Does Bilbo Baggins realize his ring was the One Ring?

In the infamous jumpscare scene, in the Fellowship of the Ring Bilbo says:

"I'm sorry, that I brought this upon you, my boy... I'm sorry that you must carry this burden. I'm sorry for everything."

He also gives Frodo his sword and mithril armor. Both of which imply that he knows of Frodo's quest.

But in Return of the King, Bilbo says:

"Frodo ... Any chance of seeing that old ring of mine ... the one I gave you?"

Which implies the exact opposite, that he never knew.

Does Bilbo know of Frodo's quest, that he had the One Ring? (which means his question in Return of the King is only meant to imply that he has dementia) Or was this intentionally left ambiguous?

plot-explanation the-lord-of-the-rings

Best Answer

I've always attributed that to dementia; remember that Bilbo was very old for a hobbit (about 128 years); only the Old Took had been older.

Bilbo attended the Council of Elrond where the history of the ring was explained by Gandalf and Elrond and the plan was made to destroy it in Mount Doom.

'That is the warning bell for the Council of Elrond,' cried Gandalf. 'Come along now! Both you and Bilbo are wanted.'

(source: The Fellowship of the Ring)

As @KevinTroy notes, Bilbo even volunteered before Frodo:

'Very well, very well, Master Elrond!' said Bilbo suddenly. 'Say no more! It is plain enough what you are pointing at. Bilbo the silly hobbit started this affair, and Bilbo had better finish it, or himself.

(source)

Tolkien Gateway states Bilbo's ageing is caused by the Ring's destruction:

Because of the Ring's destruction, that prolonged his life, Bilbo started ageing again; as Arwen told to Frodo later, Bilbo started looking ancient according to his kind.

It doesn't seem too far-fetched to me to infer that the apparent dementia is a likely result. It's based on the following quote:

‘Do you wonder at that, Ring-bearer?’ said Arwen. ‘For you know the power of that thing which is now destroyed; and all that was done by that power is now passing away. But your kinsman possessed this thing longer than you. He is ancient in years now, according to his kind; and he awaits you, for he will not again make any long journey save one.’

(source: The Return of the King)

As @chepner notes, Bilbo seems to recall some of his memories afterwards:

‘What a pity!’ said Bilbo. ‘I should have liked to see it again. But no, how silly of me! That’s what you went for, wasn’t it: to get rid of it? But it is all so confusing, for such a lot of other things seem to have got mixed up with it: Aragorn’s affairs, and the White Council, and Gondor, and the Horsemen, and Southrons, and oliphaunts – did you really see one, Sam? – and caves and towers and golden trees, and goodness knows what besides.

(source)

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How did they know Bilbo had the Ring?

But in the movie, after Bilbo does his vanishing act in his birthday party, Gandalf meets him in his house, and when Bilbo calls the ring his Precious, Gandals says that the ring has been called this before, but by someone else, indicating he knew then that it was the ring.

Why did the One Ring not affect Bilbo?

Additionally, Bilbo never sought to DESTROY the ring, thus the Ring had no reason to protect itself from Bilbo and therefore had less of a grip on him.

Is Bilbo obsessed with the Ring?

Because Bilbo began his time with the ring in an act of kindness (not killing Gollum when he had the chance, but showing him mercy and compassion instead), he was protected from the worst of the ring's influence. And he used the ring not purely selfishly, but to help the dwarves against the dragon.

Did Sauron know Bilbo used the Ring?

First, when Bilbo kept the ring, Sauron had no idea where it was. When Bilbo last used it, at his Birthday Party, Sauron had not yet captured Gollum, and did not know that the Ring had been found - he thought it still in Anduin or rolled down to the sea.

LOTR The Fellowship of the Ring - Farewell Dear Bilbo

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