Lobelia Sackville-Baggins

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Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
Hobbit
Pierre Vanderweerd - Lobelia Sackville-Baggins.jpg
"Lobelia Sackville-Baggins" by Pierre Vanderweerd
Biographical Information
Other namesLobelia Bracegirdle
Mistress Lobelia
LocationHardbottle
Bag End, Hobbiton
LanguageWestron
BirthS.R. 1318
Hardbottle
DeathS.R. 1420 (aged 102)
Family
FamilyBracegirdle
ParentageBlanco Bracegirdle and Primrose Boffin
SiblingsBruno Bracegirdle
SpouseOtho Sackville-Baggins
ChildrenLotho Sackville-Baggins
Physical Description
GenderFemale
WeaponryUmbrella
GalleryImages of Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
"I'll give you Sharkey, you dirty thieving ruffians!"
― Lobelia Sackville-Baggins in The Return of the King, "The Scouring of the Shire"

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, (née Bracegirdle) was the second child, and only daughter of Primrose Boffin and Blanco Bracegirdle and then the wife of Otho Sackville-Baggins, a distant relative of Bilbo Baggins, known for her want of the hobbit-hole Bag End.

History[edit | edit source]

Lobelia was born in Hardbottle to Primrose Boffin and Blanco Bracegirdle and the sister of Bruno Bracegirdle. Lobelia was renowned in the The Shire for her temper and greed. She later married Bilbo Baggins's cousin Otho Sackville-Baggins, and they had one child together, Lotho, who was born in S.R. 1364.[1]

Her envy of Bag End was well-known; when Bilbo left for his legendary journey in S.R. 1341[2] she coveted Bag End and found an oportunity to steal some of Bilbo's spoons, as Bilbo suspected after his return, and Lobelia knew well his suspicions. Lobelia and Otho were furious when Bilbo made Frodo Baggins his heir, him being a more distant relative. However, he did invite them to his farewell feast, with magnificent invitations written with golden ink; Lobelia could not ignore it. The next day she and Otho came to Bag End, hearing that Bilbo's household was being given out, but Frodo said that what was directed to her was only a case of silver spoons. She took "the point", and took the gift. But later as Otho left, she was still there, investigating nooks and corners and tapping the floors, she had snatched some small valuable things in her umbrella, until Frodo relieved her and drove her out, as she shouted that he should also leave, being half Brandybuck, did not belong here. Gandalf later saw her driving a pony-trap towards Bywater.[3]

Her angry words to Frodo turned out to be true: he decided to leave for Crickhollow (a ruse to escape the Shire) he sold Bag End to Lobelia by June T.A. 3018, but unfortunately Lobelia was now centennial, and Otho had died by then. The titles would pass to her on 24 September but she went there the previous day with Lotho, and an inventory list to inspect that that nothing she had paid for had been carried off to Buckland. She went right though her list, and in the end they departed with the spare key; Frodo said that his own would be left with the Gamgee Family and Lobelia reacted as if she thought that the Gamgees would rob the household until the next day.[4]

During the War of the Ring, Lobelia was imprisoned in Lockholes for arguing with the Chief's Men, and attacking one of them with an umbrella.[5] After finding Fredegar Bolger, Frodo finds Lobelia, old and frail. As Frodo lets her out, Lobelia was popular for the first time for bravely standing up to the Saruman's Men, receiving cheers and applauds. However, she was crushed to find out her son had been murdered whilst she was in prison. After the War of the Ring, Lobelia returned to her home village to live with the other Bracegirdles, giving Bag End to Frodo. When she died in the Spring of T.A. 3020, she gave her money to Frodo to be used to help hobbits left homeless by Saruman and her son, which deeply moved Frodo.[6]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Lobelia is a genus of the bellflower family, named after Matthias de L'Obel.[7] Some species are commonly grown as garden flowers.

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Lobelia in adaptations

1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):

Although she is only named in passing, Diana Bishop plays Lobelia at Bilbo's 111th Birthday party. She and Otho are given a brief exchange complaining about being part of "one gross", and questioning what "Frodo coming into his inheritance" means.

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

In the expansion Dark Minions, Lobelia appears as two different cards: "Mistress Lobelia" is a Resource Ally, and "Lobelia Sackville-Baggins" is an Agent.[8]

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

Lobelia (portrayed by Elizabeth Moody) appears briefly along with Otho in the Extended edition of the film, attempting to confront Bilbo during his farewell party, though Bilbo manages to elude their presence. In the theatrical release, Lobelia is only heard knocking at Bilbo's door before the farewell party.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

Lobelia (voiced by Jennifer Hale) appears in Bywater. Frodo has to give her the Bag End Deed as one of the first missions. When Frodo approaches her she insists he first warn Robin Smallburrow of the wolves in the Shire by ringing the warning bell. Frodo does so, before presenting an exhilirated Lobelia with the Bag End Deed.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Found outside Bag End, Lobelia is involved in several quests dealing with surprises left for her by the previous owner.

2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

Lobelia is seen briefly in the Extended Edition (along with Otho) in the marketplace outside of the Green Dragon Inn. The character's costume is deliberately ostentatious to be "bright and show-offy" as "she aspires to the best dressed lady in Hobbiton".[9]

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

She and Otho are also seen at the end of the film when Bilbo's possessions are being auctioned off as he returns to the Shire. Lobelia pretends not to know who Bilbo is, so he accuses her of being dishonest about it. She is portrayed by Erin Banks.

References