Hobbit2 - An Introduction

[Galadriel55]

Boro's post in Roast Mutton sparked some thoughts that I think are more suited to be posted here.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

It's interesting reading this story after all the years of reading LOTR several times. The light, comedic tone (I think especially prevalent in Roast Mutton) was a bit jarring when compared to digging Tolkien's other works.

Indeed! I'd even say that TH is a direct antipode to COH/The Narn, the book/story I consider the most tragic in the legendarium. With Turin, trying so to do well, and having a success that only leads to greater misery; and Bilbo, who doesn't particularly try at first and relies quite a bit on his "luck", who seems to be failing, but in the end succeeds; I think this comparison is pretty valid in terms of characters, storyline, tone, and just about everything.

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I marvel at my own skill of bringing Turin into everything.

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Originally Posted by Boromir88

TH-Bilbo doesn't jar with LOTR-Bilbo to me. I would even say Gandalf in LOTR still maintains some of his clever and light Hobbitish character. Of all the races Gandalf seemed most fond of Hobbits (even though he may have been compared more similarly to the Elves), and certainly with Hobbits (particularly with Bilbo) his personality is different, different than say when he's with Aragorn or Elrond.

I think that Bilbo is the only character that throughout LOTR remains the same person. He has his "epiphany and big character change moment" when he recites "the road goes ever ever on". It's his moment of wisdom. But afterwards, he's the same good old Bilbo.

And even after that moment he retains all that he had before - except his peace of mind, of course. He only gains. Like Merry and Pip, with their philosophical conversation in the Houses of Healing. They all could return to their past selves without losing anything, only with gaining. And in TH, unlike LOTR, there aren't that many people who are otherwise, so there is no bitter comparison.