Quote:
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Originally Posted by LMP
You know what happens next. The italicized section is the temptation. The first underlined section is Bilbo's conscience at work. The bold is new insight; it could be argued that this new insight finds Bilbo a passive receiver ... that is, he receives the insight; from where? Inside himself? Perhaps. But the second underlined section is clearly passive. Bilbo is lifted by a new strength and resolve. It's not something that he generated for himself, it was something he received. In other words, it was given to him. By whom? It has all the earmarks of grace received. This is beyond the ability of the Valar, and can only come from one Source. Thus, this is an example of 'consciously Christian in the revision'.
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Of course, that is the revised version (I gave the original version
here So we are dealing with a change after the event. Tolkien is attempting to integrate TH into the Legendarium at this point, & Bilbo's story has changed, as has his character to an extent. I suppose it could be argued that the the fairy story world of TH has now been absorbed into the 'High, mythological world' of The Sil. (& changed for the worse in the process, some of us would argue). Bilbo has become a more 'Christian' hero & is now responding in a more 'Christian' way.
Yet, one could argue that these changes are not necessarily 'Christian' at all - we find the same kind of acts of 'compassion' in the heroes of fairy story. The change in Bilbo's character is necessitated by the change in Gollums', due to LotR, not by the need to make Bilbo more 'Christian'. The more of a 'victim' Gollum becomes the more understanding & compassionate Bilbo must become - or perhaps one could say the less of a 'monster' Gollum becomes the more 'human' Bilbo must become. Circumstances alter cases.