The Hobbit reflects the classic outline of the hero’s
journey, albeit in an elaborate and rich environment. Tolkien built his tale on
the framework of the classic hero’s journey but it became so much more. The
depth he was able to reach was only possible because of the richness of his
characters. We truly believed that each was their own person, with their own
past and their own personalities. Of course, the main character is the one for
whom the book is named for, a hobbit.
Bilbo is content with his life in the Shire and sees little
reason to leave. The adventurous nature he had as a youth has all but died. It
isn’t until Gandalf arrives with the promise of adventure that the status quo
is interrupted. Staying true to the outline of the hero’s journey, Bilbo
refuses his quest and prefers to stay at home. It isn’t until the next morning,
after the troupe has left, that he realizes he has to go. The rest of the book
follows the classic points of the hero’s journey, with each trial and
tribulation escalating until the final climactic event. Bilbo learns something
about himself and the world around him. When he returns home he realizes, as
Gandalf promised him at the onset of their adventure, that he is not the same
as he was before.
Of course, Tolkien sets up the proceeding tale of Lord of
the Rings by introducing us to the One Ring and the multitude of characters
that will be of importance later. It is a tale that had such an impact on the
genre of fantasy that it is still relevant today. He introduced us to an
immersive world that many find more appealing than the everyday monotony of
real life.
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