Of Thorin Oakenshield and The Hobbit - a perspective from across the Tasman

Gandalf's Plan.

Gandalf left Thorin after his first meeting without committing to help him to reclaim Erebor. Thorin was full of grandiose plans to attack Smaug in his lair; Gandalf was not in agreement. He decided to visit Bilbo in The Shire as Bilbo had impressed him 20 years ago with his yearning for adventure and exploration. Travelling through the Shire, he asked Bilbo's neighbours as to Bilbo's whereabouts. They were disapproving in their answers as they told him of Bilbo's eccentricity in terms of his befriending Elves and Dwarves. This was not acceptable Hobbit behaviour in their eyes. At the mention of dwarves, a plan gradually began to gel in Gandalf's mind. Perhaps Bilbo might join forces with Thorin in order to start a quest for Erebor. Gandalf had suspected Saruman of losing track of his original mission to free Middle Earth of the evil that was brewing. He felt a sense of urgency to attend the White Council which he hoped would distract attention from Erebor. If he could persuade Thorin and his dwarf company to form a mission with Bilbo to oust the greedy Smaug from the Lonely Mountain while the White Council distracted Sauron, his purposes would be served. 

He therefore returned to Thorin to persuade him to consider the plan for a silent attack on the dragon by taking a hobbit as his secret weapon. Hobbits were stealthy, dwarves were not renowned for their silence. The challenge for Gandalf was to persuade Thorin to agree to his plan. Following are a few passages from JRR Tolkien's "Unfinished Tales" Ch: III of the 3rd Age

Gandalf explains that after their first meeting in Bree, Thorin and he had to pass through the Shire to get to the Halls in Ered Luin. This might set the scene a little ...

"...we actually passed through the Shire, though Thorin would not stop long enough for that to be useful. Indeed I think it was annoyance at his haughty disregard of the Hobbits that first put into my head the idea of entangling him with them. As far as he was concerned they were just food-growers who happened to work the fields on either side of the Dwarves' ancestral road to the Mountains" (p 429 "Unfinished Tales" J.R.R. Tolkien)

Unfinished Tales has an excellent chapter describing Gandalf's meetings with Thorin and his kinsfolk, Balin, Gloin and Fili who were all highly sceptical about joining forces with a Hobbit. 

"Your own ideas are those of a King, Thorin Oakenshield; but your kingdom is gone. If it is to be restored, which I doubt, it must be from small beginnings. Far away from here , I wonder if you fully realise the strength of a great Dragon. But that is not all: there is a Shadow growing fast in the world far more terrible. They will help one another.

.... Open war would be quite useless; and anyway it is impossible for you to arrange it. You will have to try something simpler and yet bolder, indeed something desperate." (Gandalf. "Unfinished Tales" p 429-30. J. R. R. Tolkien).

Gandalf describes the most difficult part of the Quest was persuading Thorin to agree to his plan and he states that he argued with him "far into the night" of the "Unexpected Party"

"Listen to me Thorin Oakenshield!" I said. " If this hobbit goes with you, you will succeed. If not, you will fail." (Gandalf. "Unfinished Tales". J. R. R. Tolkien).

The struggle Gandalf had with ensuring his plan became action is not described in "The Hobbit" novel as this book was written by Bilbo and told from his perspective. As Gandalf states, the scene at The Unexpected Party would have been described quite differently if he had told the story. Bilbo was unaware of the contempt Thorin and the dwarves initially felt for him.

 

Full TV3 coverage – the whole press conference!

Longer press conference with The Hobbit cast (Bilbo and Dwarves) thanks to TORn and NZ TV3

Full TV3 coverage – the whole press conference!.

The first meeting between Gandalf and Thorin

There are a number of extra scenes which are not in the book that I would love to see in the movies. One is the story of how Thorin earned the name Oakenshield, and the other is how Gandalf managed to persuade Thorin to form a secret mission to the Lonely Mountain and take a hobbit with them. Following is the first conversation between Gandalf and Thorin at Bree in March 15th 2941.

'Master Gandalf, I know you only by sight, but now I should be glad to speak with you. For you have often come into my thoughts of late, as if I were bidden to seek you. Indeed I should have done so, if I had known where to find you.'

Gandalf looked at him with wonder: 'That is strange, Thorin Oakenshield,' he said. 'For I have thought of you also; and though I am on my way to The Shire, it was in my mind that is the way also to your halls.'

'Call them so, if you will,' said Thorin. 'They are only poor lodgings in exile. But you would be welcome there, if you would come. For they say that you are wise and know more than any other of what goes on in the world; and I have much on my mind and would be glad of your counsel.'

'I will come,' said Gandalf; 'for I guess that we share one trouble at least. The Dragon of Erebor is on my mind, and I do not think that he will be forgotten by the grandson of  Thrór.'

J.R.R. Tolkien. Return of the King Appendix A, III. p. 359. 

In "Unfinished Tales" by J.R.R. Tolkien, the interactions between Gandalf and Thorin that led to the "Quest of Erebor" are described in the first person. Gandalf relates the story of how he met Thorin to Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and Gimli after the coronation at Minas Tirith prior to their return to The Shire.

After the meeting at Bree, Gandalf went to Thorin's Halls in the Blue Mountains and heard Thorin's tale. It became obvious to Gandalf that Thorin was agonising over his wrongs, the loss of the treasure of his forefathers and that he had an immense sense of inherited duty to take revenge on Smaug. The sense of duty is taken very seriously by dwarves. (Unfinished Tales: p417). While Gandalf was as eager as Thorin to eradicate Smaug from the Lonely Mountain, he could not agree with Thorin's "lofty designs" to form an army and go into battle to reclaim Erebor "as if he really were King Thorin II".  He suspected that an open attack on the Dragon in Erebor would not go unnoticed by Sauron in Dol Guldur and any army Thorin could assemble would have been doomed from the start. 

Thorin, being proud, obstinate and with a burning grudge, would not listen to Gandalf's entreaties that an attack on Erebor would be perilous and without hope of victory. He left Thorin without a definite plan or assurance to help him and travelled to The Shire. 

Next: Gandalf formulates a plan.

The events leading up to the chance meeting between Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield at Bree.

Gandalf

Gandalf was known as one of the Istari, a Maiar or one of an "angelic" order. The Maiar were 'spirits' who were supposed to have been able to self incarnate or take human form. Saruman was the chief and was higher in the Valinorean structure than the others.

The Maiar/Istari were sent by the Valar at a crucial time in Middle-earth and their aim was to enhance the resistance of the Elves and the Men of the West to the evil that was growing in the east. Thus it was that Gandalf having discovered the evil that was emanating from Dol Guldur in Mirkwood, felt grave concern that Sauron was planning to attack Lorien and Rivendell. There was no one in the North left to resist any attempt of Sauron to gain control of the northern passes in the mountains. Moreover, Gandalf was extremely worried that Sauron would use the dragon, Smaug, to achieve his aims. 

In 2941, Gandalf made the decision to visit The Shire for respite from his dark thoughts. By doing so, he felt he might be able to come up with a way of dealing with the situation of growing evil. Just as he was nearing Bree however, he encountered Thorin Oakenshield.

Thorin Oakenshield

What has been learnt about Thorin so far.

1. As a young lad he was witness to the invasion of his home, Erebor, and the massacre of many of his kin.

2. . He was courageous and a good fighter as has been seen in the battle of Azanulbizar where he gained his name "Oakenshied"

3. He lived most of his formative years in exile with his father and grandfather.

4. He lost both his grandfather and father in tragic circumstances. Both had been killed attempting to reclaim their heritage, birthright and wealth which had been taken from them.

5. When Thorin became heir of Durin's line after the death of is father, he was still relatively young for a dwarf. He was a dwarf in exile but despite this, he managed to build a home for his people in Ered Luin, west of Eriador. Many of Durin's  folk who were wanderers learned of Thorin's halls and decided to join him. His people prospered and were comfortable but they continued to remember and sing of the good days of Erebor. 

6. Thorin was hard working, and traded successfully with the people of Eriador. He was considered a "great dwarf of proud bearing". He never forgot his noble heritage and became more dissatisfied with his peoples' situation in exile as the years went by. He felt a strong sense of injustice on behalf of  his people, and a sense of duty to restore them to the Lonely Mountain by defeating Smaug, the dragon. Through this defeat, he would reclaim Erebor and the treasure of his forefathers; and avenge the wrongs brought on his House.

"The years lengthened. The embers in the heart of Thorin grew hot again, as he brooded on the wrongs of his House and the vengeance upon the Dragon that he had inherited. He thought of weapons and armies and alliances, as his great hammer rang in his forge; but the armies were dispersed and the alliances broken and the axes of his people were few; and a great anger without hope burned him as he smote the red iron on the anvil." J.R.R. Tolkien: "Return of the King Appendix A: III: Durin's Folk" p 358.

On March 15th 2941, Thorin who was returning home from a journey, met Gandalf by chance in Bree. The story evolves into the "Quest for Erebor".

  

Gandalf's Mission.

The eighth post in my series about Thorin Oakenshield - the years before and leading up to the Quest of Erebor.  I'm going to deviate a little away from Thorin in this post in order to look into the background of Gandalf as he is instrumental in the story of the Quest of Erebor and later in the fall of Sauron, Lord of the Rings. (Source for this post: J.R.R. Tolkien: "Unfinished Tales")

               
The Istari (Quenya for "wizards") or Malar first appeared in Middle Earth in the year 1000 of the Third Age. They were wanderers, emissaries of the Valar, the Lords of the West, and dressed very simply. They gathered information and knowledge of Middle-earth and its people. Initially they did not reveal their powers but as Sauron grew in power, they began to become more active in order to make Men and Elves aware of Sauron's evil. They sought to unite all those whom Sauron aimed to corrupt and dominate. The Istari formed an "Order of Wizards" - it was not known how many there were, but five of the Order came to Middle-earth. The first had a "noble mien and bearing" , he had raven black hair and wore white. He was deemed the leader of the Order. The second and third wore sea blue, and the fourth wore brown. The fifth was smaller than the rest and looked older by leaning on a staff. He had grey hair and was dressed in grey. Cirdan. the Master of the Grey Havens and Keeper of the Third Elven Ring, Narya the Red, was most impressed with the last of the five and predicted that he was the wisest and greatest. For this reason, he gave Narya into his keeping. 

"For" said he "Great labours and perils lie before you, and lest your task prove too great and wearisome, take this Ring for your aid and comfort..." (J.R.R. Tolkien Unfinished Tales" p 504)

The "Grey Messenger" as he was known took the Ring and kept it hidden. The White Messenger learned of it however and deeply resented the fact that he did not possess it. He silently bore the Grey Messenger ill will. The White Messenger was known as Saruman in the language of Men.

The Istari (wizards) journeyed throughout Middle-earth learning about it's people. They were observed by Men to never die but outlive them. They came from the Blessed Realm, "clad in the bodies of Men," they experienced pain, hunger, fear and weariness, "but because of their noble spirits, they did not die". As their years on Middle-earth went increase, they were obliged not to lose sight of their mission (to help unite the people against evil) . By enduring the pain of exile from their Blessed Realm (Valinor or Aman), their sense of mission was supposed to be strengthened. For some Istari, however, "being clad in the bodies of Middle-earth, might cause them to  fall away from their purposes, and do evil, forgetting the good in the search for power to effect it." (Unfinished Tales p504)

Saruman after wandering Middle-earth, later settled in Gondor. It was not known what became of the Blue wizards. Radagast, the fourth, became enchanted by the birds and beasts of Middle-earth and elected to live amongst the wild creatures forgetting his purpose. Saruman later became an impatient, proud wizard who was seduced by a love of power. It was his love of power that allowed Sauron to later ensnare him. That left one who remained faithful to the mission. The Grey Wizard. He did not live in any one place but wandered the Westlands, befriending folk in times of need. He was warm and friendly, and under the influence of Narya, the 3rd Elven Ring, he was "eager of spirit".

"He was the Enemy of Sauron, opposing the fire that devours and wastes with the fire that kindles, and succours in wanhope and distress; but his joy and his swift wrath, were veiled in garments grey as ash, so that only those that knew him well glimpsed the flame that was within. Merry he could be, and kindly to the young and simple, and yet quick at times to sharp speech and the rebuking of folly; buthe was not proud, and sought neither power nor praise; and this far and wide he was beloved among all those that were not themselves proud. Mostly he journeyed unwearyingly on foot, leaning on a staff; and so he was called among Men of the North, Gandalf, 'the Elf of the Wand'" (J.R.R. Tolkien: "Unfinished Tales" p 505-6)

His mission, as it was for all five, was to unite all those who had the will to resist Sauron's evil.

In 2850 of the Third Age, Gandalf suspicious of an evil brewing in Mirkwood, set out to discover if his suspicions had any foundation. In disguise, he was able to enter Dol Guldur (hill of sorcery) which lay in the southern parts of Mirkwood and discovered that its Master was Sauron (thought to have been defeated at the end of the Second Age in the "War Against the Last Alliance of Elves and Men"). It was at Dol Guldur, that he discovered......

"..... an unhappy dwarf dying in the pits. I had no idea who he was. He had a map that belonged to Durin's folk in Moria, and a key that seemed to go with it, though he was too far gone to explain it. Ane he said that he had possessed a great Ring.

Nearly all his ravings were of that. The Last of the Seven he said over and over again.  ... But he gave the map and the key to me. 'For my son' he said; and then he died and soon after I escaped myself. I stowed away the things myself and by some warning in my heart I kept them always with me, safe, but soon almost forgotten"  (J.R.R. Tolkien. "Unfinished Tales" p 419)

The "unhappy dwarf" was Thráin and the map and key re-surface 99 years later when Gandalf finally encounters Thorin Oakenshield in Bree. 

TBC - next post. Gandalf's fears of Sauron's plan to take over the North and the meeting with Thorin - how the histories all start to fit together. 

Side note: Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic. As I was reading about Gandalf , it struck me that there were similarities to the prophets of biblical times.