I reread The Hobbit for the first time in years, and it was interesting it view it in a different light. When I was younger, it was just an epic fantasy novel. Now, more themes and deeper meanings became evident. Bilbo's quest follows the hero's journey almost exactly. Heroism is a theme in The Hobbit, and while the novel is defined by many common fantasy tropes, the idea of the "hero" is a bit more complicated. Heroism is comprised of multiple elements, and characters who are skilled in only one of them find themselves falling short of their goals. Bilbo is different, despite not beginning the novel as a hero, he finds he acquires the skills required to be successful on his journey.
While Bilbo isn't the traditional "coming of age" protagonist, his quest still taught him to grow up. By having a full grown character as the protagonist, Tolkien highlights how we are never truly done growing and maturing. Bilbo's experiences help him to become stronger and more independent, which could not have happened if he had stayed home and not gone on this quest.
Despite the changes Bilbo undergoes throughout his quest, he never truly rejects the life he had before his adventure. This theme is prevalent throughout, with Bilbo having regrets and wanting to return home when the adventure is done. Even though he grows throughout the novel, he never forgets where he came from, just begins viewing it with a new perspective.
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