Them Dwarves, Them Dwarves!

» isengar - The Score on Dwarves

Interesting suggestions are made here as to the actual “birth” of the Dwarves that are perhaps along the same line of thought as Tolkien’s would have been, though certainly less imaginative. I would strongly support the first date of VY 1130 since the second earlier date is conjectured based on information that the Petty Dwarves gave Turin. I don’t believe even Tolkien would encourage anyone to believe anything the Petty Dwarves said since they were pretty hostile, notorious and, as Turin’s tale shows, capable of doing the most shamefully low deeds. The Petty Dwarves seem to be what’s remained of Tolkien’s original “evil” conception for the Dwarves—he produced a small, short-lived community of bad apples. The fact that these guys die off already in the First Age says a lot about what chances scummy dwarves have to survive, and makes the possibility that even the easternmost Dwarf houses are evil slim. If Tolkien suggests it, we’d have to be clear and specific as to what was said. Obviously they weren’t evil enough to join Sauron, which says a lot.

We don’t need Tolkien to specify what the feuds between the early Dwarves were about. They were most likely about gold as we all know. Dwarves never change. The story of Durin the Deathless, however, would have been a great one to write. The facts on him point to the indisputable conclusion that Durin is important to the evolution of the Dwarves. He lived way too long for any dwarf and was born all by himself unlike his brothers. Because of this he has no people, rather his people consist of one could say the best of the other houses. He’s the binding element, the Abraham if you will. It is he who builds the Dwarf nation, its greatest city and the royal bloodline that will bring Dwarves the most esteem and heroic tales in Middle-earth lore. For this reason, I agree (in fact I would almost certify) that Durin’s death is the catalyst that disperses the Dwarves. Without that monumental figure under which they could feel united by something tangible, their self-interest would rule and lead them astray as it generally does.

So we have the Longbeards, Firebeards, Broadbeams, Ironfists, Stiffbeards, Blacklocks and Stonefoots. I’ve never heard the names of all the houses until now and I assume they’re drawn from various sources like the volumes of _The History of Middle-earth_ since I’ve only come across the first three in my readings thus far. The names interest me; I wish Tolkien had done more with them even though they’re nasty fellows. I guess it’s the fact that they bring drama to Middle-earth, the sort of soap operas men enjoy. Maybe it’s how stalwart and proud they are. Maybe it’s the laughs and tears they drew out of me in _The Hobbit_. Maybe it’s that they remind me of my loud, stubborn grandfather who I love despite the fact that he can be a real jerk because I’m stuck with him.

Either way I wonder at the names. Longbeards we know had the longest beards. Makes sense. The Firebeards I’m guessing had red beards—the guys that fought with Doriath. The Broadbeams I’m guessing were like the Stoors in Dwarf terms—those Belegostians. The rest do sound more sinister if not unfriendly. Ironfists—I can easily imagine they had hands that were really made of iron. Stiffbeards—a bunch of pricks with tongs up their behinds. Blacklocks—dwarves with long dark braided hair who love to quarrel. Stonefoots—again I can imagine their feet actually being stone, but on top of that they are set in their ways to a fault and never back down. Gotta love ‘em.

Besides this, I was wondering just how many ages there were before the Sun and the Moon and how long each lasted.

-- posted by isengar

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» BandwagonNewbie - Re: The Score on Dwarves

In response to message posted by isengar:

I imagine that they fought over turf and resources, too.

-- posted by BandwagonNewbie

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» Anglin - 1st Age, Chronology

I read your point of view very carefully and some details of these one are very interresting.
But I'm surprisly find some date there.
The fact is that I try to study the dwarven people, and when I foccuses on some major figures like Telchar and Azaghal, No one there to help me
Angrist, Narsil and the Dragon-helm of Dor Lomin
Are these ones forged between 260 FA and 471 FA (Glaurung first appearance and Nirnaeth Arnoediad ?)
What can you say about that ?

-- posted by Anglin

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