> 
> But Bilbo WAS hired specifically to be a thief.  From picking up something 
> on
> the floor and keeping it, even knowing it 'belonged' to someone else (who
> himself stole it) to actual thievery from a dragon (who also stole his
> hoard
> from the dwarves)... it's almost like Biblo is a sanctioned thief, because 
> the
> beings from whom he steals are much 'worse'.  
> 
> darkelf, pickin' on da hobbit
> 
> =====
> 
> Agreed.  Actually, as an adult, I find that one of the more interesting
> aspects of the story is Bilbo's ambivalent attitude to being the official
> "thief".  Not quite the occupation for a well brought up Hobbit, what?
> 
> Actually, to my way of thinking, the only thing Bilbo really stole was the
> Heart Jewel (Arkenstone?  You know the one I mean).  Of course, he was trying
> to end the war . . .
> 
> Oh, and food and such from the elves.  Of course, he was trying to stay out
> of their dungeon . . .

Heh.  One wonders why the dwarves chose a hobbit to be their thief, no?  A
middle-class, well-to-do hobbit, a bunch of poor-but-noble-descended dwarves
(at least Thorin was, but I thought the rest might have been, too)... hmm.  I
feel a classist reading of Tolkien coming on.  

darkelf, probably will make me unpopular

=====
Obsequium parit amicos; veritas parit odium.  - Cicero
(Compliance produces friends; truth produces hate.)

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