Now relax everyone, I'm not criticizing the precious books. All the underground stuff is really cool, and it ain't forced. That it makes such wonderful sense may be why I never notice it before.
But you have to admit it is a rather recurrent theme. Tolkien did not have to go there. Other ways through and around mountains, or no mountains, were always options. How about a desert, body of water or another forest like Mirkwood. So, I just find it curious that there are so many fabulous and convenient opportunities to pass right through mountains.
It is clearly a very charming thing, but it may have as much to do with facing hidden fears, having faith and the transformative power thereof.
You may notice that these passages through the depths have profound character implications. They ain't who they were when they get to the other side. Putting aside Tuor's journeys, consider the following:
1. Going through Goblin-Town. Bilbo finds Ring hidden in depths (if one knows Tolkien's revisions to the first editions of The Hobbit this was a piece of luck for the author); he lies for the first and only time; he faces and overcomes the threat of Gollum and the goblin guards.
2. Passage through Thranduîl's caverns. Bilbo rises to become the de facto leader of the group.
3. Travel and emergence at front door of Erebor. Extreme avarice and paranoia takes hold of Thorin.
4. Mines of Moria. Gandalf transformed utterly. Aragorn begins to assume the mantle of leadership and of confident determination, which he had lacked. (The film really uses this but it's in the Books as a subtle subtext).
5. Passing of the Grey Company. Aragorn makes claims of kingship, not merely of inheritance, taking further charge of his destiny. When he leaves Rohan he is still more or less a Knight's errand, chieftain of the Dúnedain of North and an implacable foe of the Enemy who has declared his lineage. When he comes to the Morthond Vale is assuming the allegiance of not only the oathbreakers (as both Isílidur's heir but also the effective King), but also the allegiance of Gondorians. Also, Gimli is humbled by fear, Legolas approaches the sea.
6. Passage through Shelob's Liar. Sam rises to his potential.
Just some insights.
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The hoes unrecked in the fields were flung, __ and fallen ladders in the long grass lay __ of the lush orchards; every tree there turned __ its tangled head and eyed them secretly, __ and the ears listened of the nodding grasses; __ though noontide glowed on land and leaf, __ their limbs were chilled.
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