like gazpacho!
1. Does Thorin appreciate the gravity of what he has just said? Can he be
unaware of the history of the Noldorin? Do dwarves take oaths less seriously
than other folk in Middle Earth? If events had gone otherwise in the Battle of
the Five Armies, would Thorin have sought vengeance from Bilbo?
A.1: I think so. Thorin hasn't sworn eternal enmity, promised to pursue this
individual to the "ends of the earth", nor has he stated what vengeance he
would take. He has made it clear that he would extract a price from any who
will not give it to him. As we'll see, Bilbo will sneak out of this on a
technicality. If the Battle of the Five Armies ended differently, Thorin would
still not have sought vengeance on Bilbo if Thorin had gotten the Arkenstone
back.
Dwarves take their oaths very seriously, which is part of why I don't see this
as being that terrible. If Thorin seriously thought that any present would
actually keep the Arkenstone from him, we would have seen an oath more
along the lines of Fëanor's oath.
2. Assuming Thorin's promise is to be taken seriously, is he justified in
making it? Fëanor, the greatest artisan in Arda, poured all his creativity into
the Silmarils. Thorin's only claim to the Arkenstone is that his forebears
"found" it under the Mountain, and had it stolen from them by Smaug. Is
anything other than greed operating here?
A.2: Sure, why not? The Arkenstone belongs to Thorin and his house. It is
very highly valued and has been stolen. Why shouldn't Thorin vow to find it and
to have vengeance on those who would prevent him from regaining it? What else
is operating here?
Justice.
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"Virtue is not always amiable."
-John Adams
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