[Child of the 7th Age]

These are all good ideas--crusty bachelor, spiritual monk, the way Frodo and Bilbo seem to have seen themselves as non-conformists and were regarded as such by the community.

I think perhaps we have to think of their decisions as a two-step process. First, there were those things that led both of them to remain as bachelors up to age 50 or so, before they went on their respective quests (their views of themselves as non-conformists). Then, there were those ideas and experiences which changed and shaped their personalities, in both cases reinforcing their earlier decisions to remain bachelors (the spiritual impetus of the Ring quest and Bilbo's evolution into the crusty ol bachelor figure).

I would also raise the serious issue of the physical, psychological, and spiritual state Frodo was in after Mount Doom. Despite fan ficion which postulates otherwise, I would say that, in many respects, Frodo had spiritually outgrown the Shire and had his mind on other things besides marriage and a family. Plus, the feelings of guilt and sorrow which still remained, in addition to the physical wounding, would, I believe, have made marriage impossible.

You know, there actually is one early draft of the first chapter of LOTR where Bilbo does marry. Bilbo marries Primula Brandybuck at age seventy-one. Bingo (later to be called Frodo) is his son. Bilbo and his wife disappeared from the Shire on Bilbo's 111th birthday. Then Bingo inherits Bag End and stays on another 33 years, gives a party, and then leaves Hobbiton (age 72). This was the third version of the frist chapter; by version 4 Bilbo was unmarried and had adopted Bingo. (Return of the Shadow, chapter 1)

It's interesting to see Tolkien's ideas slowly develop and change. Anyways, I can't see Bilbo marrying and I'm glad Tolkien changed his story line!

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[ May 11, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]