The Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien refrain from wearing shoes for a very different reason, although they wear clothes like other people in Middle-earth. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings The books are widely known for their extensive lore and rich characterizations as they describe the many ages of Middle-earth. While the series highlights the heroism and stories of several characters, a specific set of people in Tolkien's world only have small moments to shine. and demonstrate the intricacies of their lives: the Hobbits.
Tolkien's Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings are a centralizing point for the series, as both of Tolkien's main protagonists, Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, are Hobbits of the Shire. Although the books and The Lord of the Rings the films spend some time in the Shire, Little is known about the Hobbits beyond a few key details from the main story, unlike other groups of people who have a broader focus. Still, the details the audience gets, like the fact that they don't wear shoes, provide some fascinating insights into the Hobbits and even the author who created them.
How Tolkien explained that hobbits don't wear shoes
Tolkien's explanation highlights a vital characteristic of hobbits
Tolkien's explanation for why Hobbits don't wear shoes The Lord of the Rings shows a key aspect of them as a people, demonstrating why Tolkien chose to follow them as his protagonists. As mentioned, Hobbits are not extensively explored in the primary books or in Tolkien's history book. The Silmarillion. However, Tolkien mentions that the Hobbit's feet have “natural leather soles and thick, warm brown hair, like the thing on their heads”, making the need for shoes unnecessary. Some Hobbits wear shoes, including the Stoors, who live in muddier climates, but they are the exception.
Tolkien credits the Hobbit's leathery feet for his unique stealth abilitieswhich was the reason Bilbo was approached by Gandalf in The Hobbit. This simple explanation, while a great insight into the Hobbits, creates some irony as these attributes seem unique to their feet, resulting in them needing to wear clothing like other groups of people in The Lord of the Rings. That being said, the Hobbits' fashion, like their feet, allows them to stand out from Tolkien's other characters, making them even more interesting.
Hobbits' clothes are different from the rest of Middle Earth
Hobbits look more modern compared to other residents of the world
The different clothing styles of the Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings not only did it allow Tolkien to subtly let the Hobbits stand out more, but it also showed a piece of his own past. Hobbits, unlike the men, dwarves, and elves of Middle-earth, dress in the Victorian/early Edwardian style.including overcoats, pants and button-down tunics. Their clothing, when compared to the medieval attire of these other groups of people, has confused some members of the public regarding the Middle-earth timeline, with the strongest explanation appearing to exist in Tolkien's own history in any of his books.
This influence contributes to what the Shire is intended to be in the story: a safe haven and a welcoming home to return to after a harrowing adventure.
Many have assumed that Tolkien's childhood memories of the English countryside, specifically Sarehole, influenced the Shire and, by proxy, the Hobbit's clothing.differentiating them from other areas of Middle-earth. This influence contributes to what the Shire is intended to be in the story: a safe haven and a welcoming home to return to after a harrowing adventure. Drawing on his own life, Tolkien was able to flesh out this point The Lord of the Rings, giving the Hobbits another detail that emphasizes the themes of perseverance, hope, and home in their journeys.