Discussion Topic

The dwarves' changing attitude toward Bilbo after the spider attack in The Hobbit

Summary:

After the spider attack in The Hobbit, the dwarves' attitude toward Bilbo changes significantly. They gain a newfound respect for him, recognizing his bravery and resourcefulness in rescuing them. This marks a turning point in their relationship, as they begin to see Bilbo as a valuable and capable member of their group rather than just a burden.

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In The Hobbit, how does the dwarves' attitude toward Bilbo change after the spiders' attack?

The Chapter you want to look at is Chapter 8 for the answer to this question. Let us remember that before the battle with the spiders Bilbo Baggins hadn't really done that much to help the group - he had been perhaps more of a hindrance than a help in their eyes. Therefore, what he is able to do in terms of freeing all of the dwarves single-handedly and the way that he is able to show himself a valiant warrior in fighting the spiders immediately changes their impressions of him. Chapter 8 says:

These questions they asked over and over again, and it was from little Bilbo they seemed to expect to get the answers. From which you can see that they had changed their opinion of Mr. Baggins very much, and had begun to have a great respect for him (as Gandalf had said they would)... They knew...

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only too well that they would soon all have been dead, if it had not been for the hobbit; and they thanked him many times. Some of them even got up and bowed right to the ground before him, though they fell over with the effort, and could not get on their legs again for some time.

The text goes on to say that even though they knew about the existence of his magic ring, this did not diminish the new-found respect they had for Bilbo, because his exploits had shown that he has wits as well as "luck and a magic ring."

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In The Hobbit, how does the dwarves' attitude toward Bilbo change after the spider attack?

Prior to Bilbo's saving the dwarves from the spiders, the dwarves view Bilbo in a very condescending way.  They accept him as a travelling companion only because Gandalf has told them that they must, but overall, they view him as a nuisance.  After he saves them, however, they begin to treat him with awe.  Especially since they do not know that Bilbo has the ring to turn him invisible, they believe that he has saved them by his own cunning and power, and they are amazed that he not only did not get captured by the spiders himself, but also that he was able to free all the rest of them from their peril.  An evidence of their change in attitude toward him is when they are waiting to get into the Smaug's lair and trying to decide what to do next, they actually ask him his opinion of what should be done. 

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