Inside Middle-earth — Thorin Oakenshield
One of the great Dwarfs of the Third Age.
The story and the figure of Thorin II Oakenshield are that of a tragic character, one of those that have been seen countless times throughout the history of literature. Although transmitted through fantastic stories, a universal vision about the human being has the same credibility.
We could name from the Homeric heroes to the great Shakespearean protagonists, all united by the same common thread to which Thorin also belongs.
In Tolkien’s world, the misadventures of the dwarf show us how cruel life can be for dreamers, but at the same time, it is the confirmation of an unshakable faith in dreams and a will to fulfill what is promised that is carried to the ultimate consequences.
Thorin was born in 2746 of the Third Age in the dwarven kingdom of Erebor, on the Lonely Mountain. He was the grandson of King Thrór and son of Prince Thráin II, making him the heir to the throne.
The difficulties for him began early in life. When he was 24 years old, Thorin and all his people were expelled by the dragon Smaug, who attacked Erebor, attracted by the riches that the Dwarves harbored there. Despite fighting with the bravery typical of their race, they had to leave the Lonely Mountain and travel south. They settled in…
