# A Hobbit question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** middle-earth\ **Created:** [November 6, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264 "2013-11-06T18:59:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/1 "2013-11-06T18:59:29Z")
I was flipping through the TV channels last night and landed upon The Hobbit, and two thoughts occurred to me: (1) Smaug is frickin’ huge and is probably going to be really impressive when we get a good, long look at him (2) I can’t figure out why Gandalf sent Bilbo on the dwarves’ adventure. Any thoughts? Theories? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/2 "2013-11-06T19:05:30Z")
(2) If my memory of the book serves, Gandalf thought that Thorin had a bit of a stiff neck, and needed someone with a different point of view to change the tone of the expedition. (Thorin’s obstinacy was underplayed in the film.) He had also known Bilbo’s ancestors, and knew that the Bagginses possessed more in terms of character than met the eye, even if Bilbo had yet to demonstrate it. If you want to know why Gandalf gave a shit about the expedition in the first place, he was worried about the dragon putting the balance of power in the “evil” direction in that part of middle earth, and figured a thriving dwarf kingdom under the mountain could only be a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/3 "2013-11-06T19:08:00Z")
The dwarves needed another member of the party to avoid being 13 in number, and they also needed a burglar, the job Bilbo was specifically brought along to do. Since hobbits are small, quiet and nimble, presumably that also makes them good burglars. Gandalf thought Bilbo in particular was likely to make a good adventurer given his family history and wizardly insight into his character. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/4 "2013-11-06T19:52:18Z")
Bilbo represents the “common man” in the story, he’s the guy, comfy at home in his slippers, sitting down with a warm cup of tea, who gets ripped away on a wild adventure. He’s our eyes into the strange world. That’s really why he’s there, to build the story around; someone who’s a bit naive that we can relate to. Other than that, yeah, to be the burglar, because hobbits are quiet and all. And then, maybe because Gandalf knew something more than he let on, which is certainly suggested later on. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/5 "2013-11-06T20:12:34Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > And then, maybe because Gandalf knew something more than he let on, which is certainly suggested later on. Most assuredly!! ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/6 "2013-11-06T20:44:51Z")
I got the impression that Bilbo is acting as a lure. Gandalf isn’t exactly sure what he is fishing for but he thinks if he uses an innocent hobbit as bait then something will be drawn to it. Looks like he was correct. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/7 "2013-11-06T20:59:30Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > (1) Smaug is frickin’ huge and is probably going to be really impressive when we get a good, long look at him I liked how they did the Balrog in the _FOTR_, so I’m hoping ten years or so of advances in CGI/FX will make this really good. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/8 "2013-11-06T21:03:55Z")
Gandalf is _really_ fond of hobbits. He’d probably been planning for centuries on centuries to utilize them in some way to defeat Sauron, which is why he had the rangers protect the Shire and keep the hobbits in relative peace throughout their generations. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/9 "2013-11-06T21:10:43Z")
Gandalf picked Bilbo because his love for the Halfling’s leaf slowed his brain. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/10 "2013-11-06T21:12:51Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Gandalf picked Bilbo because his love for the Halfling’s leaf slowed his brain. 😉 Plus, he gets a discount in Bree for each hobbit he sends on an adventure. Four more and he gets a free tobacco pouch! ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/11 "2013-11-06T21:31:14Z")
Gandalf’s purpose in Middle Earth was, in large part, to encourage people to stand up against the darkness. His strong association with fire (and Fire) is symbolic of his role in kindling courage in the hearts of others–one at a time, if necessary. He knew from long association that a steady ember of that courage waited in the hearts of many hobbits, and in Bilbo in particular. His purpose, his reason for taking mortal form, his very nature impelled him to breathe on that ember and bring it to life. Also, I daresay that he found it terribly amusing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/12 "2013-11-06T21:35:37Z")
It’s not so much that he had _knowledge_, per se, that sending Bilbo along would allow the expedition to succeed. It would be more accurate to describe it as intuition, or a hunch. But the hunches of such beings as Gandalf are wiser than the learnings of we mortals. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/13 "2013-11-06T22:09:12Z")
“If you’re talking about the affair with the dragon, I was hardly involved…” ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/14 "2013-11-06T22:46:53Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Gandalf picked Bilbo because his love for the Halfling’s leaf slowed his brain. 😉 Dude, if you’ve ever gotten stoned with a hobbit you’d understand. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/15 "2013-11-06T23:59:55Z")
In Gandalf’s own words, from **Unfinished Tales** where he explained why he picked Bilbo. > [@](#): > > Somehow I had been attracted by Bilbo long before, as a child, and a young hobbit: he had not quite come of age when I had last seen him. He had stayed in my mind ever since, with his eagerness and his bright eyes, and his love of tales, and his questions about the wide world outside the Shire. As soon as I entered the Shire I heard news of him. He was getting talked about, it seemed. Both his parents had died early for Shire-folk, at about eighty; and he had never married. He was already growing a bit queer, they said, and went off for days by himself. He could be seen talking to strangers, even Dwarves. > > "Even Dwarves!’ Suddenly in my mind these three things came together: the great Dragon with his lust, and his keen hearing and scent; the sturdy heavy-booted Dwarves with their old burning grudge; and the quick, soft-footed Hobbit, sick at heart (I guessed) for a sight of the wide world. I laughed at myself; but I went off at once to have a look at Bilbo, to see what twenty years bad done to him, and whether he was as promising as gossip seemed to make out. But be was not at home. They shook their heads in Hobbiton when I asked after him. ‘Off again,’ said one Hobbit. It was Holman, the gardener, I believe. ‘Off again. He’ll go right off one of these days, if he isn’t careful. Why, I asked him where he was going, and when he would be back, and I don’t know he says; and then he looks at me queerly. It depends if I meet any, Holman, he says. It’s the Elves New Year tomorrow! A pity, and him so kind a body. You wouldn’t find a better from the Downs to the River.’ > > "Better and better!’ I thought. ‘I think I shall risk it.’ Time was getting short. I had to be with the White Council in August at the latest, or Saruman would have his way and nothing would be done. And quite apart from greater matters, that might prove fatal to the quest: the power in Dol Guldur would not leave any attempt on Erebor unhindered, unless he had something else to deal with. > > "So I rode off back to Thorin in haste, to tackle the difficult task of persuading him to put aside his lofty designs and go secretly – and take Bilbo with him. Without seeing Bilbo first. It was a mistake, and nearly proved disastrous. For Bilbo had changed, of course. At least, he was getting rather greedy and fat, and his old desires had dwindled down to a sort of private dream. Nothing could have been more dismaying than to find it actually in danger of coming true! He was altogether bewildered, and made a complete fool of himself. Thorin would have left in a rage, but for another strange chance, which I will mention in a moment. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/16 "2013-11-07T00:19:27Z")
Really, there wasn’t anyone else _but_ a hobbit to send along with them. If they could have found a fourteenth dwarf, Thorin would have already done so. It’s not likely that Thorin would’ve accepted an elf, either. So the only other options left in Arnor were rangers (busy elsewhere), humans (apparently only at Bree… basically tall hobbits, anyway), or a hobbit like Bilbo. Since rangers weren’t an option and there don’t seem to be many humans at Bree to pick from, the Shire had Gandalf’s best probability for finding someone suitable. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/17 "2013-11-07T15:08:01Z")
Why would he be stuck having to only pick a human from Bree? There seemed to be plenty of sturdy folk in Rohan or Laketown… ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/18 "2013-11-07T16:16:49Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > There seemed to be plenty of sturdy folk in Rohan or Laketown… One of their considerations was not to have their party number “unlucky” thirteen. (Gandalf didn’t count since he wouldn’t be with them all of the way.) In any case, Rohan was far out of their way, and Laketown was at the very end of their journey. They didn’t encounter any real men between Bree and Laketown (Beorn not being an ordinary human.) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/19 "2013-11-07T16:27:58Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Gandalf is _really_ fond of hobbits. He’d probably been planning for centuries on centuries to utilize them in some way to defeat Sauron, which is why he had the rangers protect the Shire and keep the hobbits in relative peace throughout their generations. Gandalf was a pervy hobbit-fancier! ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264/20 "2013-11-07T16:28:41Z")
There were humans in Rohand and Laketown. The dwarves weren’t going to Rohan, not even near-to. And Laketown was at the _end_ of their journey – they wanted a fourteenth so they wouldn’t have unlucky thirteen _on_ their journey. The only humans we know of left in Arnor are at Bree, or are rangers. There probably should be humans somewhere else around, JRRT just doesn’t ever show or mention them to us. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hobbit-question/673264.md?page=2)