Bilbo

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Bilbo Baggins (比尔博)
Alias(es)	Master Baggins
Species/Race	Hobbit / Halfling
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Thorin Oakenshield's Company; later associated with the Council of Elrond
Occupation/Role	Burglar; adventurer; writer
Status	Alive
First Appearance	6

Background

Bilbo lives at Bag End in the Shire, where he values hospitality, regular meals, and the comfort of home. When Gandalf first invites him on an adventure, Bilbo rejects the idea as disruptive and unpleasant, especially because adventures make one late for dinner 6.

Gandalf recruits Bilbo as the burglar for Thorin Oakenshield's expedition to reclaim the Lonely Mountain. Initially viewed with skepticism by Thorin and the dwarves, Bilbo hesitates over the contract and the prospect of abandoning Bag End. Gandalf's reminder of Bilbo's Took ancestry awakens his desire not to live an ordinary life; Bilbo signs the agreement and catches the Company as it leaves Hobbiton 11 12.

Bilbo's agreed share of the expedition's profits is reduced from one-fourteenth to one-fifteenth after Morgan joins the Company 12. Though inexperienced at the outset, he gradually fights beside the Company, seeks to prove himself, and forms a close friendship with Morgan and Gandalf 13 36.

Appearance

Bilbo is a short Hobbit, noticeably smaller than Men and without a Dwarf's beard. He commonly wears a wine-red coat and travels barefoot, with thick, fur-covered Hobbit feet 57 84.

• Shorter and lighter than the Dwarves of Thorin's Company 84.
• Barefoot throughout the expedition from the Shire 84.
• Wears a wine-red coat during the Goblin Kingdom and Woodland Realm incidents 57 102.
• Has white hair and visible wrinkles in his later years, though he remains cheerful and active 191.

Personality

Bilbo is polite, hospitable, dignified, and proud of proper conduct. Even when the dwarves turn Bag End upside down, he attempts to remain a courteous host; later, their boisterous conduct in Rivendell embarrasses him because they are guests 6 39.

His greatest development is from comfort-loving homebody to determined adventurer. He wants to live up to the adventurous members of his family, prove Gandalf's faith justified, and demonstrate that he is more capable than the dwarves assume 12 36.

Bilbo is deeply loyal to the Company despite their early mockery. He risks himself to save them, refuses to abandon them when Thorin's dragon sickness threatens to turn the dispute over treasure into war, and gives up the Arkenstone to avert bloodshed 97 132 133.

The One Ring tests this generosity. Bilbo experiences possessiveness and fascination toward it, yet initially believes he could surrender it if Gandalf or Morgan asked. In old age, however, he struggles to relinquish it before finally leaving it for Frodo 90 177.

Abilities & Skills

Burglar and Stealth

Bilbo becomes the Company's effective burglar through agility, discretion, and the use of the One Ring.

• Silently obtains the Woodland Realm's cell keys and frees Morgan before directing the release of the other prisoners 97.
• Leads the Company through the Woodland Realm's barrel escape while avoiding Elven guards during the Starlight Festival 97.
• Enters the Lonely Mountain alone to locate the Arkenstone without waking Smaug 113.

Courage and Improvisation

Despite beginning as an inexperienced adventurer, Bilbo repeatedly acts under extreme danger.

• Takes up his short sword and fights alongside the Company when they are attacked by Orcs 36.
• Crosses Mirkwood's enchanted river first, nearly succumbing to its drowsiness-inducing mist 84.
• Faces Smaug inside the treasure vault, using concealment and conversation to survive after the dragon discovers him 115.
• Keeps pace with Morgan and the dwarves while climbing Ravenhill during the Battle of Five Armies 147.

Ring-bearer

Bilbo finds the One Ring in the Goblin Kingdom after it abandons Gollum and comes into his possession 58 59.

• Invisibility — He discovers that wearing the Ring renders him invisible and uses this ability during his adventures 80.
• Temptation — The Ring intensifies his greed and fear of losing it; Smaug's awareness of the Ring's presence causes Bilbo severe pain and forces him to remove it 90 115.
• Relinquishment — Although he struggles with its influence in old age, Bilbo ultimately leaves the Ring behind, allowing Frodo to become its bearer 176 177.

Equipment

• The One Ring — A golden Ring found beneath the Goblin Kingdom; grants invisibility but exerts a corrupting influence. Bilbo later relinquishes it to Frodo 80 177.
• Glowing short sword — A blade given to Bilbo by Gandalf after the Troll hoard incident; it glows when Orcs are nearby 41.
• Mithril coat of mail — A blade-proof mail shirt gifted by Thorin after the reclamation of the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo later gives it to Frodo 131 200.
• Chest of selected treasure — After Thorin fulfills the Company's agreement, Bilbo chooses a modest chest containing items such as cutlery, wine cups, and gemstone necklaces 168.

Relationships

• Gandalf — Recruiter, mentor, and steadfast believer in Bilbo's potential. Gandalf insists that the dwarves accept Bilbo as their burglar and later helps him relinquish the One Ring 11 12 177.
• Morgan — Adventure partner and close friend. Morgan backs Bilbo's decision to join the Company, treats him without contempt, rescues him repeatedly, and supports him through the dangers of the quest 13 36 102.
• Thorin Oakenshield — Employer and initially distrustful leader of the Company. Their relationship is strained by Thorin's dragon sickness, but Thorin gifts Bilbo mithril mail after reclaiming Erebor 7 131.
• The Dwarves of Thorin's Company — Companions who initially doubt Bilbo but come to trust him after he frees them from the Woodland Realm's cells and leads their escape 11 97.
• Frodo Baggins — Bilbo's adopted son and heir. Bilbo leaves the One Ring for Frodo, who later carries it to Rivendell and volunteers to take it to Mordor 175 176 193.
• Bard and Thranduil — Bilbo gives them the Arkenstone as leverage to prevent war between the Dwarves, Elves, and Men 132 133.
• Gloin — A former companion who reunites with Bilbo in Rivendell after sixty years apart 191.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruitment and the Quest of Erebor

Gandalf selects Bilbo as the fourteenth member of Thorin's Company because Hobbits are light-footed and unfamiliar to Smaug. Bilbo ultimately accepts the role despite his fear of leaving the Shire 11 12.

The Goblin Kingdom and the One Ring

After falling into the Goblin Kingdom, Bilbo finds the One Ring. Morgan later reunites with him, and Bilbo offers the Ring to Morgan out of guilt for concealing it; Morgan refuses 57 58. The Ring becomes Bilbo's crucial means of survival but begins exerting its corrupting influence over him 80 90.

Escape from the Woodland Realm

Bilbo steals the prison keys, frees the captured Company, and guides them through their barrel escape. His success earns the dwarves' trust and establishes his value as their burglar 97.

The Arkenstone and the Lonely Mountain Conflict

Bilbo enters Erebor alone to retrieve the Arkenstone, then faces Smaug within the treasure vault 113 115. When Thorin's dragon sickness threatens war, Bilbo secretly gives the Arkenstone to Bard and Thranduil, hoping they can use it to secure a peaceful settlement 132 133.

Later Life and the War of the Ring

After decades in the Shire, Bilbo leaves on his one hundred and eleventh birthday and finally surrenders the One Ring to Frodo 176 177. He later lives in Rivendell, reunites with old companions, and attends the Council of Elrond, where Frodo accepts the task of carrying the Ring to Mordor 191 192 193.

Notable Quotes

“I know Dwarves are often stubborn and obstinate… But they were kind. They were brave. They were even loyal enough not to question right or wrong. I like them very much now, so I want to do everything I can to save them.” 132