Bilbo's Development in The Hobbit
             J.R.R. Tolkein's novel The Hobbit is a fantasy novel in which Bilbo, the main character, encounters various adventures with a crew of dwarves. Through countless excursions into the wild it is obvious that Bilbo develops greatly into a wonderfully cheerful hero. Bilbo is thought to be the unlikely hero because of his hatred of adventures and relaxed and peaceful lifestyle, but through much development and maturation of his character he becomes quite the contrary. Bilbo develops immensely because at first he is thought to be "very respectable which means he never had any adventures or did anything unexpected"(Crabbe 40). But at the novel's dénouement he is self sufficient and recognized as the genuine hero. Bilbo's plight helps him to realize the inner powers in which he holds and his heroic capabilities.
             At first when Bilbo is asked to join in the journey he simply replies, "we don't want any adventures here"(Tolkein 26), but with a small bit of coercion by Gandalf he skeptically decides to join on their journey. In the beginning Bilbo is very insecure about his capabilities as a member of the group, but as the book progresses he gains more confidence and develops into the bona fide hero Gandalf had hoped for.
             The group's first adventure occurs while voyaging through the underbelly of the Smokey Mountains. In order to completely understand the severity of Bilbo's plight and how his actions are heroic one must take try to understand the situation that he was in. Inside the mountain's tunnels they are captured by trolls who are no more intelligent than a doornail. In this encounter it becomes dreadfully obvious that Bilbo has lead a "very sheltered life in which keeps him from understanding the ways of the world"(Crabbe 41). While Bilbo is lost he is searching for either his friends or an exit, and happens to ...