After reading two novels about the adventures of two teenage boys I was glad to get off that recurring theme. But now after I have read the first half of The Hobbit I have learned that some themes are quit similar throughut all the books. Although Hobbit is about a totally different topic than the other two there is still one constant theme, consisting of maturation. I have seen the Hobbit go from a selfish, self-centered Hobbit to a person that cares about others, and one who is willing to sacrifice himself to help others. In Catcher in the Rye, Holden matured a great deal by learning to cope with others. In Huck Finn, Huck matured a great deal as well. He learned how to survive in society, and not to let others take advantage of him. The Hobbit is not a teenager, but he still matured a great deal even as an adult. In Chapter One he did not want to help Gandolf at all, and he did not really want to go on the mission, but after Gandolf left the adventure he started to show a great deal of maturation. He saved the Dwarves not once but twice, and he gained their respect and admiration. In the Dwarves point of view he went from a person tagging along with them due to the request of Gandolf all the way to their leader and then the protector of them. So the main recurring theme I have found in these three novels has been maturation.
InThe Hobbit it amazed me how the style of the written was so conversational. J.R.R. Tolkien tells the story as if he was sitting there talking to you. For example in the first chapter he actually explains what a hobbit is, describing it in great detail. By the great deal of description and his conversational style he really brings the reader into the story, by drawing a picture in the reader's mind. The style and subject matter are truly unique, which leads to extremly entertaining reading. This is probabaly why Tolkien's works are so popular and why he is such an acclaimed author.
Since the first part of the story of the story Bilbo has seemed to mature, a lot. But it seems as that the Dwarves have not. In chapter fourteen when they got to the treasure the Dwarves got all carried away with greed, and they were bewitched by the treasure. While Bilbo seems to remain down-to-earth, and when he sees himself in the armor he knows that he looks foolish. Bilbo always seems to stay on the right track without getting caught up in what is going on. He turns Dwarves who will not let them get carried away as well. He always seems to know hot to act in different situations. No wonder why Gandolf had so much trust in him.
At the end of the novel the attack of the Goblins was in many ways beneficial. It prevents a tragic war between the Dwarves and the Elves. This message from J.R.R. Tolkien is that squabble over gold are very petty. It is the basic theme that the forces of good unite against a common evil, in a desperate fight for survival. In this fight even Thorin, and his companions are able to redeem themselves from their selfishness. Teh forces of good prevails over greed and evil to make The Hobbit a typical novel written about good versuses evil. Good always seems to prevail.