Quote Analysis #4 - Grim Music

Under normal circumstances, the songs within The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are to be avoided at all costs. At best, the represent a few pages that one can skip to come that much closer to the end of your reading, at worst they come to represent a Disney-esque tendency for even the most evil of monsters to burst into song at any given moment. HOWEVER, for those willing to deny the pain, there is truth and character development to be gleaned for those who brave the lyrics.

“Under the mountain dark and tall

The King has come unto his hall!

His foe is dead, the Worm of Dream,

And ever so his foes shall fall.”

Irony. How else can we describe the dwarves claims made within this verse. They claim that the King has returned because of the death of Smaug, and that if he can defeat the dragon, he can defeat any. However, Bard is the one who defeated Smaug, not the dwarves. Does this mean that Bard is the true King or perhaps it foreshadows Thorin’s fall in claiming to be the King when he was not the one to defeat his foe. 

 

“The sword is sharp, the spear is long,

The arrow swift, the Gate is strong;

The heart is bold that looks on gold;

The dwarves no more shall suffer wrong.”

Throughout the entire tale it never seems that Thorin & Co demonstrates much courage – all the difficult jobs (sneaking up on Smaug, killing spiders, stealing from trolls) are given to Bilbo. Yet, when their gold lust is riled, they 13 will stand up to hundreds of men and elves. Also, irony is again found – “the arrow swift” – Bard’s arrow was swift that killed Smaug, the only time we hear of the dwarves using arrows is to shoot squirrels, and they don’t do that very well.

"The King is come unto his hall

Under the mountain dark and tall.

The Worm of Dread is slain and dead,

And ever so our foes shall fall!"

This final moment provides true foreshadowing. The king has come, and his true foe shall fall – his pride. Not until his pride is brought low is Thorin redeemed and that does not occur until his death. In this, Smaug represents pride, greed, and lust and the spiritual Smaug has not defeated. His plague and curse infects the gold and Thorin cannot return to the mountain until he sets aside his pride. Yes, the King returns, but not until he lies upon his death bed.

-E