Bilbo Baggins and Right Engagement With the Monster, Part 2
“The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.”
In Part 1 of this series, we explored the category of the monster - that which is strange. We braved Smaug’s lair, lauded Bilbo’s wisdom, and came away with a treasure of our own: how to properly engage with the monster. In the intermediate post, we then looked into the mirror of the Batman; what it means to bring the category of the strange onto oneself; and how reflections can be just as deadly as that which casts a shadow. There is much to say about the monster, evinced by the fact that we can’t help but obsess over stories and legends filled with them, even spotting them in our own lives. However, there remains one salient point that I wish to discuss on this topic of right engagement: knowing not when to slay the monster but rather when to spare it. For this analysis, we return to our master of monsters, Bilbo Baggins.
Perhaps the most famous character from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit (aside from Bilbo himself, of course) is the pitiable creature Gollum. Gollum appears rather early on in the telling, but the encounter is a turning point for Biblo. The experience therein would go on to define not only Bilbo’s journey but also the entire tale of The Lord of the Rings. Before Gollum makes his debut, we already see Bilbo outwit the trolls, confounding them and playing for time, using his prodding sagacity that would later undo the great wyrm Smaug. A skill he will further hone here in a similar setting to the dragon’s; though, instead of warmth and illustrious wealth, these depths are damp, bitter, and devoid of all but bones. Not the abode of a ferocious dragon, but the hovel of a wretch; and the only gold a misplaced trinket. Once more we find ourselves on the outskirts - the periphery of the map. Even the malformed goblins of the Misty Mountains are loath to approach the darkened tunnels that vanish down to Gollum’s cavern. Strange unto stranger. The surroundings are grim. We are made to fear whatever dwells here. And it is in this forsaken den that Bilbo reveals his greatest, strongest quality: pity.
By recognizing how Bilbo made himself strange in the duel against Smaug, and observing Batman bearing the mantle of the monstrous, we may come to believe that monsters should only be dealt with by laying waste to them, be it with wit or righteousness. That they are only blackguards on our borders that are to be destroyed. But it is not so. Bilbo wisely demonstrates a necessary alternative - one that must always be considered first - choosing to not slay the monster.
‘What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature when he had the chance!’ ‘Pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. Pity and mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so. With pity.’ - The Fellowship of the Ring
The lesson is simple: because the monster is shrouded in mystery it does indeed pose the danger of hidden capacities, but that goes two ways - potential capacities for evil and good. Potential capacities for damnation or redemption. And perhaps redemption is worth more than all the wealth of Smaug or the power of the Ring.
Let’s briefly take a look at some examples of this.
Friend or foe
We can see this idea of the monster, stranger, or foreigner (really all the same thing) having capacities for good in many instances. Where, once properly identified, the monster does not remain an enemy but rather becomes a helpmeet. In popular culture, such examples are easy to spot. Consider Buckbeak from Harry Potter: a hippogryph, monstrous in size and appearance, that strikes fear into all save the groundskeeper Hagrid. Buckbeak is certainly dangerous; so much so that the poor beast is sentenced to death. But when Harry begins to learn how to approach the creature, slowly, with a bow of respect, the fearsome hippogryph is turned into a noble steed. Once Harry and Buckbeak properly integrate one another, their budding relationship evolves into one of deliverance. You can see this pattern repeat in stories such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Iron Giant, King Kong, and so on.
And, like all true patterns of reality, it manifests in day-to-day life. Perhaps one is prejudiced toward a people or foreign perspective, but, through exposure, this prejudice is turned to respect or mutual understanding. The story of Daryl Davis, an African-American man who befriended members of the Ku Klux Klan, convincing over 200 of them to leave the hate group, is an inspiring example of this. Mutual integration of the foreign can come through travel, charity, and honest engagement. It can be seen through the new kid at school who struggles to make friends, a growing relationship between a strict mentor and a stubborn pupil, or working with a colleague who holds a different political ideology; realizing there are more similarities than there are differences, and having the good sense to see how differences can complement each other. It is the humility to admit one does not have complete understanding or all-encompassing sight. To step aside and allow things other than personal desire to grow. A humility not of force but rather renewal. Bilbo Baggins has this humility.
The story of Gollum plays out somewhat differently than the instances above, but the essence remains the same, especially when projected into The Lord of the Rings. For now, we will only focus on The Hobbit, but I encourage the reader to consider the relationship that will develop between Frodo and Gollum in the context of the ideas found within part 1, of the mirror and integration, and soon with the pattern of mercy for the monster.
‘My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end, and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many — yours not least.’ - The Fellowship of the Ring
So, how did Bilbo come to pity Gollum and what details of right engagement can we glean from their meeting?
Riddles in the dark
Most should be aware of Bilbo’s confrontation with Gollum. Thorin Oakenshield and company are taken to the roots of the Misty Mountains as captives of goblins. Upon making their escape from the Great Goblin and his brood, Bilbo is assaulted and thrust down into the black abyss of the mountain’s cavernous depths. When he comes to, he finds himself in utter darkness. As he fumbles about, his grasp chances around a peculiar object: the One Ring. From there, Bilbo makes his way, descending further down, until he comes to a bitter black lake deep within the earth. It is here Bilbo and Gollum engage in a very similar pattern to that of Bilbo and Smaug at the end of the story, making for one of the most iconic chapters in literature.
The pattern of this riddle game, of trying to identify the ‘other’ and perceiving the monster’s weak spot, is a prime subject in part 1 that I will not repeat here. Needless to say, it is a battle of wits and discernment.
He (Gollum) was anxious to appear friendly, at any rate for the moment, and until he found out more about the sword and the hobbit, whether he was quite alone really, whether he was good to eat, and whether Gollum was really hungry. ‘Very well,’ said Bilbo, who was anxious to agree, until he found out more about the creature, whether he was quite alone, whether he was fierce or hungry, and whether he was a friend of the goblins.” - The Hobbit
The two strange, and yet similar, players then began their game of back and forth. Throughout the match an odd thing happens, both Bilbo and Gollum already know each other’s riddles. It is no coincidence that the setting of this contest is on the banks of a still lake. It is a mirror. We find out later that Gollum was once a hobbit, much like dear Bilbo. Gollum reflects what Bilbo may become if he allows himself to be devoured. Bilbo reflects what Gollum once was before he let temptation corrupt him by improperly integrating the power of the One. The narrator of The Hobbit alludes to the spiritual stakes at hand: “The riddle-game was sacred and of immense antiquity, and even wicked creatures were afraid to cheat when they played at it.” Essentially, what this means is whoever perversely engages in this pattern risks a fate worse than death. We need not look any further than Gollum himself for an example of this.
The fall of wrong engagement
Before his fall, Gollum, or rather Sméagol, would not have been monstrous in Bilbo’s eyes whatsoever. Indeed, he was a hobbit just the same. It was through an improper engagement with the power of the Ruling Ring that pushed Gollum to the edges of society and beyond. After the murder of Déagol and bringing forth further poisonous fruits, Sméagol became hated; then he was cast out; then he withered and became wretched; monstrous. Even forgetting his own name - his very identity. Totally consumed, lost, and sent to the margins where all monsters belong. That was the fate that reflected back into the eyes of Bilbo if he were to use his power to cheat or murder.
Fortunately, Bilbo had some grace in him. But he was not naïve; he knew Gollum would likely turn on him no matter the outcome, but he also knew not to supersede that same Authority that presides over the sacred game of riddles (though, he certainly tempts fate with his final ‘question’!). Through no small measure of luck, Bilbo evades the serpentine grip of the wrathful, defeated Gollum. The Ring slips onto Bilbo’s finger making him invisible, and he tails the miserable creature up out of the depths back to his companions. This last encounter between Bilbo and Gollum at the precipice of freedom would define all that follows in Tolkien’s world.
“A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo’s heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking and whispering. All these thoughts passed in a flash of a second.” - The Hobbit
Blessed are the merciful
Though he did not know it, in that final moment Bilbo was looking at what he would become had he slain Gollum then and there. He would have taken his place. Instead, he bore a different fruit which would further blossom to the salvation of all Middle-earth. Bilbo chose not to slay the monster, but to spare it. No doubt he did not fully understand why, nor could he have ever perceived the ripple effects of this decision. But Gollum was unarmed and defeated; Bilbo invisible - there was no further need to exercise power over him. And therein lies the humility that is required to rightfully engage with the monster. It is the same humility that Harry Potter shows Buckbeak in a bow of respect; the same as Aladdin freeing the genie; and the same humility Daryl Davis had when entering honestly into the land of those who despised him. It is the embodiment of the beatitude “blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” When you have a sword, but keep it sheathed. This not only allows a chance for redemption and renewal but also for new things to grow. For perspectives to broaden. For a chance to not only spare a life but also, perhaps, save your own.
Throughout these meditations on monsters, one thing I hope I made clear is that the monster is not inherently evil. Dangerous to be sure. Strange without a doubt. But neither inherently evil nor inherently good. We must know how to engage properly to identify each in its turn. That is what Bilbo teaches us with his right engagement with the monster. It is his careful rumination, his honest integrity, his wisdom and sight, and ultimately his humility that allows him to undo the adversaries in his path. To every eye, save perhaps Gandalf’s, Gollum’s life should have rightfully ended there in the tunnel. But by besting the monster and then showing mercy, Bilbo made room for things larger than himself to transpire. Monsters exist in our peripheries. We must have the humility to recognize our blind spots and acknowledge we are not all-seeing. What is better, to mete out our personal judgements or to strive to renew our own perceptions?
As always, there is far more to say on the topic and about this monster specifically. Perhaps one day Gollum will get the full write-up he deserves within the context of The Lord of the Rings. But that is a large undertaking and a tale for another time.
“Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” - The Fellowship of the Ring
Thanks for reading,
Sam