In J.R.R. Tolkien's appendices of The Lord of the Rings, we learn that Sept. 22 is the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Fans around the world have thus declared this day "Hobbit Day" and celebrate with hobbit-style feasts, movie marathons, or listening to Leonard Nimoy's "Ballad of Bilbo Baggins." We're getting in on the celebrations by discussing some of the hobbits and how crucial they were in saving Middle-earth from doom.
At first glance, hobbits seem like the least likely heroes. But that is one of the major points of The Lord of the Rings: even the smallest and most humble can make the biggest impact. And each of the following hobbits drives that point home in numerous ways.
Bilbo Baggins
Bilbo Baggins became the first well-known hobbit outside of the Shire in generations due to his role as thief for the dwarves in The Hobbit. And if it weren't for Bilbo, Sauron would have gotten the ring as soon as he sent the Nazgûl after Gollum. His riddle that wasn't a riddle, though unfair in Gollum's eyes, was the very thing that kept Middle-earth from succumbing to evil much sooner.
With his sense of adventure, Bilbo was seen as a black sheep among hobbits, but that worked to his advantage. He was able to weed out true friends from those who only wanted his riches. Bilbo's tales also inspired many of the younger generation of hobbits, without whom the ring might very well have been found in the Shire by the Nazgûl.
Frodo Baggins
Bilbo's nephew and adopted heir, Frodo, was one of the younger hobbits who loved hearing the tales of adventure Bilbo told. Their imaginations were filled with dwarves, elves, dragons, and rings, though only a select few heard anything about magic jewelry. Frodo was entrusted with managing Bilbo's estate after he went off on another "adventure," which meant fending off nosy neighbors and relatives looking for Bilbo's treasure.
More obviously, Frodo's role in saving Middle-earth was his choosing to be the ring-bearer. Frodo had enough adventure by the time he reached Rivendell, longing for his hobbit hole. But he felt responsible for the ring he had become the steward of, and he chose to embark on the most dangerous journey of his life. He would be irrevocably changed, suffering mental torment and emotional exhaustion for the rest of his days, but he still bravely chose to step up.
Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
When it came to annoying relatives who skulked around Bag End, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins was the worst of them all. She was always coveting Bag End and was furious when Bilbo left his home to Frodo. So, what role could she have possibly played in saving Middle-earth? Well, we don't see it in the movies, but in the books, she fought valiantly even in her old age during Saruman's invasion of the Shire.
Lobelia stood up to Saruman and his forces, ultimately being imprisoned for her refusal to comply. She even attacked one of the men with her umbrella rather than submit. After being freed by Frodo, she gave him back Bag End, along with her money, to help hobbits who had lost their homes. Thanks to her redemption arc, the Shire was rebuilt.
Farmer Maggot
Farmer Maggot was another hobbit who proved that courage isn't measured by physical size. in the books, the halfling did not cower when the Nazgûl came to the Shire. He acted the same way he did when the young hobbits stole some of the vegetables from his garden. Farmer Maggot yelled at the Nazgûl and threatened to send his dogs after the evil creature if it didn't leave immediately.
Farmer Maggot was also helpful to Frodo, and the others when they were trying to sneak out of the Shire with the ring. He told them about his encounter with a Black Rider when they showed up on his land. He offered to feed them and gave them a ride in his wagon to Bucklebury Ferry. It may seem small, but Farmer Maggot's actions saved the lives of our favorite hobbits, which in turn saved Middle-earth.
Fatty Bolger
Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger was a good friend of Frodo's in the books, and he was one of the few who knew about the ring. He helped Frodo escape the Black Riders by dressing as Frodo and living in his home so that no one would suspect Frodo had left. He also gave Frodo guidance on what paths to take to leave the Shire.
When Saruman's forces took over the Shire, Fatty fought against them as a resistance leader. He was imprisoned for his part in the hobbits' rebellion and was starved until he couldn't go by his nickname anymore. He was also instrumental in rebuilding the Shire after the war.
Pippin Took
Peregrin "Pippin" Took may be most well-known by Gandalf's moniker, "Fool of a Took," but without Pippin, Gondor could very well have fallen. If Denethor, Steward of Gondor, had been able to burn Faramir on the funeral pyre, the city of Minas Tirith would have been lost to chaos without any leadership. Thankfully, Pippin saved Faramir, and thereby saved all the citizens of Gondor.
Before Gondor, Pippin played a big role in the Ents taking back Isengard. He convinced Treebeard and the others to fight Saruman. Even with some of his foolish choices, Pippin was brave and loyal. He fought in the Scouring of the Shire and, after the war, served as a militia leader for years.
Merry Brandybuck
Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck was a good friend to Frodo, Fatty, Pippin, and Farmer Maggot in the books. He was also Frodo's cousin. He was good with strategy and planning, helping to coordinate their plans to flee the Shire with the ring.
Merry won the favor of King Théoden of Rohan and became a squire for the knights of Rohan. Though he was not allowed to take part in the Battle of Pelennor Fields, Merry snuck in anyway and fought the Witch-king of Angmar. His stabbing of the Witch-king with his enchanted sword was the only thing that weakened the enemy enough to be killed. Merry was knighted for his courage and fought to free the Shire after coming home.
Samwise Gamgee
If you were to look up "loyalty" in Tolkien's copy of the dictionary, you would find Samwise Gamgee. It is often argued that without Sam, the whole mission would have failed, and Sauron would have won. He took his job as Frodo's companion very seriously, and Frodo would not have made it as far as he did without Sam.
Sam saved Frodo's life many times, and even carried the ring to continue the mission when he thought that Frodo had died. Sam, as a three-foot-tall hobbit, managed to injure Shelob enough that the giant spider and child of Ungoliant retreated. He also carried Frodo when Frodo was too weak to continue. He gave Frodo hope when there was none to be found, and when they returned to the Shire, he fought just as courageously as the hobbits with more battle experience.
Whether the parts they played seem tiny or monumental, these hobbits each contributed to the rebuilding of light and hope in all of Middle-earth. So, when you celebrate Hobbit Day, remember to raise a glass to all those small-of-stature and stout-of-heart, knowing that without the hobbits, the world would be a much darker place.