|
Yes, I always took that literally - and I like that idea. I assume, since coal, at least in our world's history in the Middle Ages, was mostly the one you "make" from wood, while the Dwarves did actually dig it, it points towards some advanced technology, and therefore probably means working in some Dwarven mines, most likely in the Blue Mountains, where we know Thorin and co. lived for a long time. So, I think it was simply a "working class-Dwarves'" job, while the coal would later be used for Dwarven furnaces, since that coal can produce much more heat than wood and you need high temperatures for making all kinds of super-extra steel and whatnot. So I imagine the Dwarves would be working among their own, but it would be just a very mechanical, "dirty" job for someone as fancy as Thorin.
Of course, it's possible Gandalf was only exaggerating and being sort of ironic. Actually, I am pretty sure he was. But that doesn't rule out the possibility of some of the Dwarves, if not all, at some point really making their living by digging coal.
__________________
"Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories
|