On the nature of the relationship between Bilbo and Thorin.
It is said that no bond is stronger than the bond between brothers, save perhaps the bond between brothers in arms.
The setting is October 25, 1415. A bloodied and battered English army is retreating from a hard fought campaign in with the Royal French army in hot pursuit…after days of following close behind, the fresh troops of the French finally catch the exhausted English and engage them on the muddy fields of Agincourt
Of course, the story does not end here for the English.
Outnumbered, outclassed, and outarmed, they would go on to win one of the most decisive battles in history against the Royal French army, inflicting over 5,000 casualties to the French while sustaining less than 500 of their own.
The English would successfully finish their retreat back to England where, in five more years, King Henry V of England would be crowned King of and England after his miraculous campaign.
This very event came to inspire William Shakespeare to pen one of the greatest speeches in history some 184 years later, in the play we know today as Henry V.
“This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly ’d.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be ’d;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”
“we happy few, we band of brothers”… This is the core nature of the deep bond and friendship between Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield.
The iration and affection they share brought on, not as some elaboration of romance or sexual desire for each other, but by the experiences they shared.
“For he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother”… The experience of two comrades fighting against insurmountable odds to achieve a common goal.
Sacrificing life and limb, blood, sweat, and tears as their relationship is forged in the crucible of perilous danger and unimaginable adventure.
“Be he ne’er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition”… Sacrifices counterintuitive to survival, however the very act bringing greater meaning to one’s survival.
The realization that true friendship will arise out of companionship when two or more individuals share the same burden, and the understanding of each other that it entails.
In short, the love of friendship that Bilbo and Thorin share is not love born of desire, but a friendship born from an understanding that only brothers in arms who have fought and bled and died by each other could share.
Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
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