MEC Day 26: Character You Pity Most

"Have you ever seen it, Aragorn? The White Tower of Ecthelion, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver, its banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?"

I knew who I was going to write about for this post from the moment I read what Day 26 was. The character I pity most. Who is it?

Boromir

We might just want to retitle this post "Defending Boromir."

I've heard so many people berate Boromir for being selfish, for thinking like a thief instead of a warrior, for having an temper, etc. etc. and while I can understand somewhat the reasoning behind such criticism... well, let's just say, I'm going to attack it all.

Boromir is the son of the Steward of Gondor, and we first meet him in Rivendell at the Council of Elrond. He comes across Aragorn the night he arrives, and although he doesn't know exactly who Aragorn is (the true king of Gondor, his rightful king), he knows there's something different about him. In the attention Boromir gives the painting of Isildur and Sauron and then the shards of Narsil proves that he knows their history well, yet catching Aragorn watching him, he lets the sword hilt fall and walks away as if uncaring for such a relic.

Boromir: The shards of Narsil. The blade that cut the Ring from Sauron's hand. (cuts fingertip while touching the blade) It's still sharp. (glances at Aragorn) But no more than a broken heirloom.

We then get a good dose of Boromir in during the council, when he stands up after Frodo brings forth the Ring. He reaches out for the Ring, speaking all the while of a pale light lingering in the West, a hope, if you will. He does not touch the Ring here as Gandalf breaks out in the black tongue of Mordor and pretty much shakes the heebie-jeebies out of everyone gathered there. Or sort of; Boromir continues on after that, suggesting that they use the Ring against Sauron, asking them to give it to Gondor so that they can claim the victory.

And then he volunteers to go with Frodo. At this point, many scoff at him, thinking, "Oh, that Boromir. He may say that Gondor will see this task done, but he just doesn't want the Ring to go out of his sight."

When Frodo stumbles traveling up Caradhras, it is Boromir who picks up the Ring. "It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing," he states. It seems it is with a great reluctance that he hands the Ring back over to Frodo, and then passes it off as a trivial thing, but we see a rather close-up shot in the movie of Aragorn releasing his sword. He doesn't trust Boromir, and since we like Aragorn for helping the hobbits, we side with him and glare at Boromir.

Boromir: It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing...

In Lothlorien, Boromir is one to whom the Lady Galadriel speaks privately in his mind, and he confesses to Aragorn that he is worried about Gondor falling. He later advises Aragorn to take the Fellowship to Minas Tirith where they can regroup and strike out for Mordor from a place a strength. He becomes greatly angered when Aragorn refuses, and we tend to agree with Aragorn. I mean, why would you want to take the One Ring to Boromir's own hometown when he has so clearly shown so much interest in obtaining the Ring?

But it's when Boromir tries to take the Ring from Frodo at Amon Hen that we really outright hate him, and we don't feel badly about it. How dare he try to take the Ring? Doesn't he know the dangers connected with it? All he thinks about is the power that comes with it, right?

No! 

First off, we have to understand that Boromir is a person, just like any of the other characters that Tolkien created. He is a man of Gondor, the son of the Steward, and although he's got a gazillion flaws, he has the ability to learn and grow. Watching just the original footage of the theatrical films gives most people a misunderstanding about Boromir, and I feel to get a true knowledge for his character, you have to know the extended editions of the movies and READ THE BOOK! The Boromir Tolkien wrote was more than the Boromir that Peter Jackson put on the screen. But please don't take that the wrong way; I think Sean Bean did a fantastic job playing the Captain of the White Tower, but there's so much more to him than most people realize, and that's why he's probably the Middle-Earth character that I pity most.

In film TTT, Peter Jackson includes an extended scene that shows that Boromir didn't go to the Council of Elrond to find the Ring because he wanted it for his own. Yes, he knew Isildur's bane was in Rivendell, but that was because his father, Denethor, told him about it. It was also Denethor who pressured him into going to Imaldris in the first place. On his own, Boromir wouldn't have gone, because he knew his rightful place to be in Minas Tirith, helping his own people. His life was all about making sure that Gondor was safe, and traveling to go to Rivendell on a whim of his father's meant leaving that position. But he loved his father, so he went.

Denethor: Elrond of Rivendell has called a meeting. He will not say why, but I have guessed its purpose. It is rumored that the weapon of the Enemy has been found.

Boromir: The One Ring. Isildur's Bane.

Denethor: It has fallen into the hands of the Elves. Everyone will try to claim it: Men, Dwarves, Wizards. We cannot let that happen. This thing must come to Gondor.

Boromir: Gondor?

Denethor: It's dangerous, I know. Ever the Ring will seek to corrupt the hearts of lesser Men. But you, you are strong. And our need it great. It is our blood which is being spilled, our people who are dying. Sauron is biding his time. He's massing fresh armies. He will return. And when he does, we will be powerless to stop him. You must go. Bring me back this mighty gift.

Technically, looking at all the facts, this conversation couldn't have happened for real, because Elrond didn't call the meeting among other things, but I like this conversation, so i had to include it. In the book, Boromir had a dream and both he and his brother Faramir shared, and it was this prophetic dream that prompted him to go to Rivendell. He saw the eastern sky grow dark, but in the west a pale light lingered. A voice cried to him, saying,

Seek for the sword that was broken,
In Imladris it dwells, 

There shall be councels taken, 

stronger than morgul spells.

There shall appear a token, 

That doom is near at hand,

For Isildurs bane shall waken,

And the Halfling forth shall stand.

Okay, technically, I didn't have space in this post to write about the relationship Boromir
had with his brother, Faramir, but please let me go on record and say that this is one
of the best brother-brother relationships ever to be had in all of literature. Even when
Denethor despised his younger son, Boromir continuously stuck up for Faramir, even to the
point of taking his place, for it was Faramir who originally was intended to go to Rivendell
to seek out the answer to the dream both brothers shared.

Boromir traveled for 110 days to reach Rivendell, a hazardous journey that Tolkien wrote of it that the courage and hardihood required is not fully recognized in the narrative, intending to ask for assistance for Minas Tirith. He knew that Sauron was not keeping idle in Mordor, and he knew that Gondor was weak. They needed the help. 

During the Council of Elrond, Boromir sees the One Ring for the first time, and instead of seeing it as the source of Sauron's power, he views it as the help for which he sought. You have to understand where he is coming from. Sauron's forces are almost daily attacking the people of Gondor, killing them, spilling their blood, and Boromir is ready for it stop. He wants to help his people, save them, and he can only see that happening in his obtaining the Ring. If he had the Ring, he could lead Gondor's armies to victory over Sauron forever, and that is a great victory, indeed.

Boromir: It is a gift, a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe! Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy! Let us use it against him!

However, what Boromir doesn't realize is that the One Ring is a dangerous trinket. It not only gives the wearer invisibility and power, but it weakens the mind and brings down the spirit. So many had before succumbed to its power, but Boromir thought he could be different. He didn't want the Ring for selfish reasons, and his father believed that he could wield it for Gondor's good. 

I think Boromir shows a lot of character to volunteer to go with Frodo. True, he may not have wanted to let the Ring go out of his sight, but by choosing to go with the Fellowship, he tied his lives to the others', creating a bond between them all that would not be easily broken. He volunteered to give up his chance to return home to Minas Tirith and go on a quest for the good of Middle-Earth, risking his own life in the process. Boromir didn't know if he would return alive to Gondor, but he didn't moan about it. He went anyway.


And allow me to point out that, without Boromir, the Fellowship may very well have not made it past Caradhras. It was he who suggested they collect firewood to burn so that they would not freeze on the mountain and it was also he that helped Aragorn clear the path during their journey through the snow.

Boromir never truly gave up his hope that one day the Ring could be used for the good of Gondor. He wanted so badly to help his people, but he let that want take over his mind to the point where Aragorn could no longer reason with him.

Boromir: Minas Tirith is a safer road. You know it. From there we can regroup... strike out for Mordor from a place of strength. 

Aragorn: There is no strength in Gondor that can avail us.

Boromir: You were quick enough to trust the Elves. Have you so little faith in your own people? Yes, there is weakness, there is frailty, but there is courage also! And honor to be found in Men! But you will not see that! 

(Aragorn turns to walk away, but Boromir grabs his shoulder and pulls him back)

Boromir: You are afraid! All your life you have hidden in the shadows, scared of who you are, of what you are!

Aragorn: I will not lead the Ring within a hundred leagues of your city!

I always find it interesting there that Aragorn calls Minas Tirith Boromir's city, even when Boromir is only the son of the steward and captain of the White Tower, and Aragorn is the rightful king of Gondor. Anywho... but that's a rabbit trail.

From there, we jump right into Amon Hen. The Fellowship leaves Lothlorien, their numbers cut down by the loss of Gandalf in Moria, and now they find some rest on the Great River. As they pull the boats onto the shore, Boromir glances downward, almost as if in disgust of himself, like he's battling with something internally. We know that he's not thinking too kindly about Aragorn at the moment, having had the above argument with him, but I think he's really struggling with himself. He has always believed that the One Ring was the answer to all of Gondor's problems, but now it's almost as if he is beginning to doubt that and doubt himself all at the same time. What if Elrond was right after all about the Ring's only destiny to be destruction in the fires of Mount Doom? What if the Ring cannot save Gondor after all? But what if Aragorn was wrong? What if the Ring can save Boromir's beloved city and people? He doesn't know what to think.

Boromir wanders away from the Fellowship's campsite to collect firewood and runs into Frodo, who, coincidentally, is trying to find some relief in a walk as well. Perhaps it would be better to speak directly to Frodo, the Ringbearer himself. Being so close to the Ring, and madly thinking only of the salvation he thinks it promises, Boromir approaches Frodo.

Boromir: None of us should wander alone. You least of all, so much depends on you. Frodo? I know why you seek solitude. You suffer. I see it day by day. You sure you do not suffer needlessly? There are other ways, Frodo, other paths that we might take.

Frodo: I know what you would say, and it would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart.

Boromir: Warning? Against what? We're all afraid, Frodo, but to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have... don't you see? That is madness!

Frodo: There is no other way!

Boromir: I ask only for the strength to defend my people! (throws wood on the ground) If you would but lend me the Ring...

Frodo: No.

Boromir: Why do you recoil? I am no thief. 

Frodo: You are not yourself.

Boromir: What chance do you think you have? They will find you! They will take the Ring, and you will beg for death before the end! You fool! It is not yours save by unhappy chance. It could have been mine, it should be mine! Give it to me!

Boromir fell to the power of the Ring. He wanted to claim it for himself, if only to save his own people, and in trying to take it from Frodo, he sealed his doom. Frodo escaped him by putting on the Ring himself and running away invisibly. Angered and filled with a madness for the Ring, Boromir attacks Frodo verbally, since he can no longer see him.

Boromir: I see your mind! You will take the Ring to Sauron! You will betray us! You go to your death, and the death of us all! Curse you, curse you! And all the halflings!

It is here that we see in the film Boromir stumbling, and I love the way I read someone put this: The madness of the Ring leaves him and he comes to his senses. He realizes with a horror what he just did, and he knew irrevocably that he acted wrongly. He knows that the power of the Ring came over him, and that it consumed his mind in an evil manner. Gandalf, Aragorn, and Elrond were all right, and Boromir saw that too late. And this, folks, is his big, defining moment. The madness left him, and he was left alone to ponder his actions. He shouts out a broken-hearted apology, but by this time, Frodo is too far away to hear it. 

Can I just say that Sean Bean deserves an Oscar for this whole part in Amon Hen? I don't think anyone could have captured the true character of Boromir here so perfectly as he did. *claps hands*

And we don't see any more of Boromir until he comes running up the hill to save Merry and Pippin from the Uruks. And after seeing him broken, we all yearn for him to redeem himself, and we cheer as he attacks the enemy. Merry and Pippin join in the fight, but the Uruk-Hai are too many. Lurtz brings out his black bow of terror (according to the movie version), and Boromir's shield and horn can do little against it. Pippin, in the book, revisited the scene afterwards like this:

Then Boromir had come leaping through the trees. He had made them fight. He slew many of them and the rest fled. But they had not gone far on the way back when they were attacked again, by a hundred Orcs at least, some of them very large, and they shot a rain of arrows: always at Boromir. Boromir had blown his great horn till the woods rang, and at first the Orcs had been dismayed and had drawn back; but when no answer but the echoes came, they had attacked more fiercely than ever. Pippin did not remember much more. His last memory was of Boromir leaning against a tree, plucking out an arrow; then darkness fell suddenly.

Aragorn then finds him against a tree, quickly falling to his numerous arrow wounds. I have no words, so I'm going to give you the whole conversation. Yes, I'm sorry. But I love quotes.

Boromir: They took the little ones.

Aragorn: Be still.

Boromir: Frodo? Where is Frodo?

Aragorn: I let Frodo go.

Boromir: Then you did what I could not. I tried to take the Ring from him.

Aragorn: The Ring is beyond our reach now.

Boromir: Forgive me. I did not see it. I have failed you all.

Aragorn: No, Boromir, you fought bravely. You have kept your honor. (reaches for the arrow in Boromir's chest, but Boromir shoves him back)

Boromir: Leave it! It is over! The world of men will fall, and all will come to darkness... and my city to ruin. 

Aragorn: I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you I will not let the White City fall... nor our people fail!

Boromir: (smiling) Our people. Our people. (reaches for his sword, and Aragorn places it in his grasp) I would have followed you, my Brother... my Captain... my King! (dies)

Aragorn: Be at peace, son of Gondor.

Wow. Peoples... really. How much is conveyed in this little scene. The last time Boromir and Aragorn had seemingly talked, they argued bitterly over the Ring, and up until this point, Boromir had never acknowledged Aragorn's birthright, always referring to him as a northern Ranger. And now, all in one minute before he died, Boromir recognizes his faults, knowing that death is the result of his actions, and asks forgiveness. He confesses all to Aragorn and seems slightly distraught over the thought of having failed them all. Yet, Aragorn is ready to give him the forgiveness he so desperately seeks and tells him that he did not fail. He further promises the dying man that the city and the people that Boromir for so long tried to protect will not fall while he was strength left in him. 

I know this post is already an epistle, so I'll do my best to wrap it up all nice and quick here. I applaud you if you're still reading at this point. You never fully realize how deeply you think about something until you start writing a blog post about it.

Boromir isn't just some big warrior guy with a cool horn who traveled with Frodo as a bodyguard. He was a man who cared deeply about all things good, but he had no idea of the danger that came with big power. I only regret that it took his downfall and giving in to the One Ring to make him truly realize the truth about everything. He had good intentions, but he remained oblivious to the danger, and all of his shortcomings, though they brought about a true repentance, ushered in death as well.

And that's why I pity Boromir.

For more details about the 30 Day Middle-Earth Challenge, please visit here!

Namarie!

MEC Day 19: Least Favorite Character

"Where is he? Where is Gondor's finest? Where is my firstborn?

Least favorite character... not surprising...

Denethor

Steward of Gondor, father of Boromir and Farmir, winner of worst parenting award, etc. Denethor is a selfish, selfish man and more than worthy of this post. Shall we list the reasons we dislike Denethor so much? Yes, yes. I think we shall.

1. He plays favorites

Although he has two sons, two wonderful sons, Denethor clearly shows everyone whom he likes better. Boromir is his eldest and that earned him the right to be held in the greatest of honor. Faramir is the second son and youngest, and it was his birth that ended the life of his mother, Denethor's wife. In Denethor's eyes, Boromir can do nothing wrong, and it is he whom Denethor sends after the Ring.

2. He's all about himself

When Faramir pulls his men out of Osgiliath to preserve them after the orcs attack, does Denethor applaud his son for saving the lives of those men? No! All he can think about is the image that Faramir gives him as a father. 

Denethor: Always you cast a poor reflection on me.

Then, when Faramir comes back, supposedly dead, Denethor decides that his life is over, too. Why not? The city's going under anyway with Mordor attacking. It's better for him to die in honor, on a pyre like the kings of old, than to fall to an enemy. What more selfish act could there be than suicide, which is basically what Denethor decides?

3. He despises Faramir

Sure, perhaps Faramir was the reason his wife died, but why must that be reason enough for such hate? Especially hate for your own son, who works night and day to prove himself worthy of your love? Ugh. Denethor's exact feelings for Faramir are summed up in the following conversation:

What kind of father wishes that???

4. He's inconsiderate

Osigiliath lies under the thumb of Mordor, overrun with orcs, and what does Denethor do? Order Faramir, who just barely escaped with his hide running from that garrison, to go back into the fray! 

Denethor: I will not yield the River and Pelennor to be unfought. Osgiliath must be retaken.

Again, simply thinking about his own status! The retreat from Osgiliath was a failure in his eyes, and he cannot have people thinking it was one!

He cares nothing for Faramir, whether if he lives or dies, only that his image and his perfect kingdom remain intact. Boromir, his favorite son, is gone? What else does he have to live for? Why not send a troop of horsemen to their deaths? I mean, they won't be needed in the oncoming fight. No, not at all. *fetches a rag to clean the sarcasm dripping off the computer screen*

5. He's indelicate

Isn't that a cool word? Indelicate? I like that word, and boy, is it a good one for Denethor! Sure, you could stick a whole bunch of words here, but I chose this one. After sending Faramir and his men to their deaths, does Denethor wait in anxiety for news of them? Their return, their victory? No way! What does he do? He sits down to lunch!

Anyone who has watched this scene knows exactly what I'm talking about. I can never think of cherry tomatoes in the same way again. Horribly indelicate and cruel of Denethor.

6. He's a coward

The forces of Mordor surround his city, and he bellows at his men, telling them to drop shivering in fear upon the ground! Some commander!

Thank you, Gandalf; your staff was much appreciated.

7. He refuses aid

War is upon the doorstep of Gondor, and Gandalf begs Denethor to light the beacons and call for aid from Rohan. But why should Denethor stoop to ask for help? And especially from one whom he knows is friends with the real king? What is Theoden and Rohan to him? Why should he expect help from them? It's not as if he wants to help them in return.

8. He's too accustomed to his seat

Aragorn, the true king of Gondor, is coming home! And what is Denethor's response?

Denethor: You think you are wise, Mithrandir. Yet for all your subtleties, you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a shield aganist Mordor, and with your right you would seek to supplant me! I know who rides with Theoden of Rohan. Word has reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and I tell you now, I will not bow to this Ranger from the North, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship!

Gandalf: Authority is not given you to deny the return of the king, Steward!

Denethor: The rule of Gondor is mine! And no others'!

Does he even know what the word steward means? Ugh. He's just plain awful.

I should stop now before I start really raving. 

For more details about the 30 Day Middle-Earth Challenge, please visit here!

Namarie!

MEC Day 18: Favorite Female Character

"Ride with me."
"My lady!"

If any of you has read much of my blog, surely you know from previous posts and the big picture I've got pasted on the end of my blog, you already know who my favorite lady from Middle-Earth is. Yup, Eowyn.

So, we good?

Okay, fine. I'll go a little deeper. *ahem* So, why do I like Eowyn?


One of the first things people think about when they talk about Eowyn is her bravery. She's not your typical damsel in distress. She's a shieldmaiden, the shieldmaiden of Rohan, and not in some tomboy, tomfoolery way. Eowyn has the ability to fight and wield a sword just as well as a man, but she doesn't hold that over everyone's heads. Nor does she push herself out of being a girl to act like a man for attention. 

If there's one thing I don't like, it's a girl always acting as a guy. It's one thing to have the skills that a man possesses as far as weaponry and battle go, but most girls in fantasy take that over the top. You always see them dressed in armor, spitting, punching, and doing everything else that would describe them as a boy and throwing out anything that could even pin them down as a girl. Yet, although she dresses as a man for the battle of Pelennor Fields, Eowyn doesn't give up her girly side to do what she believes is right. She incorporates fighting and feminine all in one character. 

But why did Eowyn go into battle in the first place? First and foremost, to help her uncle, Theoden. She felt it her duty to protect him, and she could see no other option than to follow him into battle. She didn't go to flaunt her skills. She went to protect her family. She went to keep from being useless, a state that pretty much was her biggest fear.

Aragorn: You have some skill with the blade.

Eowyn: The women of this country learned long ago. Those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.

Aragorn: What do you fear, my lady?

Eowyn: A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them, and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.

Eowyn also went because she knew she was capable of actually fighting. Aragorn caught her practicing with the sword, and he, a skilled master of the balde, recognized that she had talent (conversation above). At Helm's Deep, a TTT deleted scene shows Eowyn begging Aragorn to allow her to fight on the wall alongside the men. She wanted to defend her king, kin, and kingdom just as much as any of the Rohirrim did. Yet, Aragorn denied her that request. At Pelennor Fields, she disguised herself as Dernhelm, a soldier under Theoden's banner, and rode into the fray with Merry. Although she could not save her uncle from death, she did fight and destroy the Witch King, the one enemy who claimed no man could kill him.

Eowyn: I am no man.

Eowyn also has a gentle side, and that comes out more in the books and in the extended editions of the films. She mourns over her cousin Theodred's death, tending to him as best as she can, especially after her brother's banishment in the films, and in TTT extended, she sings a lament at his burial. She tends her uncle in growing fear, seeing him whither away day by day. When Gandalf is breaking the spell Saruman holds over Theoden, Eowyn sees only her uncle in pain and immediately rushes forward to aid him. In the celebration of their victory at Helm's Deep, Eowyn offers drinks to the soldiers, congratulating them. 

After Pelennor Fields, she lies wounded on the battleground, where Eomer finds her and cries over her, not knowing that she was even in the fight until he thought it too late. Aragorn has her taken to the Houses of Healing (pretty much the renowned hospital in Gondor), where he mends her broken arm. 

I do want to take this time (while it's on my mind) to say that I still l still like Eowyn despite her unnecessary attachment to Aragorn. She was fond of him as a friend, yet he being the man who stayed to help defend her kingdom at no thought to his own well-being, that fondness grew into a deeper appreciation for this Ranger from the North. Finding out that he was 87 years old was a blow, as was his telling her that he could not give her the love she sought for. After Pelennor Fields, Eowyn understood it all, though the death of her uncle left her in a deep sorrow.

Okay, back to the Houses of Healing. It is here where Eowyn meets Faramir, Captain of Gondor, who is also staying there for injuries he received earlier when trying to reclaim Osgiliath at his father's request. Faramir helps Eowyn get over her sorrow, and in the book, he even grants her wish to leave the Houses of Healing when she is feeling better. Their romance isn't something that is a great part of LOTR, but it's often named as the favorite romance in Middle-Earth, even more than Aragorn's and Arwen's. 

For more details about the 30 Day Middle-Earth Challenge, please visit here!

Namarie!

MEC Day 17: Favorite Male Character

"Then something Tookish woke up inside him and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine trees and waterfalls, and explore the caves and wear a sword instead a walking stick."

No contest here, folks. Favorite male character, hands down...

Bilbo Baggins

Really, peoples? What's not to like? Okey dokey, I'll make this post a little bit longer. *clears throat*

While Ian Holm made Bilbo real to the world, Martin Freeman took that image and multiplied it by a thousand. I will say that before first watching The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey I was very nervous about Martin Freeman taking over the role. Ian Holm had always been Bilbo to me, so I felt as if someone was stealing the character that I admired and running away with it. Watching the trailers a few (or million) times put my mind to rest a little bit, for Martin Freeman seemed like he could pull off a decent Bilbo. But I was still not convinced. 

I watched AUJ. 

I'm convinced. 

Martin Freeman made The. Best. Bilbo. Ever. Oh, don't get me wrong; Ian Holm was amazing and did marvelously, but Martin Freeman really gave Bilbo character. Ian Holm made him real; Martin Freeman made him a person.

But what is it about Bilbo that makes him my favorite male character? As a hobbit, all he wanted to do was live a normal life and fit in with everyone else. However, there was a little bit of adventure and wanderlust in him from his mother's side, the Tooks. Yes, that is the same last name of a certain, scarf-wearing, foolish, beacon-lighting hobbit in LOTR. If you hadn't guessed, they're related. But, I digress. 

The Tooks had a rather wild reputation, and Bilbo being of the same blood, people do expect something Tookish to pop out of him. And it does. When Gandalf and the dwarves appear on his doorstep, Bilbo stubbornly claims that he wants nothing of their adventure, yet after hearing the dwarves sing, something Tookish woke up inside him (absolutely love that line!!!), and he signed the dwarves' burglar contract. 

No longer did the little hobbit sit at home and eat his fish in peace. Now he was out on the road, on an adventure, on a journey of epic proportions, going to meet a dragon and reclaim a treasure. He didn't think much of joining the quest from the beginning, save for that little something Tookish that woke up inside him, but as the journey drags on, Bilbo begins to think that he was wrong to go running off into the blue. He realizes that he may not be cut out for adventures after all, and tries to go home. It is here that Bilbo's attempts are foiled by the goblins capturing the company. Or rather, most of the company. Poor Bilbo Baggins was separated from the others and fell (literally) into the lair of Gollum. The two have a game of riddles in the dark and Bilbo's question, "What have I got in my pocket?" won him the game and the honor of Gollum showing him the way out. 

And what was in Bilbo's pocket?

The one Ring. Bilbo didn't know how highly important such a little piece of jewelry was at that time; he only knew that it was something precious that Gollum lost and that it made the wearer invisible, the second fact proving extremely useful when escaping the Goblin halls. 

But the whole adventure changes Bilbo. Once that initial zeal for the adventure grows dim, Bilbo wishes to go back. He could have used the Ring to escape the mountains and return to Rivendell.

But he didn't.

He overheard the dwarves talking to Gandalf about him; Thorin saying that the hobbit never belonged on a quest like this, and he's right. Bilbo's been lost ever since he left home. This was more than he expected; he's not too proud to admit it. But does he let that get to him? No! He decides to go on with the dwarves, to see the quest to the end. 

And that, my friends, is character.

You can't have a whole post about Bilbo without making some mention of the hobbit's wardrobe. After all, hobbits are rather known for their fun, unique clothing styles. Bilbo sports a red coat (very debonair for a hobbit of the Shire) and a vest with acorn buttons. I love the bits about those buttons in the story -- how they initially pop off when he's escaping the goblin tunnels, go pattering around on the doorstep, leaving the goblins horribly confused at the sight, and then how at the end, Tolkien states that if Bilbo noticed that Balin's beard was longer and that the dwarf wore a jeweled belt, Balin also noticed that Bilbo had real gold buttons on his vest. I really like how they kept the continuity between Bilbo's costumes in both LOTR and The Hobbit. Bilbo, though played by two different actors, wears relatively the same color scheme and the same styles; it makes it as though you really were just seeing one character rather than two different people.

Bilbo's also got some of the best and quotable lines out of anyone who ever lived in Middle-Earth. For example...

And...

And we won't even begin with the movie quotes.

For more details about the 30 Day Middle-Earth Challenge, please visit here!

Namarie!

MEC Day 6: Best of Thorin's Company

"Think furnace... with wings. Flash of light, searing pain and poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash!"

Thorin

Balin

Dwalin

Kili

Fili

Bifur

Bombur

Bofur

Oin

Gloin

Dori

Ori

Nori

Gandalf

or

Bilbo

Who is the best in Thorin's company? This was a hard choice for me because I like each one, but for different reasons. But I have to pick someone... and just one someone, so I'm going with...

Bofur

Okay, I'll admit it. Bofur was probably my favorite of the dwarves on the first viewing of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey mostly because he was one of the ones I could pick out of a crowd and give a name. His hat singled him out, you might say, and I was very proud that I recognized and could name at least one dwarf (Thorin really doesn't count, I'd say, as everyone knows what he looks like).

But on second and third viewings (and fourth and fifth) Bofur remained a favorite, even after I could recognize and name each dwarf (and give the actor's name as well) because he was a great character. Not only does he have that identifying hat, he's the one that everyone loves on the quest. He's always ready to lend a helping hand or an encouraging word. Let me give you a few examples.

When Bilbo panics and stops their journey with the news that he's forgotten his pocket handkerchief, it's Bofur who rips his own shirt for Bilbo to use as a handkerchief. 

When Kili and Fili are tending to the ponies (during which time they seem to misplace a few), it's Bofur who remembers them and sends Bilbo with stew for them to eat.

When Bilbo falls off the cliff after the thunder battle, it's Bofur who first misses him.

When Bilbo later confronts Bofur while trying to sneak out, he insults the dwarves by saying they don't belong anywhere, yet Bofur still gives him a smile and wishes him all the luck in the world.

And those are just a few examples. 

Bofur also has some really quotable lines:

Bofur: (after falling down a chasm) Well, that could have been worse.

(Goblin King falls on top of them)

Dwalin: You've got to be joking!

~*~*~*~*~

Dori: (about the trolls) You can't reason with them; they're half-wits!

Bofur: Half-wits? What does that make us?

~*~*~*~*~

Bofur: Oh, you hear that, lads? He says we'll blunt the knives.

~*~*~*~*~

Bofur: (hearing the table creak beneath Bombur's weight) Bombur! Catch! (throws him a sausage)

(Bombur catches the sausage; the table creaks and collapses under Bombur)

I won't make this post as long as yesterday's but I'd like to add one last thing in before I sign off. There's a mysterious rumor going around that sounds like this...

And let me tell you, folks, that ain't true! Bofur does indeed lose his hat, and only once in AUJ, yet he keeps it on during all that is mentioned in the above picture. Bofur loses his hat when he first enters Bilbo's house in the beginning of the film. After Kili and Fili's big entrance upsets Bilbo, the other dwarves pile up on the doorstep and they all fall into the hobbit's front hall when Bilbo yanks the door open. Please watch that scene closely. Bofur's near the bottom of the pile, and kerplunk his hat falls right off. Ironic, isn't it, that he can keep his hat in all the epic and dangerous action of the film, yet he can't keep it on stumbling over the doorjam. Ah, well, such is life, I suppose.

For more details about the 30 Day Middle-Earth Challenge, please visit here!

Namarie!