Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar
Now, if you were reading this chapter for the first time, could you really stop at that point, or would you go on to the next chapter to see what happens?!
|
Now, now,
Estelyn Telmoderator, are you trying to stir up a canonicity tempest? Do you mean reading it now as an adult, reading it now as a child, reading it by pushing LotR out of our minds? Dear me, the teapot will boil over.
I have to say that, much as I greatly enjoy the previous chapter, I find this to spin its wheels a bit instead of the story proper. Rightly the story does need a bit of drawing out of suspense and prolongation of the dragon theme. And we do have to have scenes where the dwarves confront the treasure hoard. I think I find it a little too obvious in its narrative role. Perhaps this is simply another way of saying that more humour might have provided a better contrast and lead in to the .... *removed as spoiler alert*
Reading now, the slime the dragon spreads on the ancient dwarven deep delving reminds me of a Ghostbusters' line: "They slimed me!". Totally incongruous I know.
Logically I suppose when one wants to delay the really big show with the dragon, a time out to develop character interaction seems reasonable. One thing I find interesting is that the dwarves do not themselves fall out in greed to amass some of the dragon hoard. And Thorin even shows the good business sense to hand Bilbo his part of the deal. Rapacious the dwarves are not.
The description of the Arkenstone immediately reminds me of Saruman of Many Colours. Yes it has "ten thousand sparks of white radiance" but it is also "shot with glints of the rainbow." Is this a stone that can break the light but still keep it together?
I like the brief descriptions of the ancient underground and appreciate the little bit of symbolism with the head waters of the Running River. With the dwarves now in possession of their ancient holdings, they are reborn into a new light. And who is it who is not at home? Obviously Smaug has gone elsewhere, but the dwarves
are home, although not home free.