[ Daily Tolkien / Lord Of The Rings ] Why did Bilbo choose Frodo as his heir?

The Barrow Downs ^ | December 10, 1999 | Ron Kittle

[JameRetief]

Why did Bilbo choose Frodo as his heir?

Bilbo Baggins was gone for more than a year on his journey to the Lonely Mountain and back. When he finally returned he was surprised to find that not only was he presumed dead, but his home at Bag End was being cleared out by auctioneers.

Either by legal will or common law, his luxurious hobbit hole was being passed down to his next of kin, the Sackville-Bagginses, and his belongings were being sold to the highest bidder.

Because Mr. Baggins was obviously still among the living, the auction had to be halted at once and all of his belongings returned. Unfortunately, most of his possessions had already been sold, and many of the items were never returned. The Sackville-Bagginses returned home (to Sackville?) a few silver spoons richer and convinced that an imposter had robbed them of their inheritance.

Bilbo soon settled back comfortably into the role of the master of Bag End, but the shock of almost losing his home never left him. After all, the hobbit hole was very dear to him. He was most likely born at Bag End, and he had lived there all of his life. In fact, his father, Bungo Baggins, had built it as a gift to his wife, Miss Belladonna Took, one of the three daughters of the Old Took. When Belladonna died in 1334, eight years after Bungo passed away, Bilbo was left as the sole occupant of Bag-End. Until Gandalf arrived on that fateful April morning, Bilbo had probably never given a thought to the fate of his wonderful home if something were to happen to him.

Eventually, things returned to normal, and Bilbo put the matter of the fate of Bag End out of his mind. He was only 51 years old, and as he was not likely to go on any other long adventures, Bag End seemed secure. Life went on and Bilbo's age and waistline grew.

Several years later, as Bilbo approached 80 years old, a tragedy struck the Baggins family. His second cousin Drogo and Drogo's wife Primula (coincindentally Bilbo's first cousin) were drowned in a boating accident on the Brandywine River. They had been living with Primula's family at Brandy Hall with their young son Frodo who was left orphaned by the terrible event. He was only 12 years old.

Hobbits are very family-oriented creatures. Bilbo certainly must have travelled to Buckland to attend the funeral services for the his unfortunate cousins. Being so closely related to the two, Bilbo had probably either been to their home before or had them to Bag End as guests. It's quite likely that he and Frodo knew one another. But there at the funeral is when Bilbo first began to think of the welfare of Frodo.

The younger Baggins was effectively orphaned among his Brandybuck relatives. Bilbo may have then already had a thought of bringing Frodo to Hobbiton, but the settings at Brandy Hall were much more conducive to the uprbringing of a young hobbit than Bag End could be. Bilbo knew that he had no experience at child-raising, so instead he most likely decided to become Frodo's friend and benefactor.

Over a period of 10 years he and Frodo developed a great friendship. Frodo was often back and forth between Buckland and Hobbiton (occasionally stopping in the Marish to raid Maggot's Farm for mushrooms). Bilbo often allowed younger relatives and their friends to visit Bag End, and it was during these years that Frodo met Pippen and Merry (and don't forget Sam).

Though the notion to bring Frodo to Hobbiton had first came to him when Drogo and Primula had died, Bilbo had never had the idea to adopt Frodo as an heir. But years rolled by and he began to feel older (and 'stretched'). It had been nearly 40 years since his return from the East, and all that time he had been mostly concerned with living comfortably in his cozy home. Now his mind turned again to adventure. He thought of the dwarves living far off at the Lonely Mountain and of Elrond in Rivendell. And he wished to see them again.

A glimmer of a plan began to formulate in Bilbo's mind. The thought of the Sackville-Bagginses living in Bag End (and eating with his silver spoons) made him shudder. He remembered how upset he had been when they had tried to move in years ago. So, with the S-Bs in mind and a faint idea of a future journey, Bilbo made a decision. He would adopt Frodo as his heir and with a stroke of a pen (actually many, many penstrokes and witnesses, too) would insure that Bag End remained in Baggins hands.

The future of Bag End seemed secure.

The Sackville-Bagginses were furious of course, and became even nastier than ever to Bilbo (and Frodo). But Bilbo did not care. Now that he didn't have to worry about Bag End he could make plans for his last big adventure. But days rolled into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. 12 years passed before Bilbo was finally ready to leave. By then he had grown even more fond of Frodo and even more sure that he was a capable successor.

On the evening of his 111th birthday Bilbo threw a big Party. And the rest is history.

Author: Ron Kittle
Published on: December 10, 1999

[JameRetief]

Your Daily Tolkien Ping!

Coming from many sources, these articles cover many aspects of Tolkien and his literary works. If anyone would like for me to ping them directly when I post articles such as this let me know. Enjoy!

[JameRetief]

The Daily Tolkien articles:

        ARTICLES 1-10

        ARTICLES 11-20

21) The Merchants of Middle-earth by Michael Martinez

22) Dear Gandalf ... by Michael Martinez

23) Why did Bilbo choose Frodo as his heir? by Ron Kittle

[ecurbh]

Ring Ping!!

[JameRetief]

I have decided that twice a week (Monday and Friday perhaps?) the Daily Tolkien will be an article written by a "Tolkien Virgin" (Mark-Edmond) who as he reads/has read the books about Middle Earth for the first time gives a short article with his thoughts and commentary about what he has read to that point. He has read so far, The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and has almost finished The Lord Of The Rings.

His pace is approximately 1 or 2 chapters per article and if you would like to reread the books (or even read for the first time if you are also a Tolkien Virgin) to coincide with the posting of his articles (like I said, two articles per week), you will end up finishing The Return Of The King next year almost the exact week the final movie is released.

These running commentary threads could be great for discussions on the various chapters and could be a great place for people to ask questions about anything they are curious about.

What days would you recommend for the "Tolkien Virgin" articles? I was thinking Mondays and Fridays. "Bookends" as it were. :-) Gives you the weekend to read the chapter or two being discussed on Monday, and the rest of the week for the chapter or two discussed on Friday. A leisurely yet structured pace that should be easy to work into schedules.

Your thoughts?

[The Iguana]

Seems reasonable.

[Wneighbor]

Thanks a bunch for the ping. This is a great way to start out a busy week.

Another thought on this. Frodo was noted by both Gandalf and Bilbo as the "best hobbit in the shire." With this in mind and remembering that not only was the evil of Sauron and the power of evil in general "calling" the ring back to it's maker, there was also the power of good which is given credit for choosing Frodo as the next ring-bearer. Again and again as we see Frodo's struggle with the ring or power behind the ring trying to force him to put the ring on, we also see the other power trying to keep his mind steady and keep the ring off. The force of good is shown to be in control of events just as is Sauron trying to take control. So, even in Bilbo's choice of Frodo as an heir we see the divine power of good entering in and choosing Frodo.

Could go on but you get the idea. Thanks again.

[balrog666]

A leisurely yet structured pace that should be easy to work into schedules.

A good plan.

My thanks for all the past (and future) article posts.

[Overtaxed]

Ping!

[Overtaxed]

Bilbo often allowed younger relatives and their friends to visit Bag End, and it was during these years that Frodo met Pippen and Merry (and don't forget Sam).

Sam was just the gardener's son (at first) and was devoted to Frodo although Frodo didn't realize this until later.

[LinnieBeth]

Hey, how are you guys doing? I've missed our study threads and hearing from you. We really should start that again next year.

Got our tickets for TTT - Wed 3:30p, when are you going?

[Overtaxed]

Hi! Looks like there'll be discussion here and I think Hair is thinking about starting up the TT thread again after the movie.

I've got tickets for Wednesday 4:30.

[Restorer]

One of the things I think is interesting in LOTR is the social status of the four hobbits in the Fellowship.

If I remember correctly, Pippin was the son (heir?) of the Thain, the #1 hobbit in the Shire and therefore in the world. In hobbit terms, he was perhaps the equivalent of the Prince of Wales.

Merry was the son (heir?) of the Master of Buckland, a semi-independent principality. So his status might be equal to the heir of a duke.

Frodo was closely related to both of them and therefore was an aristocrat himself, although not in the primary lines. Perhaps when he inherited from Bilbo, he became the equivalent of an English country squire who is related to a peer.

Sam, OTOH, is "just a servant." Early on in the story, the others sometimes treat him with unthinking condecension. By the end, they are treating him as a full equal, which of course he has earned through his own efforts. As Frodo's heir and Mayor, he becomes himself an aristocrat, which status he hands down to his descendants.

[JameRetief]

F.Y.I. The Daily Tolkien for Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th is, unofficially, the movie The Two Towers. I could have posted something, but most would be too interested in the movie and discussing it, so for all intents and purposes, it is the Daily Tolkien until the 19th. :-)

[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

Except, the Thain was only appointed to replace the authority of the King who was no more, but then even that was forgotten and the Thain became just a customary title. If you use terms of European royality, you make Merry and Pippin look more important than they are (or rather, make them sound like political leaders, rather than traditional community leaders). They weren't royalty so much as customary leaders. They had authority, but not power as such. It's like the difference between a policeman who enforces laws, and a tribal elder who wields influence. The Shire was not a state; it was just a loose collection of communities obeying their own traditions and customary laws.

[Restorer]

True. However, my point is that they were all (except Sam) Very Important Hobbits. And I'm not sure that point comes across easily to American readers, who don't have the inbred understanding of the class system that Tolkien's Brit readers would have had in the 50's.

[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

True enough. It's a class system, which we Americans pretend not to have, but it's a traditional class system, without any form of state mechanisms to reinforce it. Saying that Merry and Pippin are very important hobbits is also true enough, but it's like saying they are "very important tobacco smokers". No one but other hobbits or other tobacco smokers would care one way or another. Now, saying that Aragorn is a very important human has a different order of meaning, in that his importance effects everyone whether they want it to or not, whereas Merry and Pippin's importance outside of the Shire is accidental.

[artios]

In unfinished tales - Gandalf is said to have explained the reasons for choosing Biblo - there is also info in Appendix A /LR - Thorin Oakenshield was very egotistical and prideful. Gandalf knew that would kill him and the mission if left unchecked. He thought by adding a humble hobbit it might help. He was right (of course - the hobbiot saved the mission but Thorin was ultimately killed by his pride with - as Gandalf prophesied - with gold in his fingers) Of the hobbits, he wanted one that was part Took (explorer, wanderer) and a Baggins - Biblo stood out because he was single so late in life that Gandalf believed that that showed that Biblo had secret longings to travel far and be ready to go at any time - without any other considerations slowing him down. - Anyway - that is some of it. App A and Unfinished Tales tells the rest.