“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom” (brainyquote.com). What does it take to be considered a hero? Dictionary.reference.com describes a hero as "a man of great courage or skill, admired for his courageous deeds or noble qualities." This definition of a hero does not complete itself. A hero must not only have courage and the ability to perform a courageous action; it must also exude strength and humility. As Bob Dylan expressed in the previous quote, a hero must take responsibility and understand that freedom has a price. A true hero does not flaunt his successes. Rather, he downplays his courage and places the glory on God. This ability to turn the spotlight away from oneself, toward God or not, shows the true measure of a man's strength. Bilbo Baggins, the main character of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, does not fit this definition of a hero. Without the magic ring, Bilbo would never have attempted the feats he did. Baggins needed to be stimulated before he did anything. Furthermore, he was also dishonest. Bilbo should not be considered a hero because, without the magic ring, he would never have attempted the things he did. After being persuaded against his will to join the dwarves on an adventure, Bilbo discovers the ring. Not knowing his power of invisibility, Bilbo picks up the magic ring. Only when he finds himself in a tense situation does Bilbo use the ring's ability as a cheap escape route. For example, when Gollum confronts Bilbo, he has no desire to face violence. Alternatively, Gollum offers a puzzle game. When Bilbo asks him, "What have I got in my pocket?" Gollum knows he has been beaten. This question was inappropriate… at the heart of the card… courageous actions. When one takes into consideration the fact that Bilbo's reasons for performing these feats were wrong, they should realize the fact that Bilbo was not really a hero. His courage was false because it was provided by the magic ring. The dwarves would be the most affected by Bilbo's false heroism because to them he was the savior. His actions helped the dwarves, but they would have helped the dwarves more if the reasoning behind them had been true. All these reasons underline the fact that Bilbo Baggins should not be considered a hero. Works Cited "Hero". Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com and Web. April 3, 2014. “Hero.” Clever quote. Xplore and Web. April 7, 2014. "The Hobbit." SparkNote. SparkNotes and Web. April 4, 2014. BibMe.org .MLA formatting.