The Hobbit
Chapter 18: The Return Journey
There was no call and no echo of a song. Sorrow seemed to be in the
air.
"Victory after all, I suppose!" he said, feeling
his aching head. "Well, it seems a very gloomy business" (286).
Tolkien takes a very interesting view about war; here he does not show us battles since Bilbo puts on his ring and then is hit on the head. In ROTK we do see a battle and it is heroic because it is a battle against overwhelming odds in which Theoden expects not to survive. Bilbo states a very prevalent anti-war sentiment since even victory is gloomy or bittersweet. War never benefits anyone.
There indeed lay Thorin Oakenshield, wounded with many wounds, and his rent
armour and notched axe were cast upon the floor. He looked up as Bilbo
came beside him.
"Farewell, good thief," he said. "I go
now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is
renewed. Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go where it is of
little worth, I wish to part in friendship from you and I would take back my
words and deeds at the Gate" (287-8)
Because of Thorin's stinginess, Tolkien could not allow him to survive the story, but he needed to learn to value friendship over gold and silver.
"There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell!" (288)
Again, Tolkien reiterates that people (hobbits, dwarves) are more important than material wealth like gold, and simple pleasures such as song and food make us happier than gold.
"Farewell! O Gandalf!" said the king. "May you ever appear where you are most needed and least expected! The oftener you appear in my halls the better shall I be pleased!" (293)
Gandalf is always popping in and out, disappearing when those he is helping can handle the challenges themselves and back in when he is needed.
"So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their ending!" said Bilbo, and he turned his back on his adventure. The Tookish part was getting very tired, and the Baggins was daily getting stronger, "I wish now only to be in my own arm-chair!" he said. (294)
Tolkien does not suggest a permanent change from the comfort-loving Baggins to the adventurous Tookish but that each has a time and place, and once might appreciate the adventures more knowing that comfort lies at the end.
