Gaudere’s mocking me again. This is exactly like that time in 9th grade when Kenny Armstrong & I stole Arminda Johnson’s bra and ran it up the flagpole, then realized far too late that not only was she a black belt in karate, but so was her big brother.
That was a very painful lesson.
I don’t know if it was wanting Bilbo to having a happy retirement as much as having committed to it in writing: “He took to writing poetry and visiting the elves; and though many shook their heads and touched their foreheads and said ‘Poor old Baggins!’ and though few believed any of his tales, he remained very happy to the end of his days, and those were extraordinarily long.” On the other hand, Tolkien wasn’t entirely above rewriting “The Hobbit” (as when he significantly altered Bilbo’s encounter with Gollum).
Of course Bilbo and Frodo are very different characters. Whereas Bilbo wanted to explore the outside world and didn’t seem to care all that much for his fellow Hobbits, Frodo loved the Shire and would have been content to stay there all his life. For this tale, Tolkien preferred the hero who reluctantly answered the call of destiny over an enthusiastic adventurer. It fits with the themes of the novel and I think it makes the story, particularly the final few chapters, much more poignant.
Heck, I’m just happy he went with “Frodo” and not “Bingo”. Let’s face it, the rhyme would have started up in your head every time…
TWDuke - I’ve cried every time I’ve read Frodo’s farewell at the Grey Havens. Tolkien was a brilliant storyteller, and I think he made the right choice. I was just mulling how the tale would have gone if Bilbo had still been the protagonist.
That would also describe Sam. “Well, I’m back.”
Late to the thread, alas… and all the questions have already been capably answered by others. Oh, well. Carry on!
Slinks off to order another pint from Butterbur and smoke my pipe in the corner…
That’s OK. The plural should have been palantiri anyway. (It’s too early in the morning for accents, though.) 