What I Love About Tolkien’s The Hobbit
"Come on Hobbits!" - Smeags
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”
With Tolkien’s iconic opening lines, the world was officially introduced to Middle Earth. As no doubt many would agree, this is the book I’ll always recommend for any one who is new to Tolkien and Middle Earth. It’s not too overwhelming to tackle the world Tolkien created, as it gives bits and pieces of the history of Midde Earth. That all makes sense, since this was a children’s book.
What is it about this story that has captivated millions around the world? Sure, there’s humor (like Bilbo’s insistence that going on adventures makes you late for dinner) and a new world full of different races of elves, dwarves, humans, goblins, Wargs, and dragons. But I think what Tolkien did so masterfully (not only in Middle Earth related books, but changing, dare I say, reinventing, an entire genre) is teach is the most important things we need to learn and/or remember as fellow travelers in this world.
We see loyalty (which is most clearly seen when Fili and Kili die defending their uncle Thorin).
We see what it looks like to overcome differences we may think are too much and that leads to beautiful bonds of fellowship and friendship (and just a taste of what’s to come in The Lord of the Rings).
We see how greed destroys, no matter who you are. Thorin’s last words to Bilbo before he died are so fitting, coming from one who fully understood the destruction that comes from greed: “There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
And finally, that its worth taking a chance on adventure, for what you gain may just be worth it all in the end.
This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected. He may have lost the neighbors' respect, but he gained - well, you will see whether he gained anything in the end.
What’s one of your favorite parts of The Hobbit?
© 2025 Jamie Lapeyrolerie