After reading Redwall it is interesting to me how the character of Matthias compares to the character of Bilbo from the Hobbit. Both characters are problematic heroes, a theme pronounced in both books. They seam to be real people with real problems, just like humans. We humans are not super-heroes given special powers such as, Superman. Neither is Bilbo or Matthias. They both show that anyone can become a hero; they just have to do the right thing and try hard.
In Matthias’ case he is just an ordinary mouse until he is put in the right situation at the right time to become a hero. However, it is his choice to do the right thing and step up to the plate. The author shows this when Matthias hears Martin, the great warrior, speaking to him. The easy way out would have been to run away and ignore it. Instead, he consulted with other Redwall mice. Mathias wants to be a hero, and he wants to fight. I believe he differs from Bilbo in this way because Bilbo grew into becoming a hero. Matthias was born ready for the day he could become a warrior.
Matthias also shows his heroism when Father Abbot sends him to take food to a nearby family. Matthias sees the rats coming, and rushes back to the Abbey to warn everyone. Although Father Abbot doesn’t want to fight because he believes the Abbey is not like that anymore, Matthias is ready. When the rats arrive and Father Abbot lets them inside to talk everyone could have been seriously hurt or killed if it wouldn’t have been for Matthias. He gets rid of the rats before anything bad can happen. By doing this Matthias is showing bravery, a characteristic of being a hero. Mathias is saving others lives similar to Bilbo when he saves the dwarves lives from the spiders. .
When Clooney captures another mouse’s family that lived outside the Abbey, Matthias courageously tries to save their family. With the help of a Basil Stag Hare, the rabbit, they are able to free the mice family. This is another example of Matthias doing the right thing and being a hero. This reminds me of in The Hobbit when Bilbo saves the dwarves from the elves before they were killed. There are many more examples of Matthias showing that he is the hero throughout the book.
I believe this theme of the problematic hero keeps arising in fantasy children’s literature because it is an aspect that we all dream of, especially as a child. We can relate to a person that isn’t perfect because we as human beings aren’t perfect. While we might want to do the right thing and become the hero it is a matter of if we are able to make the right decision and try hard. I believe this is an important message that Brian Jacques is trying to communicate throughout his novel.
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