The Hobbit Read-Along discussion

Thorin Oakenshield, the aspiring King Under the Mountain is probably the most important character in the book (after Bilbo, of course.) And he's an interesting one. His relationship with Bilbo is sometimes strained, and his behavior undergoes a pretty drastic change once he's reached his ancestral homeland. This thread is for any and all discussions of his character, including his relationship to Gandalf and Bilbo, his motivations in the quest, the nature of his "dragon sickness", and the decisions that lead up to the Battle of Five Armies.

Also, please remember that this is a "NO MOVIE DISCUSSIONS" thread - there is an identical thread in the "may include movie discussions" folder for anyone who wants to discuss Thorin's portrayal in the films.