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Dramatic Irony
Definition of Ethos
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Ethos is an argument that appeals to... read full definition
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Ethos is... read full definition
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective... read full definition
Chapter 1: An Unexpected Journey
Explanation and Analysis—Trust in Bilbo:
In Chapter 1, the dwarves and Bilbo all begin to think Gandalf is mistaken to believe that Bilbo is the right choice to round out the adventuring party. When Gloin suggests that Bilbo is more of a grocer than a burglar, Gandalf uses ethos to persuade everyone to believe in the hobbit:
He scowled so angrily at Gloin that the dwarf huddled back in his chair; and when Bilbo tried to open his mouth to ask a question, he turned and frowned at him and stuck out his bushy eyebrows, till Bilbo shut his mouth tight with a snap. “That’s right,” said Gandalf. “Let’s have no more argument. I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar he is, or will be when the time comes.[..."]
As a wizard, Gandalf has powers and knowledge that no one else in the room can comprehend, let alone aspire to. He is always going off on mysterious business that goes over all their heads. His scowl and sharp words are intimidating, and he knows it. At the same time, he is a friend to the likes of hobbits and dwarves. Even if they don't always understand what he is up to, they know that it is usually in their best interest to trust him. Gandalf wields both his intimidating power and his trustworthiness to convince everyone that Bilbo is the proper burglar to join the party. As he tells Gloin and the others, his judgment "ought to be enough for all of you."
Gandalf never counts himself as one of the fourteen-member party. As the novel goes on, the wizard repeatedly disappears and leaves the other adventurers to struggle on their own. His absence makes room for Bilbo to build his own ethos in support of his position as the party's burglar. For example, in Chapter 9, Bilbo must come up with a plan to break all the dwarves out of the Elvenking's prison. Tolkien comments on the way the dwarves have grown to trust Bilbo:
The other dwarves quite agreed when they got the message. They all thought their own shares in the treasure (which they quite regarded as theirs, in spite of their plight and the still unconquered dragon) would suffer seriously if the Wood-elves claimed part of it, and they all trusted Bilbo. Just what Gandalf had said would happen, you see. Perhaps that was part of his reason for going off and leaving them.
Without Gandalf to guide the decision-making or intervene in crises, Bilbo turns out to be highly resourceful. For all that he does not consider himself a thief, he excels in burglary-related skills like stealth and quick thinking. By stepping out of the way, Gandalf allows Bilbo to come into his own and earn the dwarves' trust and respect. Where Gandalf once had to use his own ethos to convince everyone of Bilbo's potential, he eventually makes room for Bilbo's ethos to make the argument for him.
Related Themes:
Chapter 9: Barrels Out of Bond
Explanation and Analysis—Trust in Bilbo:
In Chapter 1, the dwarves and Bilbo all begin to think Gandalf is mistaken to believe that Bilbo is the right choice to round out the adventuring party. When Gloin suggests that Bilbo is more of a grocer than a burglar, Gandalf uses ethos to persuade everyone to believe in the hobbit:
He scowled so angrily at Gloin that the dwarf huddled back in his chair; and when Bilbo tried to open his mouth to ask a question, he turned and frowned at him and stuck out his bushy eyebrows, till Bilbo shut his mouth tight with a snap. “That’s right,” said Gandalf. “Let’s have no more argument. I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar he is, or will be when the time comes.[..."]
As a wizard, Gandalf has powers and knowledge that no one else in the room can comprehend, let alone aspire to. He is always going off on mysterious business that goes over all their heads. His scowl and sharp words are intimidating, and he knows it. At the same time, he is a friend to the likes of hobbits and dwarves. Even if they don't always understand what he is up to, they know that it is usually in their best interest to trust him. Gandalf wields both his intimidating power and his trustworthiness to convince everyone that Bilbo is the proper burglar to join the party. As he tells Gloin and the others, his judgment "ought to be enough for all of you."
Gandalf never counts himself as one of the fourteen-member party. As the novel goes on, the wizard repeatedly disappears and leaves the other adventurers to struggle on their own. His absence makes room for Bilbo to build his own ethos in support of his position as the party's burglar. For example, in Chapter 9, Bilbo must come up with a plan to break all the dwarves out of the Elvenking's prison. Tolkien comments on the way the dwarves have grown to trust Bilbo:
The other dwarves quite agreed when they got the message. They all thought their own shares in the treasure (which they quite regarded as theirs, in spite of their plight and the still unconquered dragon) would suffer seriously if the Wood-elves claimed part of it, and they all trusted Bilbo. Just what Gandalf had said would happen, you see. Perhaps that was part of his reason for going off and leaving them.
Without Gandalf to guide the decision-making or intervene in crises, Bilbo turns out to be highly resourceful. For all that he does not consider himself a thief, he excels in burglary-related skills like stealth and quick thinking. By stepping out of the way, Gandalf allows Bilbo to come into his own and earn the dwarves' trust and respect. Where Gandalf once had to use his own ethos to convince everyone of Bilbo's potential, he eventually makes room for Bilbo's ethos to make the argument for him.
Related Themes:
