Archetypes In The Hobbit

Why do most stories have characters with similar traits? Most novels or any type of story, they have different archetypal characters. In the novel “The Hobbit” by J.R.R Tolkien the three characters Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard, and Smaug the destroyer, they are all archetypal characters. Throughout the story Bilbo goes on an adventure to defeat smaug. Bilbo eventually defeats smaug and returns what he finds. One thing that he finds is the archestone. To begin, Bilbo Baggins is one of the main characters throughout the story. Bilbo becomes a hero by saving many characters lifes. The way that Bilbo becomes a hero is when he saves the dwarves from the spiders. “Then the spider jumped back, and he had time to cut his legs loose, after that it was his turn to attack”. (Tolkien #155). Bilbo also has many upbringings, his moms side is fancy, and likes to go on adventures. “And once in a while memories from the took-clan would go and have adventures”. The last supporting detail that shows how Bilbo is a hero is when the author states, “Farewell good thief he said, I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed”. This is how Bilbo is an archetypal character and how he is a hero.

He appears and disappears from time to time. “It was just then Gandalf came back but no one saw him”. (Tolkien #39). Gandalf uses magic for other reasons to. One way that Gandalf uses magic is when the author says “Then Gandalf lit up his wand”. Another way that shows that Gandalf is a wizard is when he leaves to make Bilbo stronger. Not only is Gandalf old, but he is very wise and gives good advice. “Gandalf in the meantime was still standing outside the door, and laughing long but quietly”. This shows how Gandalf is a wizard and how he fits the role of being a archetypal