Bilbo, in The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien

As the book, The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien begins to conclude, Thorin Oakenshield sees the goodness in Bilbo Baggins and apprehends the most significant parts of life. Since the beginning, Thorin’s principle objective is to become the King under the Mountain and to have all the gold and treasure. While Thorin is on his deathbed he tells Bilbo, "There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." Unlike the dwarfs, Bilbo cherishes friendship and merriment over gold and wealth. He shows this by placing his life in danger numerous times by escaping ferocious goblins and killing giant spiders to save Thorin and the other dwarfs. Bilbo cares more about others than himself, and Thorin notices how fortunate they are to have such a wise individual as a friend.

Because of the goodness in Bilbo, he declines the treasure. It is offered to him since a promise was made in the beginning for him to receive and equal portion of the riches. He refuses the treasure because he feels that the most precious possession he has is the friendship with the dwarfs and others that he encounters along the way. Also, Bilbo enjoys near death experiences and thrills that accompany the quest for the mountain. Although, from Bilbo’s words, he makes it seem as if the only reason he does not take the treasure home is that his pony will only carry two chests. Bilbo also thinks he did enough harm and becomes weary. He just wants to be back in his hobbit-hole. What use would Bilbo have for the whole treasure? Bilbo was content without the riches which is why he declines the treasure.

Thorin changes drastically by the end of the book. Now, Thorin’s quest is now fulfilled since he returned the mountain to the dwarfs reign. For many years, a dragon, Smaug, took over the mountain until when Thorin and his company claim the mountain again. Another part of his quest was to have the Heart of the Mountain, the Arkenstone. He accomplished that when it was laid upon his breast by Bard, a friend, and Bard exclaimed, "There it lay till the Mountain falls!" His death was necessary for the theme of the book to teach that kindness is superior of treasure.