Similarities Between The Hobbit And The Last Of Us

The theme of “Journey vs Destination” is a prevalent and universal one, found in countless works of literature throughout history. Two such examples are the video game The Last of Us and J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Hobbit. Both works follow a small group of people on a grand adventure, facing their own unique challenges and obstacles. Ultimately, the experiences and lessons gained along the way change the characters enough to alter how they respond to finally reaching the goal they’ve been chasing. Despite their differences in setting, character relationships and plot, The Last of Us and the Hobbit both share this universal theme and use it to convey important messages about the human experience. Through a close examination of these elements,

The Last of Us portrays the story of Joel, a hardened survivor tasked with transporting a young girl named Ellie across a country ravaged by a devastating virus. Along the way, they face hostile survivor groups, dangerous creatures, and the harsh wilderness. Through their travels, Joel becomes increasingly protective of Ellie and ultimately chooses to keep her with him rather than hand her over to the Fireflies, a group of rebel fighters who believe Ellie may hold the key to a cure for the outbreak. The Hobbit also details a cross country journey, beginning with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins joining the wizard Gandalf and a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they face trolls, giant spiders, and other dangers. Upon finally defeating the dragon and reclaiming their treasure and homeland, the company's leader Thorin goes mad with greed and is slain in

As the company nears the Lonely Mountain, Thorin becomes increasingly obsessed with reclaiming the treasure and restoring his family's honor. When speaking when the men of Laketown, Thorin loudly pronounces himself “Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King under the Mountain!” (Tolkien, 158) demonstrating much his fathers legacy means to him. This growing obsession, coupled with his sense of entitlement to the treasure as the rightful heir of Erebor, ultimately leads to his downfall. His descent into greed is further exacerbated by the fact that he does not have a traditional family to ground him and provide a sense of perspective. The dwarves in his company, while they share a bond, do not serve as the emotional support and guidance that a familial relationship would provide. Thorin’s lack of a traditional family plays a crucial role in Thorin Oakenshield's greedy breakdown in The