So we all know that out of everyone in the company, Bofur is the only full-time miner? Yeah, Bifur probably used to be a miner before the ‘axe in the head’ incident, but I think he wouldn’t be allowed to go in the mines full time with that injury.
And I know that being a miner was probably a common job for Dwarves, but what if it isn’t? What if the job for most miners is only temporary due to the amount of risks that can come from it? Since I feel like a lot of people forget about the fact that mining was/is a fairly dangerous job.
In Bofur’s case, the risks would be more around coal dust inhalation, lack of oxygen, mines collapsing, potentially getting injured by the pickaxe, manual labour leading to physical pain, and quite possibly, if you didn’t mine enough, you didn’t get paid enough either.
I thought about this tonight, and wondered if the reason Bofur was taken on the quest was because he would be used to the demanding physical labour, along with potentially not getting a reward by the end of it. I also wonder if miners are treated specially by the Dwarves due to the dangers of their job, and how important they are to Dwarven society, which might explain scenes when Bofur is sitting by Thorin’s right/left side in the first movie when they ransack Bilbo’s home, because fat spot should logically be for Balin- his advisor. It would also explain why- despite being the clown of the company, and I mean that affectionately- he’s also taken seriously, even if he suggests turning back during the beginning of ‘desolation of Smaug’.
And then I found it funny that Bofur would be getting five star treatment, not just by the company, but also by other Dwarves, and I mean Bifur and Bombur fending off unwanted courtships, or people who may only want to marry him for the respect miners receive, etc etc.
Even better, imagine some Dwarves insulting him for his appearance, or thinking he doesn’t do much, only to find out he’s a frigging miner who essentially helps run Dwarven society by supplying materials for trade and personal use.
Or even a politician tripping over themselves to apologise for bumping into him, accidentally making him drop something or even delaying his break from mining.
The opportunities are endless and I find that hilarious
