Bilbo Baggins is an odd hobbit.
Bilbo comes from a respectable hobbit family that never does any "adventuring". However, his mother comes from the Took family, a less respectable, but more wealthy family. It's rumored that once in a while, a Took will go on an adventure.
These "Tookish" traits come into play when he decides to go adventuring after all, against his common sense and the fact that he is, well, a hobbit.
As a hobbit, he is rather short (around 3 feet tall, I believe) and lives in a cozy hobbit hole of his own. He is 50 years old.
Bilbo is quite content in his comfortable life, but, after a strange series of events, goes on an adventure with a group of dwarves (Tolkien's spelling) to steal back great treasures from a fierce dragon named Smaug. Bilbo is much the reluctant hero, and what worsens his predicament is that the others believe he is an amazing burglar, when in fact, he doesn't even think anything like that. Bilbo has no choice but to just go along on the adventure, trying to become an amazing burglar on the way.
Bilbo reminds me a lot of myself. Like him, I'd like very much to have a nice, comfortable life in my own nice, comfortable home. (Text to self connection) I am honestly not sure whether or not I would want to risk life and limb to go on a crazy adventure to steal treasure from a dragon that demolished an entire town, especially if I was only about 3 feet tall! Bilbo is most likely going to be a main character I'll like; I'm easily bored with muscle-bound, gung-ho, blindly charge into any situation, dumb hero.