Oin

Oin is one of the thirteen dwarves who, together with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins and the wizard Gandalf, make up Thorin and Company, the expedition to reclaim the lost dwarf kingdom under the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. He is a member of the company that gathers unexpectedly at Bilbo's hobbit-hole, Bag-End, on a Wednesday in April, and he is present for the singing of the dwarves' song of the misty mountains and the planning of the quest. Oin is not one of the principal leaders of the company, but he is a steady presence throughout the journey, and his specific skills become important at several critical moments.

Role and Skills

Oin is noted for his particular expertise in making fire. When the company is caught in a cold, wet night in the Lone-lands and cannot get a fire started, the narrator observes that "dwarves can make a fire almost anywhere out of almost anything, wind or no wind; but they could not do it that night, not even Oin and Gloin, who were specially good at it." This failure, combined with the loss of much of their food when a pony bolts into the river, forces the company to seek shelter from the trolls, leading to their capture. Later, after the eagles rescue the company from the Wargs and the goblins, Oin and Gloin have lost their tinder-boxes, so Gandalf must set the fire himself. Oin's skill is also called upon inside the Lonely Mountain: after the dwarves are trapped in the tunnel and Bilbo calls for light, Oin and Gloin are sent back to their bundles to fetch torches, and Oin returns carrying a small pine-torch alight.

Journey and Adventures

Oin participates in all the major events of the quest. He is captured by the trolls, imprisoned by the goblins in the Misty Mountains, and carried by the eagles to safety. He is present at the home of Beorn, where the company is fed and given provisions. During the journey through Mirkwood, Oin is among the dwarves who are captured by the Wood-elves and imprisoned in the Elvenking's halls. He is freed by Bilbo's plan to hide the dwarves in empty barrels and float them down the Forest River to Lake-town. After the death of Smaug, Oin is part of the company that fortifies the Front Gate of the Mountain and endures the siege by the Elves and Lake-men. He fights in the Battle of Five Armies, where the goblins and Wargs are defeated.

Relationships and Conflict

Oin is closely associated with his brother Gloin; the two are often mentioned together, especially in connection with their shared skill at fire-making and their tendency to quarrel when frustrated. Oin is not a prominent voice in the company's debates, but he is a loyal member of the group. He is present when the dwarves grumble about Bilbo's usefulness early in the quest, and later, after Bilbo rescues them from the spiders, Oin is among those who bow to the hobbit in gratitude. He is also one of the dwarves who, after the treasure is recovered, is given a share of the hoard by Dain, who becomes King under the Mountain.

Change and Ending

Oin survives the quest and the battle. After Thorin's death and the burial of the King under the Mountain, Oin is one of the ten remaining companions of Thorin who choose to stay with Dain in the restored halls of the Lonely Mountain. He does not return to the West with Bilbo. Years later, when Balin visits Bilbo at Bag-End, he reports that things are going well in the lands of the Mountain, implying that Oin and the others are prospering. Oin's fate is thus one of survival and reward, a quiet but essential member of the company who lived to see the treasure won and the kingdom restored.

Narrative Role and Evaluation

Oin is a secondary character in the company, defined more by his practical skill than by individual personality or dramatic action. His role is that of a capable and reliable dwarf, one of the many who make up the group's collective strength. His specific talent for fire-making is highlighted at moments of crisis, and his survival through the many dangers of the quest underscores the theme that even the less prominent members of an adventure can play a vital part and share in its rewards. He is a representative of the ordinary dwarves of Thorin's company, whose steadfastness contributes to the success of the expedition.