In continuation of my series of posts about JRR Tolkien’s masterpiece, The Hobbit, I’m focusing on a new aspect of the novel I so love: the problem of success. That might sound like an odd topic to speak about in general, and you might find it even stranger as a focus for the tale of Bilbo Baggins, but I believe the story highlights some critical points on the subject.
Just as in real life, the hobbit and his thirteen dwarf companions, headed by Thorin Oakenshield, are focused on a goal: taking back the Lonely Mountain and its untold riches. While success in attaining that would bring untold wealth, it would also set right an injustice from long ago, returning to the dwarves what’s rightfully theirs.
To reach the Lonely Mountain, the fourteen travelers plus Gandalf must face many challenges ranging from the dangers of the Misty Mountains to the dark depths of Mirkwood. In life we must often navigate challenging paths to reach our own goals. Just like us, they of course hope to successfully traverse each obstacle without any major setbacks.
Those wishes are frustrated at just about every turn. Yet the trials the dwarves and hobbit endure on their journey not only help forge them into more resilient beings able to withstand what comes later, each one comes with another benefit the party wouldn’t have enjoyed had everything gone smoothly with their plans.
For example, had the group not been taken captive by the Goblin King and Bilbo had not been separated during the chaotic escape, he never would’ve found the One Ring. While that small thing later becomes quite the burden, had it not gone to the safety of the Shire and passed into the hands of Frodo, all of Middle Earth would’ve been lost.
Another benefit of a setback rather than an immediate success comes when the group is forced to climb trees to escape a pack of wargs. As goblins show up and the heroes face being burned alive, eagles miraculously rescue them from that fate. Had it not been for their interactions with the majestic winged creatures, explaining what was afoot in Middle Earth, the eagles might not have come to their aid in the middle of the Battle of the Five Armies.
A tremendous example of the problem of success as illustrated in The Hobbit comes with the journey through Mirkwood. Gandalf sets the group on a path through the treacherous forest, warning them to not leave the track cut through the woods. Later, destitute, the dwarves do just that, trying to beg for food from elf parties until they become utterly lost. After a brush with spiders, they’re all captured by the elves and taken prisoner, save Bilbo.
Later, after hatching an ingenious plan to get away via barrels in the river, the hobbit learns from overhearing raftsmen that the path Gandalf had told them to follow had become impassible, even dangerous on the other side of Mirkwood. Had they followed it, they might have perished or at the very least faced a difficult time reaching Lake-town and their ultimate goal. So the setback of losing the path and being captured turned into an unexpected benefit.
Through these examples, one can learn that sometimes what seems like a setback, and it might even truly be one, instead of success in life can in fact turn into a blessing. After all, sometimes just winning turns into ultimately losing, for a variety of reasons. Think on that the next time you feel like life has only served up trials and setbacks. Those who seem to have everything go right are living the problem of success, and they might not realize it until the effect has built up over time.
On that note, once the dwarves and hobbit do retake the Lonely Mountain and sit on a pile of riches, that success generates some serious trials as others come to lay claim on a portion or all of the treasure. Sometimes, the very thing people revere as making it in life can lead to trials and challenges one might have never imagined were possible. That’s another problem of success that’s rarely touched upon.
Image credit JRR Tolkien
Steven Symes 