DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S THE HOBBIT by ...

AFORTUNATELITTLEFELLOW:

DIVINEPROVIDENCEINJ.R.R.TOLKIEN’STHEHOBBITby

BiancaLuciaBeronio

Thesis Supervisor: ________________________________ Robert T. Tally Jr., Ph.D. Department of English

Approved: ____________________________________ Heather C. Galloway, Ph.D. Dean, Honors College

AFORTUNATELITTLEFELLOW:

DIVINEPROVIDENCEINJ.R.R.TOLKIEN’STHEHOBBIT

HONORSTHESIS

PresentedtotheHonorsCollegeofTexasStateUniversityinPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirements

forGraduationintheHonorsCollegeby

BiancaLuciaBeronio

SanMarcos,TexasDecember2018

COPYRIGHT

by

Bianca Lucia Beronio

2018

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As the copyright holder of this work I, Bianca Lucia Beronio, authorize duplication of this work, in whole or in part, for educational or

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Dedication

DedicatedtomywonderfulsonTylerC.Schwarz,whosharesmyloveofdragons,

farawayplacesandthemagicofreading.

Acknowledgements

IwouldfirstandforemostliketoacknowledgeandthankmyThesisAdvisor,ProfessorRobertT.TallyJr.,forguidingmeontheperilousroadthatiswriting.Iamforevergratefulforyourmentorship.Thankyouforyourpatienceinlisteningtomyramblings,forbeingmyguidethroughMiddle-earthandWesteros,andforalwaysbelievinginme.ThankyoutomydearhusbandClintEvans,forbeingabeaconofsupportandforputtingupwithmymanylate-nightexistentialcrises.Lastly,IwouldliketoacknowledgethelateOscarKozlowski,withoutwhomIwouldneverhaveappliedtoTexasStateUniversity.Thankyouforallthewonderfulmemories,forthelaughterandforalwayswatchingoverme.

Iwouldalsoliketothankmywonderfulfamilyandfriends,forbeingmycritics,mymotivatorsandfor

remindingmetorelaxonceinawhile:

JoseBeronio

VilmaChumbes

&

HannahBarton

|Table of Contents

Abstract ........................................................................................................1

Introduction .................................................................................................2

Chapter 1|Biographical Considerations ........................................................ 4

Chapter 2|A New Mythology for England: The Creation of Middle-earth .... 7

Chapter 3|The Balancing of Good and Evil in Middle-earth....................... 12

Chapter 4|Providence and the Hero’s Journey in The Hobbit ..................... 15

Chapter 5|The Lasting Effects of Providence in The Lord of the Rings ........ 21

Conclusion .................................................................................................. 24

Works Cited ................................................................................................ 25

1

|Abstract

ThepurposeofthisresearchistoexaminethemanyelementsthatinspiredTolkienin

ordertoidentifyacentralthemeinhisMiddle-earthtales:DivineProvidence.Providence

isdefinedastheprotectiveinfluenceofsomehigherpowerinordertobringaboutan

eventuality.RomanCatholicismhaslongheldDivineProvidenceascentraltoitstheology;

whilethisforceisonlyexpresslynamedthreetimesinscriptures,thedoctrineofDivine

ProvidencefeaturesheavilyinboththeOldandNewTestaments.Firstpublishedin1937,

J.R.R.Tolkien’sTheHobbitisahigh-fantasyadventureinthemedievalisttradition,

completewiththehallmarksoftheorthodoxChristianinterpretationofanintangibleevil

andaheroprotectedbyforcesunseen.DespiteTolkien’sinsistencethatMiddle-earthisn’t

aChristianworld,hisCatholicinfluencesabound,presentinganorthodoxCatholicviewof

thebattlebetweengoodandevil;yetitalsocontainsexamplesofDivineProvidence

reminiscentofthethoughtofThomasAquinas,whoseSummaTheologicawouldhavebeen

wellknowntothemedievalistTolkien.ThoughGodisneverexplicitlymentionedinThe

Hobbit,theunseenhandofProvidenceisatworkthroughoutthenovel;BilboBaggins’s

unusuallineage,thetimingofthediscoveryoftheenchantedmap,Bilbo’sfindingofthe

ring,andthediscoveryoftheLonelyMountainkeyhole,tonameafew“fortunate”events,

DivineProvidenceisrevealedtobeakeyelementinBilbo’stransformationfromhumble

Hobbittofatedhero.

2

|Introduction

ThefinalsceneofJ.R.R.Tolkien’sTheHobbittakesplacesomeyearsafterthemain

adventure.ItdepictsBilboBagginssittinginhishomewithGandalfandBalin,discussing

newsfromfarawayLaketown,whoserecentprosperitywassuchthatsongwritershave

beguntosaythatthe“riversrunwithgold.”

“Thenthepropheciesoftheoldsongshaveturnedouttobetrue,aftera

fashion!”saidBilbo.

“Ofcourse!”saidGandalf.“Andwhyshouldnottheyprovetrue?Surelyyou

don’tdisbelievetheprophecies,becauseyouhadahandinbringingthemabout

yourself?Youdon’treallysuppose,doyou,thatallyouradventuresandescapes

weremanagedbymereluck,justforyoursolebenefit?Youareaveryfineperson,

Mr.Baggins,andIamveryfondofyou;butyouarequitealittlefellowinawide

worldafterall!”(Tolkien330)

Gandalf’sresponsealludestoathemethatismostlyhiddenthroughoutthenovel,but

whichremainspresentjustbeneaththesurface:DivineProvidence.

Providence,comingfromtheLatinwordprovidentia,isdefinedastheprotective

influenceofsomehigherpowerinordertobringaboutaneventuality(“Providence”).

Countlessreligionsandcultureshavetalesofpowerfulyetunseenforcesgoverningthe

universe,directingthe“courseofhumanaffairswithdefinitepurposeandbeneficent

design”(“DivineProvidence”).RomanCatholicismhaslongheldDivineProvidenceasa

centralthemeinitstheology;whilethisforceisonlyexpresslynamedthreetimesin

scriptures,thedoctrineofDivineProvidencefeaturesheavilyinboththeOldandNew

Testaments(“DivineProvidence”).Tolkien’sTheHobbitisataleoffantasyandadventure

3

inthemedievalisttradition,anddespiteTolkien’sinsistencethathisMiddle-earthtalesare

setinapre-Christianworld,hisCatholicinfluencesabound.Forexample,Tolkienarguably

presentsanorthodoxCatholicviewofthebattlebetweengoodandevil,yethiswritings

alsocontainexamplesofDivineProvidence,reminiscentofthethoughtofThomas

Aquinas,whoseSummaTheologicawouldhavebeenwellknowntothemedievalist

Tolkien(Kocher76-77,Shippey140-141).ThoughGodisneverexplicitlymentionedin

TheHobbit,theunseenhandofprovidenceisatworkthroughoutthebook.ThroughBilbo

Baggins’sunusuallineage,thetimingofthediscoveryoftheenchantedmap,Bilbo’s

findingofthering,andtherevelationofthesecretkeyholeontheLonelyMountain,to

nameafew“fortunate”events,DivineProvidenceisrevealedtobeakeyelementinBilbo’s

transformationfromhumbleHobbittofatedhero.

4

1| Biographical Considerations

TounderstandtheroadthatledtothewritingofTheHobbit,onemustfirst

examinetheeventssurroundingTolkien’sownlifeandthemanyelementsthatwould

laterinfluencehishighfantasytales.In1891,anunlikelymatchwasmadethatwould

bringforthtotheliteraryworldnotonlyoneofitsgreatestauthors,butalsoleadtothe

creationofoneoftherichestfantasyworldsofalltime.MabelSuffield,agirloftwenty-one,

marriedArthurTolkien,thirteenyearshersenior,inCapeTownCathedralinSouthAfrica

onApril16,1891(Carpenter19).ThecouplesoonmovedtoBloemfonteinwherethey

wereprovidedacomfortablehomebytheBankofAfrica,ofwhichArthurTolkienwas

employedasbranchmanager(Carpenter18-19).Lessthanayearlater,onJanuary4,

1892,thecouplewouldwelcomethebirthoftheirfirstson,JohnRonaldReuelTolkien

(Carpenter20);theywouldhaveonemoreson,HilaryArthurReuelTolkien,in1894

(Carpenter23).WhileArthurTolkienflourishedinthearidAfricanclimate,hisoldest

son’shealthseemedtodisagreewiththeirsurroundings,andthis,coupledwithMabel’s

longingforhergirlhoodhomeofBirmingham,England,ledtowhatwastobeaholiday

abroadtoimprovetheboy’shealth(Carpenter22-23).J.R.R.Tolkienwouldbidhisfather

farewellinAprilof1895,sailingtoEnglandwithhismotherandbabybrother.Itwould

provetobethelasttimethefamilywouldseeArthur,ashewasstrickenwithrheumatic

feverinNovemberofthatyearandwouldultimatelysuccumbofaseverehemorrhageon

February15,1896,leavingyoungMabelawidow(Carpenter24).Havinglittleintheway

ofsavings,Mabelprovidedforherchildrenasbestshecould,andshepersonallysawto

5

theireducation(Carpenter25;Letters218).Itwasthroughhismother’stutelagethat

Tolkienwouldformalifelongloveofcalligraphy,languages,andbotany(Carpenter29-30;

Letters218-221).ThefamilyrelocatedtoSarehole,anidyllichamletintheEnglish

countrysidewhereTolkien’svividimaginationwouldfinditssetting(Carpenter28).

Tolkien,muchtohismother’sdelight,devouredallthebookshecouldgethishandson.

AndrewLang’sFairyBooksfilledhisboyhooddays,particularlythosefeaturingdragons,

andtheyoungboywouldsooncrafthisowndragonstories(Carpenter30).

ItwasperhapsthehardshipsthathadbefallenyoungMabelthatwouldleadtoher

conversiontoCatholicismin1900,whichresultedinheroustingfromtheSuffieldfamily’s

goodgraces(Carpenter32;Mooney171).Thefamilywouldmovearoundforthenextfew

years,asMabelandthechildrenfailedtofindfootingintheirnewsurroundingsafter

leavingSareholeforKing’sHeathin1900.OnNovember14,1904,afteryearsoffinancial

struggleandthestrainofcaringforhertwoboysalone,Mabeldied,havingsuccumb

duringadiabeticcoma(Carpenter38;Mooney171).Tolkienwouldbecomedeeply

committedtohisfaith,viewinghismother’suntimelydeathasanalmostChrist-like

sacrifice.“Myowndearmotherwasamartyrindeed,anditisnottoeverybodythatGod

grantssoeasyawaytohisgreatgiftsashedidtoHilaryandmyself,givingusamother

whokilledherselfwithlabourandtroubletoensureuskeepingthefaith”(qtd.in

Carpenter39).Theboyswerewilledbytheirmotherintothecareofherfriend,Father

FrancisMorgan,whosawtotheirCatholicupbringingwhiletheytookupresidencewith

theirauntBeatrice,wholivedcloseby(Carpenter40).YetTolkien,havingcometo

associatefairystoriesandtherollingEnglishcountrysidewithhisbelovedmother,loathed

livingamongthefactorychimneysofcrampedcentralBirmingham,longingforthe

tranquildaysofSarehole.Theverdantrollinghillsofhisboyhoodhomewouldoccupyhis

6

mindandfindtheirwayintohisstories,asTolkienwouldwritethat“Thereisnospecial

referencetoEnglandinthe‘Shire’–exceptofcoursethatasanEnglishmanbroughtupin

an‘almostrural’villageofWarwickshireontheedgeoftheprosperousbourgeoisieof

Birmingham.[…]Itakemymodelslikeanyoneelse–fromsuch‘life’asIknow”(Carpenter

40;Letters235).

TolkienwouldgoontoserveontheWesternFrontduringWorldWarI.Afterthe

war,hewenttoOxfordUniversitytocontinuehisstudiesonMedievalliteratureand,

followingabriefstintteachingattheUniversityofLeeds,hereturnedtoOxfordasa

professorofAnglo-Saxonin1925.Duringhistimeattheuniversity,hehelpedtofound

andparticipatedinaninformalforumforwritersknownas“theInklings,”whichincluded

hisfriendandcolleagueC.S.Lewis(Mooney171).Itwasduringthistimethathisnotions

ontheroleoffictionandreligioncametogetherinhisendeavorto“createanew

mythologyforEngland,”onethatwasn’texplicitlyChristian,butwhichsuitedthespiritof

theplace(Mooney171;Letters144).

7

2|A New Mythology for England: The Creation of Middle-earth

Ina1951lettertobookeditorMiltonWaldman,Tolkienprovideddetails

pertainingtohisMiddle-earthfantasytales:

Inorderoftime,growthandcomposition,thisstuffbeganwithme–thoughIdo

notsupposethatisofmuchinteresttoanyonebutmyself.[…]Idonotremembera

timewhenIwasnotbuildingit.Manychildrenmakeup,orbegintomakeup,

imaginarylanguages.IhavebeenatitsinceIcouldwrite.ButIhaveneverstopped,

andofcourse,asaprofessionalphilologist(especiallyinterestedinlinguistic

aesthetics),Ihavechangedintaste,improvedintheory,andprobablyincraft.

Behindmystoriesisnowanexusofalanguage.(Letters143)

Fromanearlyage,Tolkien’sloveofreadingrevealedtohimtheworldofEnglishliterature

thatwouldfollowhimintohisprofessionalyearsatOxford.Tolkien’sfascinationswith

languageandwithmythologyinspiredhimtoestablishhisownfictionalworld,butunlike

Lewis’sNarnia,Middle-earthisnotsomuchafantasyworldasamythicalsettingforhis

fantasy.AsTolkienhimselfnoted,thename“Middle-earth”doesnotrefertosome“never-

neverlandwithoutrelationtotheworldbelivein,”butisessentiallythetranslationofthe

“OldEnglishMiddengeard:thenamefortheinhabitedlandsbetweentheseas,”andas

such,eventhoughTolkiendidnottrytoreplicatethe“real”geography,heinsistedthat

“imaginativelythis‘history’issupposedtotakeplaceinaperiodoftheactualOldWorldof

thisplanet”(Letters220).

TakinginthestoriesofotherlandsandcultureshadintroducedTolkientoaquality

ofmythologicalstorytellingthathecouldnotfindpresentinthetalesofhis“ownbeloved

8

country”(Letters144).AmateurswouldberighttopointtothetalesofKingArthuras

goodcandidates,butthesetoowerelackingintheeyesofTolkien:“Ofcoursetherewas

andisalltheArthurianworld,butpowerfulasitis,itisimperfectlynaturalized,associated

withthesoilofBritainbutnotwithEnglish;anddoesnotreplacewhatIfelttobemissing.”

(Letters144).ItwasTolkien’sbeliefthatmythsandfairy-storiescouldandshouldbe

basedonelementsofwhathetermedasthe“primary‘real’world,”includingsettingand

“moralandreligioustruth,”butthattheseshouldnotbeexplicitlynamed.Thiswasthe

failinghesawinKingArthur,whosetale(apartfromalsobeinglargelyFrench)wasbound

tootightlytoBritainandChristianity(Letters144).Inhisadolescence,Tolkienhadbegun

tocrafttheElvenlanguagesthatwouldbepresentinallhisMiddle-earthworks;heavily

basedonFinnish,“Quenya”wascreatedasanElvishlanguagebytheyoungTolkien,andas

earlyas1917,ithadgrowntovocabularyofhundredsofwords(Carpenter101).Aswith

real-worldlanguages,QuenyahaditsrootsinanearliertonguethatTolkiencalled

“PrimitiveEldarin,”andthisinturnwouldspawnasecondcontemporaryElvishlanguage

calledSindarin,whichwasprimarilyinfluencedbyWelsh.Consistentwithhispassionfor

andinterestinphilology,Tolkienunderstoodthatthelanguagesnecessitatedahistory,

andsohebegantheframeworkforamythologythatwouldfinditswayintohisnever

entirelycompletedandposthumouslypublishedworks,TheSilmarillionandTheBookof

LostTalesdecadeslater(Rateliffxxx-xxxi).

DuringtheGreatWar,Tolkien,thenayoungsecondlieutenant,begantopen“The

FallofGondolin,”atalethatrecallsthefoundingoftheElvencityofGondolinandits

sackingbyarmiesoftheDarkLord,Morgoth(Carpenter100).“TheFallofGondolin”owes

somesmallpartofitsinspirationtoTolkien’sownexperiencesonthebattlefrontin

Somme,yetthesewereonly“superficialinfluences,”asTolkien’sloveoflinguisticsandhis

9

childhoodoffairy-storiesplayedalargerroleinbuildingtheworldofGondolin’sElvish

andHumanprotagonists(Carpenter100,103).Sufferingfrom“trenchfever,”Tolkienwas

sentfromFrancebacktoEnglandinNovember1916,andhisconvalescenceinthevillage

ofGreatHaywoodwouldalsoseethepreliminarycreationof“TheChildrenofHurin,”

anotheroftheLostTales;heretoohewoulddrawinspirationbothfromthemythologies

headmiredandhisboyhoodbooks.Whilethehero’s(Turin’s)fightagainstadragon

drawscomparisonstoBeowulfandhistragicendseemsliftedfromthepagesofthe

Kalevala,Tolkienscholarsadamantlyaffirmthattheseinfluencesare,again,only

superficial(Carpenter104).ArichmergingofIcelandicandFinnishmythological

traditions,“TheChildrenofHurin”wentbeyondthefantasticstorytellingofoldtalesby

providingsubtlecharacterdevelopmentanddramaticcomplexitynotseeninthe

ostensiblesourcematerials(Carpenter104).AsTolkienrecovered,thewarbegantoseem

likeadistantmemory,andheandhiswifeEdithsoonwelcomedtheirfirstchild,John

FrancisReuel,onNovember16,1917(Carpenter104).Thebirthoftheirchildbroughtthe

youngcoupleclosertogether;Tolkienwouldrecallidyllicwalksthroughthehemlock

woodswithhiswife,“Herhairwasraven,herskinclear,hereyesbright,andshecould

sing–anddance”(Carpenter105).Theirromanticescapeintothewoodswouldinspirea

lovestorythatwouldlieattheheartofTheSilmarillion,thetaleofthemortalBerenwho

fallsdeeplyinlovewiththebeautifulimmortalelf-maidenLuthien,enamoredbyher

gracefuldanceamongthehemlockwoods(Carpenter105).Althoughnoneofthesestories

wascompletedtoTolkien’ssatisfactionduringhislifetime,theyrepresentthemostfully

fleshedouttalesinTheSilmarillion,andindeedeachhasnowbeenpublishedasseparate

volumeseditedbysonChristopherTolkieninthelastfewyears.

Asthewardrewtoaclose,TolkienlongedtoreturntoOxford,occupyinghistime

10

inassistingintheproductionoftheOxfordEnglishDictionary,overseeingthehistoryand

GermanicoriginsofwordsbeginningwithW(Gilliveretal.10-28).Tolkien’ssparetime

wasdedicatedtothecompletionofTheBookofLostTales;hewouldworkshop“TheFallof

Gondolin”atExeterCollege’sEssayClub,whereitwaswellreceivedbytheundergraduate

audience(Carpenter107-109).Theearly1920swouldseeTolkientakeuphisfirst

academicpostasanEnglishprofessorattheUniversityofLeeds,whereheandhisyoung

familyfellintoaquiet,comfortablelife(Carpenter109-112).Inearly1925,followingthe

birthofhissecondson,ChristopherReuelinNovemberofthepreviousyear,Tolkiensawa

vacancyfortheProfessorshipofAnglo-SaxonatOxfordUniversity(Carpenter114).Inthe

springof1925,hereturnedtoOxfordUniversitywithafellowshipatPembrokeCollege.

ItwasduringhistimeatPembrokethat,whilegradingpapersintheearly1930,he

foundablankpageand,feelingasuddeninspiration,wrote,“Inaholeinthegroundthere

livedahobbit”(Letters215).By1932,TolkienhadpassedalongamanuscriptofThe

Hobbittohisfriendandcolleague,C.S.Lewis,andatrustedgraduatestudentofTolkien’s,

ElaineGriffith(Carpenter181,183).Bolsteredbytheenthusiasmofhisfirstreaders,

Tolkiensettoworktoquicklyfinishthenoveland,onSeptember21,1937,TheHobbitwas

published(Carpenter184-185).Marketedasachildren’sstory,thebookwasa

tremendoussuccess,withthefirsteditionsoldoutbyChristmasDay;reprintswere

quicklyproduced,containingTolkien’sownillustrationsandThror’sMap(Carpenter186).

FollowingthesuccessofTheHobbit,hispublisherrequestedthatTolkienwriteasequel,

and–aftersomeinitialreservations(seeTally180-181)–hebeganthearduoustaskof

writingwhatbecameTheLordoftheRings.Afternearly12yearsofworkingonthenovel,

itwasfinallyfinishedin1949andthefirstvolumesawpublicationin1954(Carpenter

211-212,220).Decadeslater,themythologyofMiddle-earthhashadaprofoundeffecton

11

theliteraryworld,inspiringitsreadershiptodelvedeeperintothemanyunderlying

influencesofTolkien’sepichigh-fantasytales.

12

3|The Balancing of Good and Evil in Middle-earth

In1953,TolkienreceivedaletterfromFatherRobertMurray,aclosefamilyfriend

oftheTolkiens,whofoundTheLordoftheRingstohave“apositivecompatibilitywiththe

orderofGrace”(Letters172).Inresponse,Tolkienassertedthathisfriendwasquite

perceptivetotheunderlyinginfluencesandmessageofhishigh-fantasynovel,statingthat

“TheLordoftheRingsisofcourseafundamentallyreligiousandCatholicwork;

unconsciouslysoatfirst,butconsciouslyintherevision”(Letters172).TheChristianideas

introducedtoTolkienonaccountofhisCatholicupbringingareaprevailinginfluencein

themanyworksofTolkien,aninfluenceinwhichtheauthorhimselfexpectedtobe

evidenttothereaderwithouthishavingtospellitoutdirectly(Letters288).InTheHobbit,

readerscandiscernvariouswaysinwhichtheideaofDivineProvidenceguidesthehero’s

journeytoitssuccessfulconclusion,andthisrepresentspartofthetacit,yetpowerful,

religiousinfluenceexertedbyTolkien’sCatholicismuponhiswritings.

SinceearlyChristianity,scholarshavesoughttoanswerthequestionofwhy

Godallowseviltoexistintheworld.MedievalistandTolkienscholarTomShippeywould

pointtotheorthodoxChristianviewsofevilfoundinTheLordoftheRings,andthe

influenceofBoethius’sDeConsolationePhilosophiaeonTolkien’snovels(Shippey140).In

Shippey’sestimation,theBoethianviewofevilstatesthatevilistheabsenceofgood,

“possiblyevenanunappreciatedgood,”andthatevildoesnotcreateitself(Shippey140).

Inanessayentitled“TheNatureandOriginofEvilAccordingtotheEasternChristian

Church,”MarinaLuptakovastatesthat“evilisregardedasadeficiency,flaw,imperfection;

assomethingthatbyitsverynaturecannotachievethestateofperfection,asanegationor

13

lossofgood”(Luptakova218).Luptakovagoesfurtherwiththisnotionofevilasalackof

substance;influencedbytheorthodoxChristianoriginsofevil,devilsanddemonicbeings

ofSlavicandGermantalesofoldoftenlackedtangibleforms,beingabletoshapeshiftor

lackinginfacesandnamesaltogether(220).ThisideaisechoedbyFrodoinMordor,ashe

statesthat“theShadow[…]canonlymock,itcannotmake:notrealnewthingsofitsown”

(LordoftheRings893).

Tolkien’sNazgulorRingwraithsperfectlyembodythisideaofevil;oncenoble

humankingsandwarriors,theysawthemselvescorruptedbytheNineRingsofPower,

giventothembySaurontheDeceiver.In“OftheRingsofPowerandtheThirdAge,”which

appearsinTheSilmarillion,theexactoriginsandnatureoftheRingwraithsisrevealedto

thereader:

ThosewhousedtheNineRingsbecamemightyintheirday,kings,sorcerers,and

warriorsofold.Theyobtainedgloryandgreatwealth,yetitturnedtotheir

undoing.Theyhad,asitseemed,unendinglife,yetlifebecameunendurableto

them.Theycouldwalk,iftheywould,unseenbyalleyesinthisworldbeneaththe

sun,andtheycouldseethingsinworldsinvisibletomortalmen;buttoooftenthey

beheldonlythephantomsanddelusionsofSauron.[…]Andtheybecameforever

invisiblesavetohimthatworetheRulingRing,andtheyenteredintotherealmof

shadows.(TheSilmarillion346)

Enslavedbytheringsandtheirowngreed,thesekingswereeventuallyrobbedoftheir

humanityandphysicalform;renderedinvisibletothenakedeye,theycouldonlybeseen

bythosewhocouldlookintothewraithrealm.

EvilandProvidenceplayimportantrolesinmonotheisticreligions.Inhis

unfinishedSummaTheologica,St.ThomasAquinasexaminedthephilosophicalquestionof

14

whyanall-powerfulGodwouldalloweviltoexistinthenaturalworld.Thomaswould

pointtothenecessityofbothphysicalandmoralevilsinordertobringaboutgoodand

righteousdeeds;withouttyrannicalpersecution,forinstance,thepatienceofmartyrs

wouldnotbetested(ThomasI.22.2ad2).DivineProvidence,therefore,allowsforsome

eviltonotonlyexistbuttakeholdintheworldsothatitmayinspirecourageandfoster

goodness.Evilisanecessitytoahero’squest,onethatmedievalistscholarssuchas

Tolkienwouldhaveunderstoodwell.Catholicismteachesthatthisbalanceisimportant,

withoutevil,thenatureofgoodnesswouldhavenomeaning.DivineProvidencemakes

allowancesforbothsothattheremayalwaysbeasavior,guideddownapathtodefeatan

evilhandmadeforhim.

15

4| Providence and the Hero’s Journey in The Hobbit

TheHobbitbeginsbyintroducingthewould-behero,BilboBaggins,arespectable

HobbitoftheShire.BilbolivesasedentarylifeintheidyllicruraltownshipofHobbiton,

makinghishomeinhiscomfortablelittleHobbitholeinBag-End.Yetbeforehistaleeven

begins,forcesunknowntoBilbohavealreadyarmedhimwiththeadventurousstreakthat

wouldtransformhimforahumbleHobbitofthecountrysidetothestuffoflegends.Bilbo

isbornoftheunlikelyunionofthestolidBagginsesandtheadventurousTook-clan,who

were“notentirelyhobbitlike,”withonedistantancestorrumoredtohaveatsomepoint

“takenafairy”bride(Hobbit5).Bilbo’smother,“thefamousBelladonnaTook,”wasoneof

thethreedaughtersofOldTook,thepatriarchwhooversawalltheHobbitswholived

acrosstheriverthatranbyTheHill(Hobbit4-5).GossipamongthoseoftheShireheldthat

membersoftheTook-clanwouldquietlyembarkuponfantasticadventures,onlytoreturn

wealthierthanwhentheyhadleft(Hobbit5).ItispossiblethattheTook-clanmayhave

foundinspirationinfamilytalestoldtoTolkienbyhisAuntGrace(Carpenter26).

Fantasticasthesetaleswere,hisAuntGraceinsistedtheywerebasedintruth;“She

allegedthatthefamilynamehadoriginallybeen‘vonHohenzollum,’”andthatoneGeorge

vonHohenzollumhadfoughtsovaliantlyduringtheSiegeofViennain1529thathehad

earnedthenickname“Tullkühn”whichmeantfoolhardy,andthatthenameandthis

adventurousnaturehadstuck(Carpenter26-27).

ThetalesoftheTolkienfamilywerelikelyexaggerated,butTolkien,muchlikeBilbo

Baggins,gravitatedtowardstherespectabilityofhismother’sSuffieldsideofthefamily

(Carpenter27).WhiletheTooksareviewedaseccentricsbysome,theBagginsesare

16

exemplary;Bilbo’sfatherBungobeingdescribedasa“solidandcomfortable”hobbit

(Hobbit5).Uponmarryinghisonce-adventurousbride,BungoBaggins“builtthemost

luxurioushobbit-holeforher”(Hobbit5).ItisbythisunionthatBilbocametobe,aunion

broughtforthbyProvidenceinordertoassurethatourherowouldhavethequalities

necessaryforthejourneyaheadofhim.BilboisasrespectableandcomfortableaHobbit

ashisfather,Bungo,buttherewouldbetheTookishthirstforadventurethatseemedto

waitfora“chancetocomeout”(Hobbit5).ThisbalancewithinhimallowedfortheTook-

clan’streasureseekingstreaktocoexistwiththeBaggins’srestrainttokeepBilbofrom

everbeingtooreckless,whichitselfsuggeststhatDivineProvidenceputhiminthe

unusualpositionofbeinguniquelysuitedforthehero’squestforwhichhewasbeing

unknowinglyprepared.

Bilbo’sadventuresbeginonequietmorningashestoodinthedoorwayofhis

comfortablehomeenjoyinganafter-breakfastpipe,whenthewizardGandalfappearedat

hisdoorway,bemoaninghisinabilitytofindanadventurerforaquestingpartyhewas

puttingtogether(Hobbit5-7).Uncomfortablewiththeoldwizard’stopicofconversation,

Bilboproclaims,“Weareplainquietfolkandhavenouseforadventures.Nastydisturbing

uncomfortablethings!Makeyoulatefordinner!Ican’tthinkwhatanyoneseesinthem”

(Hobbit7).Thisisnotaltogethertrue,asGandalfhascometoTheHillseveraltimespast,

alwaysreadywithtalesofcourageousadventurestostirtheheartsoftheHobbits,with

somejoininghimonhisjourneysovertheyears(Hobbit6).YetBilboisintenttomakeit

cleartoGandalfthathewillhavenoneofthetroublesofanadventure;politelytryingto

ridhimselfoftheuncomfortableencounterwiththewizard,ahurriedBilboasksGandalf

overforteathefollowingdayandrushesbackintothequietofhisHobbithome(Hobbit

9).SoflusteredisBilbobytheunusualencounterthatheforgetstheinvitationhe

17

extendedwhenhisdoorbellringsthefollowingday,yetitisnotthewizardthatgreetshim

atthedoor;onebyone,thirteendwarvesenterhishome,helpingthemselvestohisstores

offood,drinkandcomfortablefurniture,tobejoinedbyGandalf(Hobbit9-13).The

dwarvesbegintodiscussanadventurethatrequiresa“burglar,”andGandalfcaststhe

dwarves’misgivingstowardBilboaside,assuringthemthathehashandpickedBilbofor

thetask(Hobbit23).Whilethetalkofdangerousdragonsandsneakingaboutfrightens

Bilbo,healsofindshimselfexcitedandinterestedbytheprospect,“Tookishlydetermined

togoonwiththings”(Hobbit24-25).Thefollowingmorning,thedwarveshaveseemingly

vanished,andBilboisatoncedisappointedandrelievedthattheburdenofanadventure

hasbeenliftedfromhisshoulders,thatis,untilhediscoversanoteleftbyThorin,the

leaderofthecompanyandrightfulKingundertheMountain,thankinghimnotonlyforhis

hospitalitybutforextendinghisservicestothepartyastheirburglar-to-be(Hobbit32-

33).RushedalongbyGandalf,wefindourheromakinghastnotonlytomeetthedwarves,

buttobeginhisunexpectedjourney.

Thingsdon’tbeginsmoothlyforouradventurers;arashofbadweatherstalkstheir

progressanddampensthejovialmood(Hobbit35-36).Duringthenight,thepartyspiesa

fireshiningthroughthedarkness,andtheybeckonBilbotoinvestigateitsorigins(Hobbit

38).Bilbo’sHobbitfeetaffordhimtheabilitytoquietlysneakuptothesourceofthelight,

acampfireatwhichthreetrollswarmthemselves(Hobbit39).Thisencounterwiththe

trollsnearlyputsBilboandthedwarves’journeytoanend;anoverzealousBilbo,wanting

toprovehissaltasaburglar,liftsapursefromoneofthetrolls’pocketsandisfoundout

(Hobbit40-41).Onebyone,thedwarvesarecapturedastheycometoinvestigatethefire

forthemselvesandallseemslostuntilGandalfreappears;throughhiscleverness,the

trollsarestalled,bickeringwithoneanotheruntilthedawnturnsthemtostone(Hobbit

18

47).

Theparty,nowfreed,continuetheirjourneyandarrivesafelyinRivendell,where

theymeetthewiseelfElrond(Hobbit57-58).Theirwoundsaremended,andprovisions

replenishedbythegenerouselves.Elrond,beingknowledgeableof“runesofeverykind”,

inspectstheirplunderfromthetrolls’cave,andthengoesontoexaminethemapin

Gandalf’spossession,Thror’sMap,whichindicatesasecretentrancetotheLonely

Mountain(Hobbit59).Elrondraisesthemaptowardsthelightofasilvermidsummer

crescentmoontoreadanddiscoversittocontainmoon-letters,runeswhich“canonlybe

seenwhenthemoonshinesbehindthem[…]andwhatismore,”headds,“itmustbea

moonofthesameshapeandseasonasthedaywhentheywerewritten”(Hobbit59).

Elrondtellsthepartythatthemoon-letterswereinventedbythedwarvesagesago,asa

cunningwayofconcealingmessages.Themessagereads,“Standbythegreystonewhen

thethrushknocks[…]andthesettingsunwiththelastlightofDurin’sDaywillshineupon

thekeyhole”(Hobbit60).Thus,itwouldseemthattheparty’smisadventurewiththetrolls

isoneofthefirstinstancesinwhichDivineProvidenceassistsouradventurersalongon

theirquest.Haditnotbeenforthehours-longdelay,Bilboandthedwarveswouldn’thave

arrivedattheopportunemomentforElrondtomaketherunediscoveryonthemap.Itis

thisdiscoverythatarmsBilboandthedwarveswiththeknowledgeoftheLonely

Mountainkeyhole;hadProvidencenotseenfittostallthem,thekeyhole’sexistencewould

havegoneundiscovered.Thenarratorhighlightstheweightofthisbytellingusthatthis

unlikelyalignmentwouldnotoccuragainuntil“goodnessknowswhen”(Hobbit60).

Armedwiththeinformationgatheredinthedwarvenmapdecryptedbythewise

Elrond,theseheroesmaketheirwaytowardstheLonelyMountaininsearchofthe

keyhole,whichwillallowthemtogainaccesstoitshiddendepths.AlreadyDivine

19

Providencehasfacilitatedtheirquestbyempoweringthemwiththeknowledgeofthe

keyhole’sexistence,yetitgoesastepfurther.Thekeyholetothedoorisonlyvisiblebythe

lastlightofDurin’sDay.Inhisbook,TheChristianWorldofTheHobbit,DevinBrown

explorestheroleProvidenceplaysonBilbo’sjourney,particularlythediscoveryofthe

moon-runesinthemonthsbeforeDurin’sDay.“ThorinexplainsthatDurin’sDayoccurs

whenthelastmoonofautumnandthesunarevisibleintheskytogether”(Brown44).The

dwarfThoringoesontoexplainsthattheknowledgeofwhenthisdwarves’NewYear

occurshaslongbeenlost,apessimisticproclamationcomingontheheelsoftheparty’s

discoveryoftherunesonlymomentsbefore;yetGandalf,perhapsknowingly,isnot

deterred,declaringthatit“remainstobeseen”thatthisknowledgewon’tsooncomein

handy(Hobbit60).

Circumstanceswouldonceagainseeourheroesderailedontheirjourneytothe

LonelyMountain;run-inswithgoblinsseethemspiritedawaybyGandalf’seaglefriends,

andanencounterwithmonstrousspidersinMirkwoodfurtherdelaytheparty’sarrivalat

theLonelyMountain.Yetthepartygetsbackontrackandissoontravelingbyriver,where

theyseethetoweringMountain,“grimandtall,”beforethem(Hobbit219).Yetafter

settingupcampatthefootofthemountain,theirspiritsbegintofallasdaysanddaysgo

byofblindlysearchingforthekeyholeinthevainhopethatitwillbefoundbyluck(Hobbit

219-222).WhentheydofindthedoormarkedonThorin’smap,theypush,buttonoavail;

thekeyholewouldneedtobefoundinordertoopenthedoor(Hobbit224).Bilboresigns

himselftosittingatthedoorwayandthinking;hisdaydreamingisinterruptedbyasharp

crackingnoisebehindhim(Hobbit228).Turningtofindtheoriginofthesound,Bilbosees

that“Thereonthegreystoneinthegrasswasanenormousthrush,nearlycoalblack,with

itspaleyellowbreastfreckledwithdarkspots”(Hobbit228).Rememberingtheruneson

20

themap,Bilbocriesouttothedwarvestoreturn;upontestingthekeyunderthelastrays

ofsunlightandarisingmoon,thedooropensforourheroes(Hobbit228-229).HadBilbo

notbeenattheprecisespottohearthelittlethrush’sknockingonthegreystone,our

heroes’talewouldhavecometoanend,andtheDwarveswouldhavelosttheirchanceat

glory,“thesecretdoortotheLonelyMountainwouldhaveremainedshutforever”(Brown

44).Onceagain,DivineProvidencehasseenfittoguideBilboalongonhisquest.

AwonderfulexampleofDivineProvidenceinTheHobbitandperhapsTolkien’sworksasa

wholestandstobeBilbo’sfindingofamagicring;whilethering’ssignificanceisrevised

lateroninordertofitthegrandnarrativeofTheLordoftheRings,itisstillworthyof

mentioninBilbo’sstoryasitenableshimtocontinuehishero’squest.Indeed,there’slittle

questionthatBilboortheDwarvescouldhavesurvivedtheirencounterwiththespiders

ortheircaptivitybytheElvesofMirkwoodForestwereitnotfortheadvantages,

especiallytheinvisibility,giventoBilbobythemagicring.Bilbotraversesthealmost

mazelikepassagesbeneaththeMistyMountainsafterbeingseparatedfromtherestofhis

dwarvenparty.Itisherethatheblindlytouchesthemagicringlostbythecreature

Gollum.“Hehadheardofsuchthings[…]butitwashardtobelievehehadfoundone,by

accident”(Hobbit94).ItwouldseemasthoughBilboweredivinelyordainedinhistaskof

findingthering,“guidedbyaforcelargerthanhimself,aforcethatcaresabouthiswell-

beingandcarethathismissionsucceeds”(Brown48).

21

5|The Lasting Effects of Providence in The Lord of the Rings

Thefar-reachingeffectsofprovidenceareatplaywellbeyondthepagesofTheHobbit,

asBilbo’sactionsinfluencethecourseoftheFellowship’sadventuresinTheLordofthe

Rings.FollowingBilbo’sfindingofthemagicringandhisdubioustriumphduringthe

riddle-gamewithGollum,Bilboisrenderedinvisiblebythering’spowersandhasachance

tokillthecreature,yetheultimatelydecidesagainstit:

Bilboalmoststoppedbreathing,andwentstiffhimself.Hewasdesperate.Hemust

getaway,outofthishorribledarkness,whilehehadanystrengthleft.Hemust

fight.Hemuststabthefoulthing,putitseyesout,killit.Itmeanttokillhim.No,not

afairfight.Hewasinvisiblenow.Gollumhadnosword.Gollumhadnotactually

threatenedtokillhim,ortriedtoyet.Andhewasmiserable,alone,lost.Asudden

understanding,apitymixedwithhorror,welledupinBilbo'sheart:aglimpseof

endlessunmarkeddayswithoutlightorhopeofbetterment,hardstone,coldfish,

sneakingandwhispering.(Hobbit96)

Lateron,inTheLordoftheRings,FrodoandGandalfdiscussedGollum’sroleinthe

eventssurroundingthering,withFrodoexpressinglittlepityforthedepravedcreature,

lamenting:“apitythatBilbodidnotstabthatvilecreature,whenhehadthechance!”Yet

Gandalf,perhapsbemusedasunderstandstheforcesatwork,declaresthat“ItwasPity

thatstayedhishand.PityandMercy:nottostrikewithoutneed.Andhehasbeenwell

rewarded,Frodo.Besurethathetooksolittlehurtfromtheevil,andescapedintheend,

becausehebeganownershipoftheRingso.Withpity”(LordoftheRings58).Thisactof

benevolentmercydemonstratestheworkingsofDivineProvidence,asGollum’spartinthe

22

storyisnotconcludedinthemazelikecavesoftheMistyMountain.Itisultimatelythis

pitifulcreaturethatwouldinadvertentlycompletethehero’squestofthedestructionof

thecursedring.AttheclimacticmomentofTheLordoftheRings,havingwrestledthering

fromFrodointhedepthsofMountDoom,Gollumdancesinvictory,atlastreunitedwith

his“precious”(LordoftheRings925).Yethisjoyiscutshort,ashetakesafatalsteptoofar

andfallsintothefiresbelow,destroyingtheringintheprocess.Gollum’sendisthusa

predestinedone,decidedbyDivineProvidence.InTheMythologyofMiddle-earth,Tolkien

scholarRuthS.NoelexplorestheroleoffateinMiddle-earth.

InTheLordoftheRings,theGuardiansoftheWorld,theValar,invoke

certainrulesandprohibitionsonthepeoplesofMiddle-earth.…Inmanycasesthe

Valardeterminedthepatternofevents.ThisiswhatGandalfmeantwhenhesaid

thatBilbohadbeenmeanttofindtheRingandthatGollumwouldstillplayafateful

partintheRing’shistory.(Noel18)

ThelowlyGollumwasalwaysdestinedtobethedestroyeroftheoneRing;ittoo

waspredestinedthatBilboshouldsparethecreature’slifesothathewouldlivetoplayhis

part.Indeed,whatiscalled‘chance’inMiddle-earthseemslessserendipitousandpoints

moretowardsthecoaxingofeventsbytheValarofMiddle-earthtobringabout

occurrences.

In“TheQuestforErebor,”FrodorecallsGandalf’smusingaboutthestrangechainof

eventsthatledto“thejourneytoErebor,whyhethoughtofBilbo,andhowhepersuaded

theproudThorinOakenshieldtotakehimintohiscompany”(Tolkien335).Troubledby

theloomingdangerspresentedbytheresurgenceofSauronandhispreparationsforwar,

GandalfjourneystotheShiretoseeksomerespitefromtheturmoilhauntinghisthoughts.

OntheoutskirtsofBree,GandalfwouldcomeuponThorinOakenshield,whosoughthis

23

councilonretrievingthetreasuresofhisforefathersandexactingrevengeonthedragon

Smaug;eagerasGandalfistoseeSmaugdefeated,forfearthatthedragonwouldjoin

Sauron’sgrowingforces,thewizardseesnoclearpathtovictory.Seeminglywithoutaim,

GandalftakeshisleaveofthedwarftocontinuehiswanderingsthroughtheShire;“Itwas

astrangebusiness.Ididnomorethanfollowtheleadof'chance,'andmademanymistakes

ontheway”(Tolkien336).Yetinhistravels,GandalfwouldrecallthestrangelittleHobbit

BilboBaggins,whosecommuningwithdwarvesandthirstforwildtalesmadehimthe

missingpieceofGandalf’splantodefeatSmaug.Yethavingthebattle-readyThorinandthe

soft-footedBilbowouldnothavebeenenough,haditnotbeenforGandalf’suncoveringof

Thror’smapandkeysomeyearsbefore;“Ihadnotthoughtofthemforyears.Itwasnot

untilIgottotheShireandhadtimetoreflectonThorin'stalethatIsuddenlyremembered

thestrangechancethathadputtheminmyhands;anditbegannowtolooklesslike

chance”(Tolkien338).Gandalfhimselfrealizesthatnothingistrulylefttochance;

ProvidencesawfittoequipthewizardwiththetoolsneededforthejourneytoErebor

longbeforetheneedforsuchajourneyhadevencrossedthewizard’smind.Inreflecting

withFrodooverhowdifferentlyeventsmighthavegone,Gandalfpaintsagrimpictureof

“dragon-fireandsavageswords…”,afatethatwasaverted“becauseImetThorin

OakenshieldoneeveningontheedgeofspringnotfarfromBree.Achance-meeting,aswe

sayinMiddle-earth”(Tolkien340).

24

|Conclusion

TheinvisiblehandofProvidencenotonlyplayedaroleintheverycreationofMiddle-

earthbyTolkien,butalsoshowsitselfinthemanyinstancesweencounterasreaders

throughoutTheHobbit.Theunusualcircumstanceswhichleadtotheunionofthe

adventurousTookandtherespectableBagginsfamiliesbringaboutBilboBaggins,who

wouldgoontoplayanimportantroleintheeventsofTheHobbitandTheLordofthe

Rings.TheserendipitoustimingofElrond’sdiscoveryofthemoonscriptonthemap,the

findingoftheringbythelostlittlehobbit,andthehappenstanceoftheparty’sarrivalat

thelocationoftheLonelyMountainkeyholeweremomentsthatmadeourheroesinto

legends.EventhemercyshownbyBilbotothecreatureGollumhasaprofoundeffecton

eventswellafterBilbo’sownadventureshavecometoanend;asGandalfwiselytells

youngFrodo,“thepityofBilbomayrulethefateofmany”(LordoftheRings58).Bilbo’s

transformationisnotleftuptochance,havingbeenfacilitatedbyDivineProvidence.It

makesitselfknowntothereaderandBilbowhenGandalfdeclaresthatBilbo’s“adventures

andescapes”werenevertheresultofluck,leastofallforhis“solebenefit”(Hobbit330).It

isaptthatthewiseGandalfshouldactasamessengerfortheunknownforcesof

ProvidenceinMiddle-earth;“MiraclesareclearlyfromGod.Providenceisalways

‘perhaps,’exceptwhenGodinScripturetellsusHeisworkingbehindthescenes”(May

69).TolkienleavesuswiththeknowledgethatDivineProvidenceisatwork“supporting,

[and]nourishingus”inwaysthatwecannotseeorperhapscomprehend(Brown79).

Tolkienlendscredencetothenotionthat,inspiteofBilbo’sbeing“quitealittlefellowina

wideworld,”theseunseenforcesofprovidenceguideourherowithgreatcareand

compassion(Hobbit330).

25

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