The Hobbit - Chapter 18 - The Return Journey

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Bilbo reappears at the beginning of this chapter, though at first it is only the revival of consciousness that takes place. He is "visible" only to the readers, not yet to the others around him. We find out that invisibility is not always advantageous!

Victory is not unmitigated joy. Even Gandalf can be wounded, and many of the Men, Elves, and Dwarves are dead. We find out that the urgent business for which Bilbo was wanted is to take his leave of Thorin, who is dying. In that moment, the Dwarf realizes that earthly wealth is not the most important priority, and he desires to close his life in friendship, begging Bilbo's forgiveness.

His words are high praise of the hobbit; it's interesting that he calls Bilbo "good thief" - do you think he's now acknowledging the justice of what Bilbo did? He also mentions his courage and wisdom as well as praising the values of his race. That sentence could hold true for us today, and I imagine it was Tolkien's own wish as well:

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.

Bilbo's friendship and loyalty are astonishing; his readiness to forgive the wrongs done to him is great.

The Eagles are not really the deus ex machina of the battle which they are often considered; there is a back story to their participation. Even they could not save the day alone; it was the cooperation of all that finally won the victory. Beorn's last minute involvement was the final piece of the puzzle that turned the fate of the battle.

Dain appears to be a just King under the Mountain, dividing up the treasure more generously than Thorin would have done, thereby restoring justice and friendship among the races.

Gandalf and Bilbo begin the journey homewards, and similar to the hobbits' journey home from Gondor in RotK, they start off in the company of some of their allies. The Elven King (whom we assume to be Thranduil) comes across much more positively now than earlier in the story, welcoming Gandalf to his halls and naming Bilbo "elf-friend".

Do you wonder about the adventures they had on the way home? I know, it would have been anti-climactic to elaborate on them so near the end of the story, but we wonders, we does...

A wizard and a bear/man - what travelling companions Bilbo had! He was well-guarded indeed. There's a long break in the journey at Beorn's house, where they spend months! Would travelling had been too difficult in the winter months, or do you think they should have gone back to the Shire earlier to prevent the auctioning of Bilbo's house and possessions? Would Gandalf have had foreknowledge of that?

The Battle of the Five Armies had far-reaching results, afterwards affecting the outcome of the War of the Ring. Perhaps those of us who have read "The Quest of Erebor" in UT can add to the discussion the points told there.

The chapter ends with Bilbo's wish for his arm-chair - the hobbit has changed, but not so much that he is someone completely different than he was! His two sides, Took and Baggins, are both still there.