davem, I mostly had trouble (disagreement) with the article. Now that you posted more of your thought, I wanted to respond.
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...both Bilbo & Frodo...find it difficult to make emotional connections with other people. [and] Frodo & Bilbo do not form strong, intimate relationships.
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I disagree. What is your evidence? Perhaps related to one of the quotes, you follow it with this:
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They do not, & have no apparent desire to, marry, which is totally abnormal in Hobbit society.
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Okay, this is a point I would like to see discussed.
However, Bilbo seems very strongly attached to Frodo, adopting him as his heir over the traditions and express desire of his near relatives. Frodo is intimately attached to Bilbo as well, and it is expressed quite emotionally throughout LotR. The relationship of deep friendship and mutual commitment between Frodo and Samwise is one of the best in literature, in my opinion.
You even said yourself:
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Tolkien himself...clearly felt emotions strongly, or he wouldn't have been so successful in communicating them to us....
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And what better place to display his gift at communicating these emotions than between Bilbo and Frodo, and Frodo and Sam?
I think Frodo forms strong bonds with Merry and Pippin, too, though in a different way. More like the older brother. But I think of the outpouring of gratitude when Frodo accepts the offer of help from M&P when the "conspiracy is unmasked" the last night they spend in the Shire. How much more bonding do you need?