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Old 09-25-2006, 08:07 PM   #452
littlemanpoet
Itinerant Songster
 
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Edge of Faerie
Posts: 7,072
littlemanpoet is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.littlemanpoet is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.
Boring but Necessary Preliminaries (feel free to skip):
The Question: "Does this text adequately reflect that which Christians understand about reality"?
  • Pity stays Bilbo; Bilbo is the passive receptor of Pity. What is the source of this Pity?
  • Bilbo is not in control of his own will; it takes Gandalf's will overpowering Bilbo's, for the hobbit to begin to come to his senses.
  • That Gandalf is powerful and good; we have as yet no indication where his power comes
  • Bilbo calls the Ring his own: he claims possession. This is a critical point, and we shall see (or already know) how it compares to Frodo and Sam.

Exhibit #3: Bilbo Surrenders the Ring

I won't quote this section at length; it is that section in chapter one that starts with "You have still got the Ring in your pocket", and ends with "Well that's that."

1. Bilbo is at this point trying to cooperate, but he needs Gandalf to guide him through the most basic steps in regard to the Ring. Bilbo is not being difficult (at least not on purpose) anymore. Either the Ring's power is causing him to forget that he has it in his pocket, or a long habit of possession holds sway; whichever the case, Bilbo's stated choice to give up the Ring to Frodo is quickly compromised.

2. Bilbo uses what seems now to him to be the wise course, to turn over the responsibility for the Ring to Gandalf; but he refuses it, knowing full well what a danger the Ring is in his hands (even if we only guess this as of yet). He directs Bilbo to leave it on the mantelpiece for Frodo.

3. This next sequence is telling.
  • Bilbo tries to set the envelope on the mantelpiece but his hand jerks back against his will. What will is overpowering his own? Surely not Gandalf's. It is the Ring: if the Ring can get out of Hobbiton in Bilbo's possession, it will not be long before it has betrayed Bilbo into the unmercies of Sauron.
  • Rather than remain in Bilbo's hand, the packet falls to the floor. What has happened? Is this Bilbo's will trying to let go versus the Ring trying to stay in his hand, resulting in the accidental drop? Or is there another force (other than gravity) at work, causing Bilbo's clutch to loosen? If so, is it Gandalf? The actions of Gandalf as described up to this point do not indicate it. Perhaps there is another force? The text doesn't clarify it if there is. Whatever the case, it appears that chance, "if chance you call it", leads to another chance.
  • In a quick motion Gandalf picks up the packet and sets it on the mantelpiece in a gesture so decisive that his purpose in regard to it is clear: he wants nothing to do direclty with it.

4. Bilbo's complex reaction to this quick sequence deserves a study unto itself.
  • First comes a spasm of anger: something has happened that Bilbo doesn't want to have happened. What is it? That the Ring is on the mantelpiece instead of in his hand? That Gandalf has taken the situation out of his hands? Maybe both; we are not told for sure.
  • Second, Bilbo exhibits relief and laughter. So immediate! What has happened in this millisecond of time? The Ring has been taken out of his possession, and just as critically, he has been freed from possession by the Ring. Just moments before, Bilbo apparently had enough of himself still free from the Ring's domination so that he could want what was right and best, to give the Ring to Frodo. Now that it has been achieved - with much help, cajoling, and direct force of will from Gandalf - Bilbo is free. Finally free, he is able to laugh. His concluding words say it all: "that's that"; a phrase synonymous with "it is finished", but said at a hobbit level.

Conclusions: It is critical that we recognize and acknowledge that Bilbo being freed from the Ring, is, here again, a passive event. Gandalf had to free him; he couldn't do it on his own. Once freed, Bilbo is finally happy again, ready and quite relieved to leave the Ring behind. Bilbo is finally himself again.
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