Desiree performs a Hobbitsectomy

Question for today:
Where do the pop ups go when I scroll down? [Dancing lizards, talking geckos with British accents... leaping lizards. ]

The Hobbit By: Des Darnell

In The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, a considerable young and plump Bilbo Baggins undergoes many interesting changes. He changes through three different ways, which are physiology, sociology, and psychology. Physiology is how or what the character looks like. Sociology is how the character socializes or interacts with others. Psychology is what is going on in a characters mind, and why they think in that state.

Bilbo shows one dramatic change in physiology through his noticeable increase in self-confidence. Baggins is much wittier and believes he has the capability that may be strong enough to battle enemies, “Bilbo, however soon slipped away to a different place. The idea came to him to lead the furious spiders further and further away from the dwarves, if he could; to make them curious, excited and angry all at once. When about fifty had gone off to the place where he had stood before, he threw some more stones at these, and at others that had stopped behind, then dancing among the trees he began to sing a song to infuriate them and bring them all after him, and also to let the dwarves hear his voice” (Tolkien 198). In Bilbo’s case he sees his dwarf companions in trouble, along with the spiders that are their enemies, webs, and darkness. Bilbo has to overcome the fact that he feels awkward by singing and throwing rocks at spiders. He also feels brave, clever, and accomplished by bantering and infuriating the giant spiders, so they would stay away from the dwarves. The reader sees spiders, dwarves, and the dark forest. One also feels proud of Bilbo for tricking the spiders and curios about what is going to happen to him, the dwarves, and the spiders. Bilbo has transformed into an enterprising hobbit with the confidence to overcome obstacles.

Bilbo shows another change in sociology through his dramatic transformation in occupation. He is much more confident, sneaky, and gropes for unfamiliar objects, “Bert and Tom went off to the barrel. William was having another drink. Then Bilbo plucked up the courage and put his little hand into William’s enormous pocket. There was a purse in it, as big as a bag to Bilbo. ‘Ha!’ thought he warming to his new work as he lifted it carefully out, ‘this is a beginning!’” (Tolkien 32). The little hobbit sees churlish trolls, the food they are eating, his first target, while being surrounded in the woods. Bilbo reaches into William’s huge pocket because he feels confident and sneaky enough to attempt burglary. He also feels that he has accomplished a task. The reader also sees the trolls and the other surroundings. One also feels anxious to see what is going to happen to Bilbo. Mr. Baggins transformed from a normal hobbit to an anxious burglar with his high self esteem to overcome the fear of burglary.

Baggins shows a third change in psychology through his noticeable change in temperament. He is very unsure about adventures, “I should think so- in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and I have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them,’ said our Mr. Baggins, and stuck one thumb behind his braces, and blew out another even bigger smoke ring” (Tolkien 13-4). Bilbo is blowing smoke rings while talking with Gandalf. After a while he felt quite cross and uncomfortable. He disagreed on going on an adventure, and became quite stubborn and did not collaborate on listening to Gandalf. One sees Bilbo conversing with Gandalf while blowing smoke rings, and also understands why he does not want to be part of an adventure. Baggins has transformed from a hobbit that is uncooperative, short tempered, and afraid of changes, to a hobbit that enjoys adventures.

As you can see, in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, a legendary Bilbo Baggins undergoes many interesting changes. Bilbo changed in three different ways, which are physiology, sociology, and psychology. In physiology he changed by jostling his way into defeating spiders. Through sociology Baggins evolved from a hobbit into burglar. In psychology Mr. Baggins veered from a wanton and stubborn hobbit to one that is agreeable and cooperative. One can learn that good and evil do actually battle, and one side will always try to rule over another. Good may not always win, but in this case, good did overpower evil.