Post by Vanya Calathiel on Nov 24, 2007 18:34:18 GMT
Characters within Tolkien's works consider Hobbits to be a separate race from Men, but Tolkien made it clear that they are actually an offshoot of the race of Men; they and the "Big Folk" are far more closely related to each other than to either Elves or Dwarves. Thus Hobbits are among the Younger Children of Eru Ilúvatar and are the result of the same act of creation as Men. This would imply that Hobbits have the Gift of Men to pass entirely beyond Arda, which also means that the avoidance of the Gift of Men in Hobbits, like in Men, can be physically and morally destructive. Sméagol, who had originally been a Hobbit, was transformed into the monster Gollum by a combination of the evil of the One Ring and the resulting avoidance of the Gift of Men. Bilbo Baggins became "thin and stretched" from the immortality that the One Ring granted to him, since neither Men nor Hobbits are intended for immortality in this world. Men and Hobbits appear to have the same spiritual nature.
In the animated adaption of The Return of the King when Gandalf is asked what will become of Hobbits when Humans rule the world. He states that Pippin and Merry are unusually tall for Hobbits and this trend will continue until the distinction between Hobbit and Human is completely lost due to interbreeding.
In the animated adaption of The Return of the King when Gandalf is asked what will become of Hobbits when Humans rule the world. He states that Pippin and Merry are unusually tall for Hobbits and this trend will continue until the distinction between Hobbit and Human is completely lost due to interbreeding.