Dori

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 15:03, 31 August 2020 by 104.1.146.98 (talk) (Later Life)
Dori
Dwarf
Jake Murray - Dori.jpg
"Dori" by Jake Murray
Biographical Information
LocationThorin's Halls
Lonely Mountain
AffiliationThorin and Company
LanguageKhuzdul and Westron
Notable forThe Quest of Erebor
Family
HouseDurin
SiblingsNori[1]
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorWhite
ClothingPurple hood and a Silver belt[1]
GalleryImages of Dori

Dori was a Dwarf who, being of Durin's Folk, probably dwelt in the northern Blue Mountains with Thorin after the latter had settled there after Thráin II had disappeared.[2] He was one of the thirteen Dwarves who journeyed to Erebor to challenge the dragon Smaug, and after the successful conclusion of this quest he lived with his part of the treasure at the Lonely Mountain.[3]

History

Dori's parentage is unknown although he was a member of the House of Durin and a remote kinsman of Thorin.[2] He was also the brother of Nori, and a cousin of Ori.[1] His birth year is also unknown. However, in Bilbo Baggins' account of the quest to Erebor he stated that the brothers Fíli and Kíli were the youngest of the thirteen "by some fifty years"[4] and that when Thorin was missing, Balin was "the eldest left".[5] Since Fíli was born in T.A. 2859 and Balin was born in 2763,[2] this would put Dori's birth between 2809 and 2763, and he would have been between 132 and 178 years old during the quest to Erebor. Thorin stated that Dori was the strongest of the Dwarves in the company.[6] Dori (and Nori) shared Bilbo's opinion that meals should be plentiful and frequent.[7], and also it is said that Dori was "a decent fellow despite his grumbling".

The Quest of Erebor

When Bilbo first met Dori (in the fourth group of Dwarves to arrive at Bag End alongside Nori and Ori and another set of brothers, Óin and Glóin) he was wearing a purple hood along with a silver belt. During the evening when Thorin called for music, Dori (along with Nori and Ori) played the flute.[8]

Bilbo proclaimed Dori to be "really a decent fellow"[9] because thrice Dori assisted Bilbo when the hobbit might otherwise have been killed: First, Dori carried Bilbo in the tunnels of the Misty Mountains during the escape from the goblins, but unfortunately dropped him;[4] the other Dwarves later blamed him for losing their burglar, especially the wizard Gandalf arguing with the dwarf. Second, during the escape from the Wargs, Dori climbed down from a tree, which allowed Bilbo to scramble up Dori and into the tree. Lastly, Bilbo grabbed Dori's legs as they were carried off by an eagle, saving them from a fire lit by Goblins.[9]

When Gandalf was telling the story of the company's adventures to Beorn, Dori and Thorin were the first two Dwarves to show up.[10] Thorin also notes that Dori is the strongest of their company. Upon being pulled out of the barrel after escaping the Elvenking's halls, Dori was one of the Dwarves who was waterlogged and seemed only half alive.[11]

Dori later fought in and survived the Battle of Five Armies. He was given his share of the treasure by Dáin Ironfoot, the new king under the mountain, and made his home in Erebor alongside his other companions that survived the battle.[12]

Later Life

Dori lived a wealthy life after the quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain. He was still alive during the War of the Ring, as mentioned by Glóin before the Council of Elrond.[3]. His date of death is unknown, though it would have been before Fo.A. 91 when Dwalin passed away, as the dwarf was the last member of the Company to pass away.

Etymology

Dóri is a dwarf from the Dvergatal. His name most likely means "Borer" or "auger-man".[13]

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
unknown
parent
 
 
 
 
 
unknown
parent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ori
d. 2994
 
 
 
DORI
fl. T.A. 2941
 
Nori
fl. T.A. 2941
 
 
Thorin II
2746 - 2941


Portrayal in adaptations

Dori in adaptations

Films

1966: The Hobbit (1966 film):

Dori is omitted. Thorin Oakenshield only travels with an unnamed guard and the princess of Dale.[14]

1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):

Dori is voiced by John Stephenson. Apart from Thorin, he is one of only three of the other Dwarves who speaks with any regularity (Balin and Bombur being the others). As in the book, he sometimes carries Bilbo on his back. He is the one to discover the Hobbit is missing during their escape from Goblin-town. Bilbo also holds onto his leg (much to his chagrin) while the Eagles are flying the Company to safety. Later, after reclaiming Erebor, you see the dwarves celebrating as Dori jokingly says bout him being king under the mountain. During the Battle of Five Armies you see Dori, stabbed (making him possibly one of the dwarves that passed away during the battle).

2012-14: The Hobbit (film series):

Dori is played by Mark Hadlow.[15] A description of Dori in The Hobbit films was released by the studio:

A distant relative of Thorin Oakenshield, Dori is the eldest amongst his brothers Ori and Nori. He is the strongest in The Company of Dwarves, and spends much of his time watching out for Ori, making sure he hasn’t caught a chill or gotten himself killed by Wargs or Goblins. Eternally pessimistic, with a natural tendency to expect the worst, Dori is nonetheless quite prepared to risk life and limb in order to get the job done.
Warner Bros.[16]

Radio series

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):

Dori is played by Alexander John.

1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):

No actor is specified for the role of Dori.

Games

1982: The Hobbit (1982 video game):

Dori is omitted; Thorin is the only companion of the player, Bilbo Baggins.[17]

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

Dori has a long brown beard without moustache. He does not appear in the game until Lake-town, though he can be seen in the fir tree with Bilbo, much like the scene in the book.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Dori is a non-playable character, who is the official "High Hoard Seeker" of Erebor. He is captured along with the gems he was bringing to the Dwarves of Othrikar by the Dourhands. The player must rescue him in Vol I, Book III, Chapter 4 "Freeing Dori". He also makes an appearance during the Dwarven Introduction quest line, at Thorin's Gate. Much later, after the events of Sauron's Fall, he is found in various places in Erebor, and leads an expedition into the Ered Mithrin to save his brother Nori.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, "Addendum: The Seventh Phase", "iv. Personae"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Over Hill and Under Hill"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Barrels Out of Bond"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Flies and Spiders"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Roast Mutton"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
  9. 9.0 9.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Queer Lodgings"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
  13. Chester Nathan Gould, "Dwarf-Names: A Study in Old Icelandic Religion", published in Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, Vol 44 (1929), issue #4, pp. 939-967
  14. "The Hobbit.mp4" dated 5 January 2012, YouTube (accessed 10 January 2012)
  15. Peter Jackson, "Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit" dated 20 March 2011, Facebook (accessed 23 December 2011)
  16. Warner Bros., "Hobbit Movies" dated 7 September 2012, Apple iPhone/iPad App (accessed 19 September 2012)
  17. ZX Computing, 8304 (April/May 1983), p. 76, accessed April 24 2011
Members of Thorin and Company
Thorin · Balin · Dwalin · Fíli · Kíli · Dori · Nori · Ori · Óin · Glóin · Bifur · Bofur · Bombur · Gandalf · Bilbo Baggins
Route of Thorin and Company
Bag End · Green Dragon · The Shire · Lone-lands · Last Bridge · Trollshaws · Trolls' cave · Rivendell · High Pass · Front Porch · Goblin-town · Goblin-gate · Eagle's Eyrie · Carrock · Beorn's Hall · Wilderland · Forest Gate · Elf-path · Mirkwood · Elvenking's Halls · Forest River · Lake-town · Long Lake · River Running · Desolation of the Dragon · Ravenhill · Back Door · Lonely Mountain · Great Hall of Thráin