down the tunnel that leads to Smaug’s lair. He has been through many traumatic experiences leading up to this moment, yet he fights the most important battle while alone in the tunnel. He has to find the courage to continue, and for most of the story, Bilbo feels a huge lack of courage. Up till now, he feels like it has mostly been luck helping him through the tough moments.

He happened to find Gollum’s ring, which then saved him from the goblins, the spiders, and hid him from the elves. Rescuers, such as Gandalf and the eagles, show up at the opportune moment when there is nothing Bilbo can do to help himself or his friends. And Bilbo’s companions (plus the narrator) continually attribute Bilbo’s heroic actions to his good luck. So this moment in the tunnel is a big step for Bilbo. He is on his own, the ring cannot help him, and he has to find the strength within himself to continue. 

He is not just going down into that cave to do his job, or to help his friends, or to look at the treasure. In this moment, the trek into the treasure room becomes a journey for Bilbo alone. It becomes a journey of self-discovery and coming-of-age. By continuing, Bilbo proves to himself that he is courageous and capable. He is no longer the same hobbit that smoked his pipe on the porch at the beginning of the novel. This hobbit has discovered himself.

-M