(Just thought of this while replying to the "Writing style" thread.)
Let's not only salute Bilbo the non-conformist and historian, but Bilbo the Peace-Maker!
Remember that in the Hobbit, Bilbo stops a disasterous war between the races, using only his wits and his very Hobbitish outlook on life. Elrond, who has seen his share of war and bloodshed throughout his long life, must have loved the old Hobbit for this alone.
To the elves, Bilbo in Rivendell must have been as facinating a character to them as an Elf would be if you dropped him into your neighborhood. As much as Bilbo admired the history, art and poetry of the Elder Race, perhaps many of the elves would look on Bilbo's "Hobbit sense" and the ability to look at life with a light-hearted attitude and take it to heart. Bilbo must have seemed like a breath of fresh air to a race wrapped in the melancholy of the ages.
[ May 24, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]
|