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Definition of Verbal Irony
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging outside and someone remarks "what... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. When there's a hurricane raging... read full definition
Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean... read full definition
Chapter 15: The Gathering Storm
Explanation and Analysis—Eat Your Gold:
In Chapter 15, the men of the lake demand that Thorin share some of the treasure with Bard; it is only fair, they argue, given that Bard slayed Smaug. Thorin furiously shoots an arrow back at the messenger, who fires back with verbal and situational irony:
“Since such is your answer,” he called in return, “I declare the Mountain besieged. You shall not depart from it, until you call on your side for a truce and a parley. We will bear no weapons against you, but we leave you to your gold. You may eat that, if you will!”
The suggestion that Thorin and his party eat gold—a substance that is by no means edible—is clearly meant as verbal irony. What the messenger actually means is that the men of the lake have the upper hand. They are about to lay siege to the mountain, and there is nothing inside for Thorin and the rest to eat except the provisions they have already run through. Before long, Thorin will have to either surrender or let his company starve to death.
By laughing at the idea that the gold inside the mountain will feed Thorin, Bilbo, and the dwarves, the messenger also points out the situational irony of Thorin's stubbornness. Thorin has spent his whole life waiting for the day when he can reclaim the Lonely Mountain on behalf of his people. He has assembled a group of 13 dwarves, one hobbit, and a part-time wizard to make the difficult journey here. After locating the side entrance to the mountain and breaking into it, Thorin has at long last seen the defeat of the dragon who drove his family and people out of the mountain. However, he is about to let his self-centered greed ruin the entire enterprise. What good will a mountain full of gold do Thorin or the dwarves if they don't live to rebuild their city?
Thorin maintains that all of the riches inside the mountain belong to the dwarves because the gold and jewels all come from the ruins of the dwarves' old city. He rejects the idea that the men of the lake deserve any of the treasure just for killing Smaug. It seems unfair to him that just when he has finally won back his people's birthright, these men demand some of it for themselves. They hardly seem better to him than Smaug. What Thorin and the men of the lake all fail to recognize in this moment (and what Bilbo comes to understand) is that there ought to be solidarity between the dwarves and men. Smaug terrorized the men's city of Dale at the same time as he drove out the dwarves. Now that the dwarves have returned and Bard has killed Smaug, there is a chance for all of them to live happily together. Thorin sees fit to reward Bilbo for his fellowship with one-fourteenth of the treasure. By recognizing the same kind of fellowship with the men, Thorin could save his own people and help usher in a new age of abundance for all the inhabitants of this area.
Related Themes:
