Thorin Oakenshield

Coming from a background and love for theatre and acting, one of my favorite elements of literature and analysis of a work is character development. In acting, there are so many aspects to  discovering a role and digging deeper and deeper into the character's core. The same aspects to acting lie in creating and developing a character in literature, I believe. From videos and lessons on writing, I've learned bits and pieces about what it takes to formulate a being in your story. I believe if I was creating a role for a novel or a play or simply in my imagination, I would have to spend several weeks simply thinking about a character, first determining his/her/its background. Where it came from, it's relations with others, and how it grew up. Then focus on the characteristics of the personalities in them (the characters), what are the goals? What motivates them? What tactics do they use to acquire what they want? Who are their enemies, friends? What scares them? Then you have to add spice to your meal. What affects the characters? How have they changed over time and why? How do they react to situations and things (this is a huge one in theatre)? There are infinite more things that need to be determined in a character in order to make it seem real. Characters aren't real, nor will they ever be. I've learned that we read about them because we know subconsciously that no person such as this exists in real life. But while the characters are supposed to have surreal elements, they must feel real. What an oxymoron... Somethings that are supposed to be false are supposed to feel true.

Tolkien has done a fantastic job in creating exceptionally rich characters in The Hobbit, and without a doubt, there must be even richer ones in The Lord of The Rings. Even without revealing everything the author knows about a character, he gives us the sense that he himself knows, but being irrelevant to the story, wisely chooses not to include it in this text. Yet he always knows where something or someone has been and what has happened even if he doesn't say, e.g., 

"It was here that Gandalf had been to a great council of white wizards, masters of lore and good magic; and that they had at last driven the Necromancer from his dark hold in the south of Mirkwood."

This is how Tolkien reveals where Gandalf had been after leaving the expedition in the frontier of Mirkwood forest. The necromancer being the evil lord Sauron whom you learn about later in the rest of the saga. 

Thorin & Company is a fruitful band of funny, somewhat selfish at first, but heroic and friendly dwarves that accompany Bilbo on his quest. I wanna try something. Let's see if I can remember all their names after reading the whole book. We have:

Fili Kili Bifur Bofur Bombur Dori Nori Ori Gloin Oin Dwalin Balin

Heck yeah! I did it. Anyway, excuse that... 

Anyway, at the beginning of the book when these characters were introduced, I remember thinking, "How on Middle-earth are all of these dwarves gonna obtain depth and recognition from the audience?!" It seemes crazy that Tolkien would have developed so many dwarves, and that he would be able to differentiate their personalities. It is true that some of them gained more depth and attention than others. I guess if you studied them you'd find the depth, but Tolkien did fall short on showing the development of all these characters, and so they remain strangers and only slightly dynamic.

 

But not Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the troupe. We principally earn the image and vision of this character as a dwarf of majestic quality, with elements of heroism, elegance, leadership, intelligence, and knowledge. And that image is upheld for a while. But as Bilbo starts gaining more respect from the dwarves, they also begin to heavily rely on him. And thus become rather lazy, greedy, unselfish, and instead of Thorin coming at their rescue, he and the dwarves become the ones in need of aid. The balance shifts, and as Bilbo rises, Thorin falls, and that leaves the hobbit with much of the qualities Thorin had.

The first trace of Thorin's evil is spectated very early in Chapter II, when they encounter the trolls. Upon seeing distant lights, Thoring immediately requests that Bilbo investigates.

"Now it is the burglar's turn, you must go on and find out all about that light, and what it is for, and if all is perfectly safe and canny. Now scuttle off, and come back quick, if all is well. If not, come back if you can! If you can't hoot twice like a barn-owl and once like a screech-owl, and we will do what we can."

This reveals Thorin's lacking sense of bold leadership, and instead of taking matters into his own hands, thrusts his tasks into Bilbo because he is not the burglar that they had expected Gandalf to provide them with. This continues to be Thorin's mindset for a while, even after Bilbo earns some respect in escaping the caverns of the goblins, they continue to belittle him, and use him for tasks. 

"Somebody must climb a tree and see if he can get his head above roof and have a look around..."Of course "somebody" meant Bilbo.

Upon contacting Thorin in his prison chamber with the woodland elves, where al other dwarves were caught after Bilbo rescued them from the spiders, Thoring is at first content and proud of Bilbo to see him, but when he finds out that Mr Baggins failed to think of a plan when he visited him, he offers still thanks him, and takes "heart again hearing how the hobbit had rescued his companions from the spiders.

"Upon my word!" said Thorin, "Gandalf spoke true, as usual! A pretty fine burglar you make, it seems, when the time comes. I am sure we are all for ever at your service, whatever happens after this."

One of the most selfish stages of greed and uncaring thoughts towards the hobbit was revealed when Thorin sends Bilbo to the dragon.

"Now it is time for our esteemed Mr Baggins to perform the service for which he was included in our Company; now is th etime for him to earn his Reward."

After Smaug leaves to Lake-town and the dwarves enter the treasure cavern, Thorin enters the most corrupted phase of his journey. He is overwhelmed by all the treasure, and he cannot endure the power the treasure has upon him. This is definitely much like the power of the Ring! The same way the One Ring corrupted Gollum and Bilbo in the end is reflected on Thorin and his treasure. This demonstrates a reflective theme upon The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings! Upon the Bard's arrival at the Gate, Thorin's inner "gollum" emerges, unwilling to help the village and share his treasure. 

Long hours in the past days Thorin had spent in the treasury, and the lust of it was heavy on  him. Though he had hunted chiefly for the Arkenstone, yet he had an eye form many another wonderful thing that was lying there.."You put your worst cause last and in the chief place. To the treasure of my people no man has a claim, because Smaug who stole it from us also robbed him of life and home. The treasure was not his that his evil deeds should be amended with a share of it. The price of the goods and the assistance that we received of the Lake-men we will fairly pay - in due time. But nothing will we give, not even a loaf's worth, under threat of force. While an armed host lies before our doors, we look on you as foes and thieves."

If you know the story, Bilbo steals the Arkenstone and hands it to the men and elves for bargaining help, and this infuriates Thorin.

"You miserable hobbit! You undersized - burglar!"

Of course, when Thoring & Co. joins The Battle of Five Armies, it symbolizes Thorin coming to his senses at last, and realizing the monster he had become was not fit for being a leader. And so he fights, and becomes heavily wounded. In his last moments, Mr Baggins visits him, and they make peace.