The character Thorin Oakenshield is well known to all fans of the legend of John R. R. Tolkien and the film adaptations of The Hobbit. He is called the King under the Mountain and the heir to Erebor, the gnome kingdom located under the Lonely Mountain. Together with his people, Thorin was expelled from his home after the attack of the terrible dragon Smaug. After several centuries, he managed to assemble a small detachment and go on a campaign to recover the lost gold and the throne. In addition to the dwarves themselves, Gandalf the Gray and the hobbit Bilbo Bagins took part in this campaign.
In Torin two images were united at once - this is a Scandinavian hero and a Shakespearean character. The first part of the story describes it on the positive side, but in the second part it is presented more in a negative light. His changes are associated with dragon gold and greed, which overshadowed the mind of the King under the Mountain. Torin’s fate is similar to that of Boromir from The Lord of the Rings.
The last film project in which Thorin Oakenshield appeared on the screen is The Hobbit. The actor who performed this role is the British Richard Armitage.
Hero name
The full name of the character is Thorin II (Second) Oakenshield. "Thorin" is translated from Old Norse as "courage." This name can be found in the Old Norse poem called "Divination of the Velva". Thorin inherited the title of Second from his ancestor, King Thorin the First.
The hero received his nickname - Oakenshield - after the battle for Azanulbizar, where he had to defend himself with an ordinary oak branch. It is noteworthy that some translators use transliteration, calling Thorin not Oakenshield, but Oukenshild. Such a translation decision, again, can be connected with the poem "Reprimand of the Velva".
Also in the legendarium, the character is often called the King of the people of Durin. Durin is the oldest of the seven Dwarf Forefathers from whom Thorin comes from. King Oakenshield became after the death of his father Train.
Lastly, King-under-the-Mountain or Piedmont King is the last name by which this character is known. Thorin received the title of King Erebor after the liberation of the Lonely Mountain from Smaug.
Characteristic and image
Based on the text description from The Hobbit, we can imagine the image of Torin Duboshchit as Professor Tolkien intended it. The hero appears before the readers in a sky-blue hood, which complements the silver brush. In addition, we are informed that Torin always wears a gold chain, and also knows how to play the harp. Of the weapons, Oakenshield prefers his faithful ax, the Gondolin sword Orkrist, which he found in the troll's den, and the bow to which he resorts while hunting. A photo of Thorin Oakenshield (performed by actor Richard Armitage) can be seen below.
As for the moral character of the hero, it can be called ambivalent. Very often, Thorin appears as a brave and decisive leader who is fair to his friends and true to his word. At the same time, he shows a tendency to greed and pride - qualities that in the final account led to his death.
The beginning of the story
Thorin was born during the Third Era, in 2746. He came from the Durin clan, he was the son of Train the Second and the grandson of Tror, also known as the King of the Hill. Also, Torin had siblings - Freerin and Dis.
In 2770 of the Third Age, Lonely Mountain was attacked by the dragon Smaug, attracted by rumors of dwarven riches. The people of Tror lost their home and went on long wanderings. In 2793, after Thor died at the hands of the orc of Azog, war broke out between the dwarves and orcs. The final battle took place at Azanulbizar, during which Torin received his famous nickname Oakenshield.
At the end of the war, Train II brought his people to the Blue Mountains, where he tried to create a new home. In 2841, he suddenly disappeared, and his place was taken by Thorin, who was proclaimed the Exiled King. The rule of Thorin brought the dwarves a little long-awaited peace and prosperity.
Journey to the Lonely Mountain
All the time spent in the Blue Mountains, Thorin Oakenshield did not abandon the dream of returning to the real house - Erebor. In 2941, Thorin visited Bree, where he met with Gandalf the Gray. Gandalf was worried about the Dark Lord and that, having revived, Sauron could use Smaug to attack the north of Middle-earth. The wizard listened to Thorin's plans and convinced him not to engage in open war with the dragon. He proposed to assemble a small detachment, which would include the most devoted companions, including Torin's nephews. He also advised taking a cracker and even named a specific candidate for this role - the hobbit Bilbo Bagins.
The detachment's path to Erebor passed through Blackwood, where Torin and his company were attacked first by spiders, and then by forest elves. The elven king Thranduil demanded to know the purpose of the dwarf campaign, but Oakenshield refused to disclose his plans. From the subsequent conclusion of the dwarves, Bilbo Bagins rescued.
Arriving at Lonely Mountain, Thorin and his companions awakened the dragon. When Smaug went to sow destruction in the Lake City, the dwarves managed to take refuge inside Erebor. The dragon was defeated by Bard, who demanded from Thorin part of the gold to restore the destroyed city, but was refused.
The Siege of Erebor and the Battle of the Five Armies
Of all the lost treasures, Thorin wanted to possess only one - the legendary stone of Arkenstone, the Heart of the Mountain. Arkenstone was transferred to Bard and Thranduil Bilbo Bagins, as the hobbit wanted to resolve the conflict through peace talks. Thorin expelled the cracker and promised to pay for the gem. Soon, other armies appeared at the mountain - both supporters and opponents. The battle of Erebor was called the Battle of the Five Armies - it claimed the lives of many heroes, including Thorin. Before his death, the King under the Hill managed to make peace with Bilbo.
The embodiment of the image in the trilogy: Thorin Oakenshield - actor Richard Armitage
The last large-scale film trilogy in the world of Middle-earth was filmed by director Peter Jackson. In it, viewers saw a slightly altered image of Torin Duboshchit, and Richard Armitage became the actor who embodied the character on the screen.
He admitted that he created the internal appearance of the character, inspired by reading the plays of William Shakespeare and listening to Russian church music. In the films, Thorin looks much younger and more courageous than his book original.