Session 2: Bilbo’s Vanishment

[MachoManMal]

It always seemed a bit odd to me that when Bilbo vanished they scorned him, even going so far as to call him mad. Yes the joke (cause that’s what they think it was) was in bad taste, but how much worse taste than most of Bilbo’s other jokes? I think what may have happened is that the Hobbits there, also sort of made the connection to Bilbo’s original disappearance. Some of them would look down on him, because they think he is just trying to further his legend and gain more fame, by “vanishing” again. He’s just a greedy old man looking for fame and fortune who uses crazy pranks and tricks to become a sort of legend.

But many of the hobbits, especially the youngest ones, may start to wonder about his original disappearance. Was that all just a prank too? Did he just pretend to vanish and then unexpectedly show back up in the nick of time, just to gain fame or play a prank. Is he a mad man, who goes to unbearable lengths to gain fame and money and have some fun?

Just thought I’d throw these theories out. Do you think it’s possible this was at least partly at play in some of the hobbits minds that night?

 

[Bruce N H]

I think the main thing lies in just the Hobbit preference for normalcy and predictability. Think back to the start of the Hobbit. Going on adventures was not a thing respectable hobbits did. So for this venerable old hobbit, richest in the region, and seemingly settled down since his crazy younger days, goes and does something like vanish with a flash and a bang! It's just rude, I'll tell you what.

Bruce