With One Change, Bilbo Would Be Lord Of The Rings’ Main Character

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Even a small change to the history of Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings could drastically alter the story. For example, if Bilbo Baggins had gone to Mordor instead of Frodo, the entire plot would be different. Tolkien created a very carefully constructed timeline, and everything – even seemingly minor events – is crucial to the success of the quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat Sauron. Each decision and action ensures the Fellowship is in the right place at the right time.

It’s interesting to consider how The Lord of the Rings would change if Saruman hadn’t turned evil. If he’d remained a force for good, like Gandalf, the story would be drastically different. While it’s easy to imagine changes within the existing narrative – the Fellowship avoiding Moria, Gandalf not becoming the White Wizard, Boromir surviving – the truth is much more significant. If Saruman stayed loyal, the events of The Lord of the Rings wouldn’t have occurred at all. Instead, Bilbo Baggins would have been the one to carry the Ring to Mordor.

Why Saruman Staying Good Forces Bilbo To Become The Ringbearer

The first clear sign of Saruman’s betrayal appears during a meeting of the White Council, almost a century before the events of The Hobbit. While Gandalf suspects the Necromancer in Dol Guldur is actually Sauron returning, Saruman argues against taking action, motivated by his own self-interest. A truly good Saruman would have supported an attack then, instead of waiting another hundred years. As a result, Sauron is driven out of Dol Guldur and forced to retreat to Mordor much sooner than intended, compelling him to reveal himself before he was fully ready.

A significant shift in the story happens during The Hobbit with the discovery of the One Ring. When Gandalf learns Bilbo has found a magical ring, he initially doesn’t believe it’s the One Ring, largely because Saruman claims Sauron’s most powerful creation is gone forever. Gandalf also keeps the ring a secret from Saruman, as he’s begun to distrust the other wizard’s motives.

If Saruman weren’t secretly evil, he would have told the White Council what he knew about the Ring, especially that it was last seen near the Gladden Fields. With this information, Gandalf probably would have realized the truth about Bilbo’s treasure while Bilbo was still on his adventure in The Hobbit. Gandalf might even have discussed his suspicions with Saruman. As a powerful Maia and a scholar of Sauron, Saruman could have confirmed that Bilbo really did find the One Ring.

Now that Sauron is actively moving against them and the One Ring has been identified sooner, a council like the one led by Elrond would likely convene soon after the Battle of Five Armies.

Like Frodo, Bilbo became fond of the Ring and would have willingly taken on the dangerous task of carrying it himself. This is shown in The Fellowship of the Ring when the older Bilbo volunteers to take the Ring to Mordor, proving he wouldn’t easily let someone else bear that burden after his experiences in The Hobbit.

How Bilbo’s Journey To Mordor Would Compare To Frodo’s

The group accompanying Bilbo could include Gandalf, Legolas, and even Saruman, who moved to Isengard as a cover for his betrayal. If Saruman wasn’t tied down by a permanent home, he’d be free to join the journey. While Gimli is a possibility, Bilbo’s history with the Dwarves suggests someone from his previous adventure, The Hobbit, should be included – possibly even Gimli’s father, Gloin.

In The Lord of the Rings, Elrond initially wanted two of his elf sons to be part of the Fellowship. However, Merry and Pippin ended up joining instead. If those two hadn’t volunteered, Elrond would have likely sent Elladan and Elrohir in their place.

If the story started then, Aragorn would be just a child of ten, too young to participate in the quest. Boromir wouldn’t even have been born yet. Instead, Gondor would likely be represented by Ecthelion, the son of the current steward, who would later become the father of Denethor II, a character from The Lord of the Rings.

Bilbo’s group would be chased by the Nazgûl and Sauron’s orcs, but they wouldn’t face the Uruk-hai because Saruman hadn’t created them yet. Also, Saruman wouldn’t turn Rohan against Gondor, meaning both kingdoms could fight Mordor and create a diversion, giving Bilbo and his companions a chance to reach Mount Doom.

If Saruman hadn’t been a threat and his plans hadn’t needed to be stopped, things would have been much simpler for the heroes. Also, Bilbo, having gained experience during his adventures in The Hobbit, would likely have been a better secret agent than Frodo and Sam were in The Lord of the Rings.

Ultimately, it’s Aragorn, as the descendant of Isildur, who really grabs Sauron’s focus in the story. He’s the one who calls upon the Army of the Dead to help in the fight. If Aragorn hadn’t been there, Sauron might not have paid enough attention to Bilbo.

The Fellowship could run into trouble when they reach Mount Doom. Throughout The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo often seems more self-centered than his nephew, Frodo. His trickery in taking the Ring from Gollum is a good example of this. By the end of his adventure, Bilbo might refuse to give up the Ring, forcing Gandalf or another member of the Fellowship to take it from him – if Bilbo doesn’t simply vanish first.

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2025-11-12 18:42