Middle-earth Journeys

Merry wrote: What did they do for him, other than give him that ability to nyah nyah nyah to the rest of the Valar and the sons of Feanor?

The contradictions in Thorin's character – that he is a stubborn, proud person who nonetheless comes through in the end – seems to work with Tolkien's more general idea of dwarves as a group:

• [Dwarves] are calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not, but are decent enough people like Thorin and Company, if you don't expect too much. (12.6)

This description fits Thorin to a T: he thinks a lot about "the value of money," but he's also "decent enough," just as long as you don't expect him to be too generous or selfless. He is willing to help Bilbo when his burglar falls into trouble, as with the trolls, but he also wants to avoid the most dangerous parts of Bilbo's job – e.g., direct confrontation with Smaug. Thorin is also quick to anger, and he holds grudges forever (particularly against the Elvenking of the Wood-elves, who he totally refuses to talk to point-blank when Bard is trying to negotiate for some of Thorin's treasure). But, for all of that, he winds up coming through in the end when it really counts, which makes Thorin heroic enough for us.

One last trait of Thorin's that we want to mention: he is hilariously pompous and formal. He loves a good speech. Even when he's standing with twelve of his people and Bilbo on a doorstep to the Lonely Mountain with a dragon sitting and waiting for them all, he still bothers to stop and address Bilbo:

• Now is the time for our esteemed Mr. Baggins, who has proved himself a good companion on our long road, and a hobbit full of courage and resource far exceeding his size, and if I may say so possessed of good luck far exceeding the usual allowance – now is the time for him to perform the service for which he was included in our Company. (12.2)

The "service" Thorin means is Bilbo's agreement to help steal the dragon treasure (he is a burglar, after all). But Thorin can't just come out and say that he wants Bilbo to go into the secret passage first. Nope, he's got to dress it up in the most formal language possible. Thorin's stiffness of manner is in keeping with his character as a proud person with intense traditions. But it also provides one of the novel's few elements of humor about Thorin, who is otherwise not so much about the laughter.

Merry wrote:I would say that movie Thorin has a great deal of dignity, but maybe that is just in comparison with the other dwarves.

© New Line Productions

Merry wrote: Now I know I'm just an old Catholic spinster, but I still experience a bit of a thrill at the sight of a handsome young man! That picture of Thorin might have to go on my office wall! But Bard? Meh, as they say on the World Wide Interweb. I can't help but think that the moviemakers might have made a mistake in this, both in the casting and in the development of this character. In the book, Bard the Bowman is the romantic lead and should be heart-stoppingly gorgeous. Maybe I'll feel better about him in the movie after he does the heroic deed.