Romano 1

Janeth Romano
Professor Amy Ludwig
English 091
19 January 2017
The Power of Friendship
The power of friendship is the most alluring aspect of J.R.R. Tolkiens novel The Hobbit.
Throughout the book readers find the relationship of Thorin and Bilbo Baggins to become bittersweet as they build their friendship through the great quest to take back Thorins home, the
Lonely Mountain, from Smaug the Dragon. During the companys journey to reclaim the Lonely
Mountain, Thorin affects Bilbo in a variety of ways, which at first both parties object to partake.
However, by the end of the great epic Thorin begins to rely on Bilbo as they encounter dangerous
and excruciating challenges along their quest. Thorin begins to affect Bilbo by testing his skills
as a thief and then finally gives Bilbo the greatest treasure of all, his friendship.
Bilbos bravery and abilities increased little by little as the journey went on. He was a
comfortable hobbit living at the Shire with no intentions of going on adventures in the beginning
of the book. Adventures were looked down upon by hobbits because it was not in their nature to
do such dangerous things. Because the Tookish side of him was suppressed, Gandalf was able to
intrigue his curiosity and convince Bilbo to go on this quest. Thorin and company assisted in
convincing him to partake in the adventure by putting him down and saying that he would not be
of any help. This triggered a series of events that would help Bilbo and Thorin grow into their
full potential.
Thorin affects Bilbo by giving him purpose with taunting and gives him the respect that
he deserves as he accomplishes the tasks bestowed on him. Because Thorin and the rest of the
company doubted his burglar capabilities, it ignited Bilbo to prove them wrong by gathering up
his courage to do the impossible. Bilbo proves himself by sneaking up to trolls, dodging goblins,
killing a giant spider, getting his friends out from the Elvenkings cells, and taking the
Arkenstone from Smaug. Because of Bilbos persistence and sneaking abilities, Thorin and

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company become impressed with his skills. When the dwarfs are captured by the woodland
elves, Bilbo uses his magical ring, his wit and courage to help his friends escape when Gandalf is
not around to help them out (Arslan 140). Thus, proving to himself and the rest of the dwarves
that he has the capabilities and skills to be a top notch burglar and a leader figure.
Murat Arslan, a student at the Karabuk University, noticed that even though Bilbo gained
the respect and friendship from Thorin and the rest of the dwarves, Bilbo is depicted as a person
who follows the right path even at the expense of losing his friends (Arslan 142). Bilbo goes
through this tough decision when he escapes the City of Dale to give Bard and the Elvenking the
Arkenstone so that they may barter with Thorin for what is owed to them. Thorin at this point of
the story goes through a tough decision a well. He realizes that Bilbo went behind his back to
give them the Arkenstone in order to share some of the regained gold. Thorins greed goes to his
head and does not care that he will be losing a loyal companion, that without Bilbos help, he
would not have gotten that far as to reclaim the city of Dale and its vast treasure. He becomes
cold and throws Bilbo out of the fortressed city of Dale and lets no one in or out for the fear of
anyone taking his inherited wealth.
However, Thorin later has a change of heart when he realizes that his cousin Dain and
Bilbo are fighting to protect the Lonely Mountain from a hoard of Goblins and Orcs. He and the
rest of the dwarfs armor up and join their comrades in the Battle of the Five Armies.
Unfortunately, Thorin dies from his wounds after the battle, his last words to Bilbo leave the
bittersweet taste of their true friendship, Farewell, good thief I go now to the halls of waiting
to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed. Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go
where it is of little worth, I wish to part in friendship from you, and I would take back my words
and deeds at the Gate ( Tolkien 290). Thorin realizes that his bond with Bilbo is worth more
than the treasure and Arkenstone he obsessed over.

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An English Professor at Oklahoma State University Peter G. Epps agrees that Thorins
and Bilbos friendship play an important part in Tolkiens work: On this understanding, the
apparent incongruities of structure and genre resolve into a consistent narrative strategy to
develop the theme Pearce correctly identified: growth in virtue so as to become capable of true
friendship (Epps 122). As a result, Bilbo gains courage at the end of the journey and Thorin
receives Bilbos loyalty and friendship. The power of friendship is what keeps two people
together even in death.

Works Cited
Arslan, Murat. There and Back Again': The Quest and Self-Discovery in J.R.R. Tolkien's The
Hobbit. Journal of History, Culture & Art Research / Tarih Kltr ve Sanat Arastirmalari
Dergisi. Vol. 4, Issue 2, June 2015, pp. 136-143. Academic Search Premier, doi:
10.7596/taksad.v4i2.448.
Epps, Peter G. Joseph Pearce. Bilbos Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of
The Hobbit. Christianity & Literature. Vol. 64, Issue 1, Autumn 2014, pp. 122-126.
Academic Search Premier, doi: 10.1177/0148333114556596c.
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. Del Rey Books/The Random House Publishing Group, 2012.