The Art of Adaptation: Peter Jackson’s Interpretation of The Hobbit

Posterity will remember that Peter Jackson, renowned for his masterful direction of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, faced significant challenges when adapting The Hobbit to a film series. His changes to the original text introduced a new layer of themes and characters that transformed a children's story into a complex and mature narrative. This article explores the reasoning behind these adaptations and how they serve the broader narrative of the Lord of the Rings universe.

Transforming a Children's Story into an Adult Narrative

Peter Jackson and his co-writer Philippa Boyens had to modernize the story to appeal to a broad audience, including adults. They recognized that the original The Hobbit lacks the heroic elements and political intrigue that characterize much of the later Lord of the Rings. To address this, they shifted the focus to the Arkenstone, a pivotal artifact that imbues political significance and sets up the premise for a broader, more adult-themed narrative.

Reasoning Behind the Arkenstone

The central idea was to reinterpret the Arkenstone not merely as a valuable artifact but as a symbol of power and military allegiance among dwarves. This shift allowed Thorin Oakenshield, a key character, to transform from a mere leader into a heroic figure. The notion that Thorin, bearing the Arkenstone, could rally an army of dwarves served to modernize the tale and imbue it with a sense of impending conflict, paralleling the darker themes of the Lord of the Rings.

Development of Dwarven Heroism

The dwarves, originally portrayed as less heroic characters, were transformed into a cohesive and formidable group. The molten-gold battle sequence exemplifies this shift, showcasing the dwarves' ingenuity and bravery. By recounting The Hobbit as a tale of daring and action, Jackson and Boyens aimed to create a narrative richer in substance and better suited to an adult audience.

Emerging Themes of Kindness and Courage

Beyond the dwarves, the role of Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit protagonist, was also redefined. The dialogue in the films, particularly during the meeting in Rivendell, reinterprets Tolkien's core philosophy: the idea that it is the small acts of everyday people that hold the darkness at bay. This philosophy, attributed to Gandalf, underscores the importance of Bilbo’s character and his motivations.

Bilbo's Motivation and the Ring

A key change in the film adaptation was the role of the One Ring. In the books, Bilbo's actions with the ring are more overt, as he must wear it in Mirkwood to remain invisible. However, in the movies, Bilbo's possession of the ring is kept a secret, mirroring the secrecy surrounding it in the Lord of the Rings. This decision ensures continuity with the broader narrative, where the ring remains a closely guarded secret.

The Orgrim Azog subplot

A significant addition to the film was the pursuit of the orc Orgrim Azog. This element was introduced to create sustained tension and excitement, particularly appealing to younger audiences. It is less a part of the original story and more a necessity for the film series to maintain engagement.

Elves and Dwarves

Peter Jackson’s adaptation also addressed the appearance of the elves and dwarves. The decision to turn Mirkwood elves into a class of shorter, brown-haired beings arose from the established appearance of Legolas in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, this choice led to inconsistencies, as the film eventually adapted the elves into a more uniform look for the Battle of Five Armies.

Lessons in Adaptation

The adaptation of The Hobbit serves as a valuable case study in how screenwriters must balance the needs of the source material with the expectations of a contemporary audience. Jackson’s modifications, while sometimes controversial, enrich the story and deepen its thematic complexity.

More broadly, this adaptation highlights the importance of character development, thematic cohesiveness, and faithful yet flexible storytelling in the process of adapting a beloved work of fiction into a film series.