What we can learn from Bilbo.

The Hobbit is one of those childhood stories we think about as a grand adventure, but what we don't take into account is how Bilbo lived his life AFTER the war.

This is some philosophical rambling about the nature of the Veteran, so forgive me if I state truths that would have been obvious to any reader of the Lord of the Rings upon first publishing, but modern disconnect from the war experience has relegated to the "Footnotes" category.

Bilbo is a war veteran. Not only is he a war veteran, but his experience of fear, hiding, being brave only because he has loyalty to his friend is nearly universal to the soldier. War stories often emphasize the grand victor, and the conquering hero, but the average soldier is not the one who will ever gain glory.

Bilbo returns from his war with a small amount of booty... enough to keep him in his lifestyle for the rest of his natural days, and a curse. The standards of veterans not talking much about their war experience was in full flower at this time, and so we see only flashes of how badly the war damaged Bilbo.

He lives alone for a great deal of time. The only people he regularly associates with are other veterans, and his family which has taken the time to understand his past. He feels little to no connection to the people around him, his mind on loftier and more disturbing things. Bilbo has seen the elephant, to put it in the terms of the first world war, and wishes nothing more than to completely turn his back on war.

Bilbo treats the weapons and armor of war as things to be hidden away. Kept safe, remembered, and practiced, but never used. He grants it to the next generation not because he aches to see them thrust into danger, but because there will be danger no matter what. And sadly, even the memory of war and the power he wielded causes great distress and behavior that he cannot control.

So, Bilbo smokes his pipe, spends time with wizards and dwarves and elves, and fawns over his younger obsessions of literature and maps... Perhaps he will inspire the young to do greater things, but his war is long over. He will volunteer without a moments hesitation to defend those he loves, because deep down, Bilbo is still the soldier he was made into.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N_2TOUOdEc]

Share
up
0 users have voted.

Comments

smiley7's picture

resit its urge, the power, forever.

Thankfully, Elrond provided a rocking chair, front porch and view of the mountains so he could rest and resist in peace.

up
0 users have voted.
detroitmechworks's picture

@smiley7 of war damaged vets.

up
0 users have voted.

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Steven D's picture

But it makes a great deal of sense. Thanks for this.

up
0 users have voted.

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

detroitmechworks's picture

@Steven D I've seen a lot of interpretations, but many leave out the fact that Tolkien saw the first world war up close and personal.

The transition from civilian to soldier to civilian is expertly handled in the Hobbit just through the allegory of learning to do without...

up
0 users have voted.

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

thanatokephaloides's picture

@detroitmechworks

Tolkien saw the first world war up close and personal.

I was going to mention that, but you beat me to it.....

The transition from civilian to soldier to civilian is expertly handled in the Hobbit just through the allegory of learning to do without...

And again, this is something Tolkien knows painfully well.

I think Tolkien's handling of this phase of Bilbo Baggins' life is part of his (Tolkien's) antiwar resistance, a common theme among those who saw the first world war up close and personal.

up
0 users have voted.

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

detroitmechworks's picture

@thanatokephaloides From what I understand Tolkien was horrified by the brutality of the 2nd World War.

He loathed the trend to associate Sauron with Stalin and the suggestion that the Allied nations in any way represented the Nations of Men.

up
0 users have voted.

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

EdMass's picture

The horror of his experience still came through

up
0 users have voted.

Prof: Nancy! I’m going to Greece!
Nancy: And swim the English Channel?
Prof: No. No. To ancient Greece where burning Sapho stood beside the wine dark sea. Wa de do da! Nancy, I’ve invented a time machine!

Firesign Theater

Stop the War!

EdMass's picture

@EdMass

Of the Grey Havens and the Blessed Realm.

up
0 users have voted.

Prof: Nancy! I’m going to Greece!
Nancy: And swim the English Channel?
Prof: No. No. To ancient Greece where burning Sapho stood beside the wine dark sea. Wa de do da! Nancy, I’ve invented a time machine!

Firesign Theater

Stop the War!

detroitmechworks's picture

@EdMass at his rage is something that I experience nearly every time my PTSD gets the better of me.

I don't need the Grey Havens, though. I am content to end my days in Rivendell, and diminish. Smile

up
0 users have voted.

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Bisbonian's picture

The Hobbit is next on the reading list, for my grand-daughter.

I am always so glad you are here.

up
0 users have voted.

"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

detroitmechworks's picture

@Bisbonian While I love Ian McKellan, John Huston will always be my Gandalf.

There's a certain gravitas to the animated film that is missing in the spectacle of the new films.

up
0 users have voted.

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Bisbonian's picture

@detroitmechworks , call me "Bisbo".

up
0 users have voted.

"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

Lily O Lady's picture

up
0 users have voted.

"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

detroitmechworks's picture

@Lily O Lady Just reflecting a bit on the story I love, and why I still feel the new films totally missed the forest for the trees.

up
0 users have voted.

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

mhagle's picture

Not being a veteran I know I can never really understand, but the connections to the Hobbit are helpful. Thank you.

up
0 users have voted.

Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

detroitmechworks's picture

@mhagle the effects of the Ring on Bilbo are to the established symptoms of PTSD.

I also find it interesting that Hobbits, those who maintain the closest ties to family and support, are the ones who best resist its power.

The Scouring of the Shire was particularly tragic, because when Frodo returned, he did not have the support that Bilbo received from the community, due to the community being corrupted.

up
0 users have voted.

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.