Throughout this book, a common element has been made clear by the character Thorin. He seems to have a big ego and gets what he wants, but only has this attitude because of the success that Bilbo has given him.
In chapter 11, the dwarves as well as Bilbo forgot the message that Elrond read from the map to help them open the door, so they began to beat at the door and failed to get into it. Then Bilbo suddenly remembers the message after hearing a snail being banged against a rock by a bird. He then shares the message with everyone and the it is Thorin who is the one who gets to open this all important door. "Suddenly Bilbo understood…Bilbo explained…They all fell silent…Then Thorin stepped up and drew the key on its chain from around his neck. He put it to the hole"(end of chapter 11 - my text is an online version). He steals Bilbo's thunder from remembering the message by being the one who gets to open the door.
Then in the beginning of chapter 12, Thorin makes Bilbo go into the mountain area and explore instead of Thorin doing it; he doesn't want to get hurt or captured to lose his inheritance, so he would rather have Bilbo do it. He seems to be really selfish in his travels and only wants his inheritance by whatever means necessary, but these means will not negatively affect him because he lets Bilbo be the snooper in the door. Thorin is a weak "leader" because he is the one who should be taking the risks to get his inheritance, but he makes Bilbo be the one to take the risks.
Questions:
1. If Thorin can be so confident in telling the people of Lake Town that he wants his inheritance, why is he such a baby when it comes to possible danger?
2. Why was Bilbo deemed the burglar if he is clearly not even wanting to be a confident leader as shown by the beginning of the book?
Very interesting blog post. To answer your question I think that its because he's selfish. He is only doing things to help himself, such as claiming his inheritance. And for your second question I think that he is deemed the burglar because that's what his ancestors were.
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