The Problem of Greed in JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit

and The Lord of the Rings

Chris Larimore

Throughout what is referred to as the Here we see how Tolkien criticizes those that lust
legendarium of JRR Tolkien, the underlying after wealth and are completely selfish and
value of objects and deeds is a prominent motif. driven by greed: to hoard vast wealth and to keep
Beginning with The Hobbit in 1937 and it all to one’s self is one of the greatest vices an
continuing through The Lord of the Rings (1954- individual can be guilty of, with the eventual end
55), Tolkien constructs a narrative that builds on proving that no good will come from it.
the struggles of class warfare and the problems
The same can be said of the Dwarves
wealth brings, both intellectual and financial,
themselves, many of whom do not learn from the
with a key focus on the problems of greed. In this
destruction of the dragon. Thorin Oakenshield,
paper, I aim to outline Tolkien’s philosophy on
for example, leader of the Dwarven band that is
how greed corrupts many of the protagonists in
the focus of The Hobbit, falls after the Battle of
the Middle-earth he created, as well as highlight
the Five Armies; he was driven solely by a lust
his insertion of the problems of the real world.
for wealth, letting nothing stand in his way. His
The moral dilemma of greed in both The greed got the better of him even before the group
Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings is a prominent left Bag End. However, only when it is too late
theme, driving the narrative forward as does Thorin see the folly in pursuing wealth for
characters become bogged down in the ethical greedy purposes: he overcomes death due to
and moral choices and consequences of their avarice with an act of great humility, repenting
actions. It is plain to see, for example, that the his greed. To Bilbo – the most humble, selfless,
Dwarves in The Hobbit are not driven by a desire least greed-driven of the band – he says, “There
for freedom from tyranny, or to create a is more in you of good than you know, child of
utilitarian utopia, but are rather driven almost the kindly West…If more of us valued food and
completely by greed, to recover the hoard of cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a
treasure guarded by the great dragon Smaug in merrier world” (290), finally admitting that
the depths of the Lonely Mountain. The dragon happiness is where there is an absence of greed
made many enemies in his own lust and greed, and materialism.
which would ultimately lead to his destruction at
Another of the party of Dwarves falls victim
the hands of Bard the Bowman on the edges of
to avarice and greed also, but this comes later:
the lake town of Esgaroth (The Hobbit 228-9).
The Problem of Greed in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings 65

Balin, cousin to Gimli of the Fellowship of the wealth and live symbiotically with nature. Greed
Ring, returns to the stronghold of Moria in search does not seem to exist in the Elves of Tolkien’s
of the vast wealth it is rumored to contain, narrative, perhaps illustrating his philosophy on
despite warnings of a shapeless, nameless fear how we should live in the real world.
that later is revealed to be a Balrog (fire-demon),
Throughout The Hobbit, greed drives the
also known as Durin’s Bane (the reason Moria
Dwarves onward, while the only thing driving
was left deserted in the first place). The wealth of
poor Bilbo Baggins on is the chance of a
Moria, as we learn from Gandalf during the
comfortable bed and the possibility of a hearty
Fellowship’s passage through its vast network,
meal; his desires are much less substantial than
comes from a substance called Mithril; as he
his companions because he has never known
describes it, Tolkien creates a mythos round the
what greed or desire for power are. He was
substance that would draw anyone towards it:
always – as are all hobbits according to Tolkien –
Mithril! All folk desired it. It could be quite content to live within one’s means, for as
beaten like copper, and polished like glass; Bilbo himself says, “it is no sin to live a simple
and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, life.” Little did he suspect that he would become
light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its the catalyst for the re-emergence of the greatest
beauty was like to that of common silver, evil in the narrative – and almost the
but the beauty of mithril did not tarnish or personification of evil in Tolkien’s work – the
grow dim. (The Fellowship of the Ring Dark Lord Sauron. In the deepest roots of the
309; emphasis in original) Misty Mountains, Bilbo stumbles upon a ring; it
is unusual for something like that to be in such a
Such material would be worth risking
desolate and remote place, but curiosity makes
everything for, surely. However, Tolkien’s
him keep it. Not greed, though, as Bilbo has
criticism of greed and self-interest here illustrate
never known greed. Hobbits are a very simple
how concerned he was with the way things were
folk, keeping themselves within their own lands,
changing in the world around him. He had a
“[possessing] the art of disappearing swiftly and
dislike for giant machines and industrial works,
silently, when large folk whom they do not wish
favoring nature and simpler things – hence his
to meet come blundering by” (The Fellowship of
decision to become a horse-breaker during the
the Ring 1), living an agrarian (almost Amish-
First World War. Working with animals and
like) existence. There are no grand palaces or
nature was a passion for him, mainly because
lordly halls – the most lavish dwelling of the
they were free, not just in terms of being able to
hobbits is an extended series of tunnels and
roam at will, but because they had no desire for
rooms excavated by the Brandybucks on the
material possessions. Greed does not exist in the
borders of Buckland. Tolkien’s hobbits are
natural world, and Tolkien shows this in the
simple, peaceful, content with their lot, and
depiction of the Elves in particular. Many of the
(most importantly) generous; for example, when
Elves we meet in his more popular novels live in
it comes to a hobbit’s birthday, it is the one who’s
woods: Legolas is from the realm of Mirkwood;
birthday it is who gives presents to their party
Galadriel and the lord Celeborn live in
guests, not receiving any! Greed, therefore, is not
Lothlorien, where, instead of demolishing the
something one would associate with hobbits…
wood to make space to live, they utilize the trees
unless they are Sackville-Bagginses (Bilbo’s
themselves, showing no desire to master nature;
wealthy and greedy cousins).
conversely, they wish to draw from its vast

Plaza: Dialogues in Language and Literature 2.2 (Spring 2012)

The Problem of Greed in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings 66

Within the simple existence of hobbits, Ring freely down to Frodo, Bilbo shows that
Tolkien presents for the reader a view of how life even the greatest item of wealth and temptation
could be if we were to shed ourselves of greed can be given up. Critics have argued that this is
and desire for power. Despite his experiences in simply due to Bilbo not knowing exactly what he
the First World War, and the gathering clouds of possessed, and that if he had known, The Hobbit
war again across Europe, Tolkien’s view of and The Lord of the Rings would be completely
humanity never changed very much. He did different novels. Of course they would, but in
everything he could to show his readers that choosing the route of having Bilbo give up the
living within one’s own means, and not for the Ring of his own free will, Tolkien presents a
pursuit of wealth and power, is for the greater character who is the embodiment of hope for the
benefit of all. It is arguable that Tolkien world, someone that is not overcome by greed
constructed this idea of peace within the and lust for great wealth and dominance. Bilbo is
narrative of The Lord of the Rings to be a tale of content with his lot; he has overcome the allure
the most humble overcoming the most arrogant of great power, unlike many of the Ring’s other
of forces. Hobbits help to bring down Sauron unfortunate Bearers.
(and Saruman, not to mention myriad other evil
Let’s now consider wealth as it appears in The
creatures), despite being little more than farmers,
Hobbit’s sequel, The Lord of the Rings. As with
brewers, cooks, and carpenters, who “do not and
The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings has greed as
did not understand or like machines more
its driving narrative force, but in varying degrees.
complicated than a forge bellows, a water-mill,
Instead of having a single band greedily pursuing
or a hand-loom, though they were skillful with
riches (the Dwarves ironically being cast as the
tools” (1). Services are often repaid in kind,
‘good’ guys), The Lord of the Rings contains
rather than by exchanging currency. Wealth, then,
many interwoven plots revolving around the
does not feature as a driving force for victory, but
Ring’s recovery, destruction, and power. This
rather the power of individual spirit and
illustrates Tolkien’s concerns for a world that is
conviction; the ability to work together in a
becoming ill at ease with itself, fighting against
classless, non-hierarchical society allows the
itself more and more, with people using others to
hobbits to live freely.
get to the top. The Fellowship itself sets out from
As for the Ring, the driving force for greed in Rivendell on a quest to eliminate the one thing
much of Tolkien’s work, while it represents a that has brought them all together: the Ring of
source of wealth due to its construction Sauron. The One Ring. It is interesting that
(presumably of gold), its magical qualities are Tolkien describes it as ‘the One’, since there are
what make it valuable. Its ability to make the many other rings of power, but obviously this
Bearer invisible is a trick Bilbo employs to great one “rules them all”:
effect – escaping Gollum (The Hobbit 78-84),
Three Rings for the Elven-Kings under the sky,
making it in to Smaug’s keep and stealing the Seven for the Dewarf-lords in their halls of
Arkenstone (217), leaving the Shire at the stone,
beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring (30; 35). Nine for Mortal men doomed to die,
However, as with so many things, the power One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
comes at a heavy price: the Bearer becomes tired, In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie.
living much longer than normal, a shadow of One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find
their former self (after a while, almost literally, if them,
one were to keep using it). But in passing the

Plaza: Dialogues in Language and Literature 2.2 (Spring 2012)

The Problem of Greed in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings 67

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness indeed, acquires – wealth through selfish and
bind them misguided means.
In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie.
(Letters 153) Imagine in our world, if we had to make a
choice: continue suffering under the relentless
That is not all, though: it is also the single oppression of those in power, stripping away our
most important object in the world at that time, financial stability and sense of what is morally
the fate of the world depends upon what happens right; or, stand up to tyranny, destroy that which
to this Ring. The one thing standing between they covet, and live as though we depended on
freedom and tyranny is the destruction of the each other, not because we had to but because we
object that will provide the most wealth to its want to. This was, in a nutshell, Tolkien’s
owner, for as Tolkien himself says, the only way criticism of a power-hungry, greedy society that
Sauron could be truly defeated is if “some other had the potential to lose control and destroy
seized [the One Ring] and became possessed of itself, both financially and physically. He was
it” (ibid.). The ‘shadow’ cast by the Ring extends always careful, however, not to get caught up in
even beyond its physical being, consuming the the world of politics – at least, not directly. When
minds of those who desire the wealth of asked if his literary work was an allegory of the
knowledge and riches that absolute power can 20th century by Sir Milton Waldman in 1951,
bring about. The Gondorian Steward, Denethor, Tolkien stated that he disliked allegory, both
is one of the few characters in The Lord of the “conscious and intentional”, arguing instead that
Rings who is completely obsessed with retaining his works were simply discussions of “Fall,
(and gaining more) power, since he is but a Morality and the Machine” (Letters 145). The
Steward, “a man of [great] lineage, though he is science fiction author, Isaac Asimov, did,
not called king,” as Gandalf tells Pippin before however, considered The Lord of the Rings to be
they meet him (The Return of the King 737). an allegory, this time in terms of the Ring being a
Gandalf also tells the young hobbit to “leave symbol of modern technology, of industrial
quiet the matter of Frodo’s errand,” because revolution and so on; the driving force behind the
Denethor desires the Ring of power for himself narrative is also the driving force that is moving
(hence the reason for his son, Boromir, to be at the world forward.
the Council of Elrond). Denethor believes that
the Ring will give him the power and strength to With regard to the Ring as an heirloom, a
defeat the forces of Mordor, against which he has symbol of power and wealth, its effects can be
been defending his realm (and those of all seen most clearly in the characters of the Nazgul,
Middle-earth) for many years, and will allow him the Ring-Wraiths. Early in Sauron’s quest for
to be crowned King. His greed and desire to be power, under the disguise of the Ainur Annatar,
supreme ruler make him dysfunctional and he created a series of rings, bestowing them upon
foolhardy (though there are other factors that are the peoples of Middle-earth freely: within the
not directly pertinent to this discussion – those of rings was the power to govern each race (though
Denethor’s use of the palantír, his knowledge of it is not clear how they would be governed). The
Aragorn’s lineage, etc.), but they nevertheless Dwarves had seven rings, but did not use them to
have a direct affect on the battle for Middle- their full might: they were simply heirlooms,
earth. Denethor’s greed, then, is an example of nothing more. The Elves made three rings, but
Tolkien’s dislike for anyone that desires – or, Annatar/Sauron did not touch them, so his greed
and evil did not taint them. Men, however, used

Plaza: Dialogues in Language and Literature 2.2 (Spring 2012)

The Problem of Greed in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings 68

the nine rings they were given, and all was can do for him, not how it can better the world
brought to darkness. The great Kings of Men fell around him.
to their greed and the lust for power that the rings
As for Gollum/Sméagol, his story is fairly
brought, falling under the influence of the Ruling
obvious to any that have read the books or seen
Ring. At the beginning of The Lord of the Rings,
Peter Jackson’s adaptation: he has been
they are unleashed, sent to track down their
consumed by greed completely, shunning all
Master’s ring, forever bound to it through fear,
forms of companionship save that of his
desire and greed.
“Precious”, the Ring that (arguably) converses
Saruman, head of the White Council and with him, telling him what to do, how to be,
traitor to Middle-earth, also desires to possess the where to go. After losing the Ring, Gollum
Ring for himself, feigning friendship and loyalty becomes enraged, a burning desire envelops him
to Sauron in order to gain power: the arguable to find his one treasured possession at all costs:
‘bargain with the devil’ of Tolkien’s narrative. In
[Gollum] had lost it: lost his prey [Bilbo],
doing so, his greed becomes his strength as well
and lost, too, the only thing he ever cared for,
as his weakness. Of course, should Saruman
his precious… “Thief, thief, thief! Baggins!
come in to possession of the One Ring he would
We hates it, we hates it, we hates it forever!”
not turn it over to Sauron, but use it himself to
(The Hobbit 82)
usurp Sauron as Dark Lord and ruler of Middle-
earth; as with all those who have desired the He lifted his head again, blinked at the
Ring for themselves through the long history of moon, and quickly shut his eyes. “We hates
the Ring, it will prove to be his downfall. it,’ he hissed. “Nassty [sic], nassty shivery
Saruman joins the likes of Isildur, Gollum, light it is – sss – it spies on us, precious – it
Boromir, even (as I believe) Frodo Baggins, the hurts our eyes.”
so-called ‘hero’ of The Lord of the Rings (but that
…“Where iss [sic] it, where iss it: my
is subject to only brief discussion later). In a
Precious, my Precious? It’s our’s, it is, and
world where companionship, trust, pride and
we wants it. The thieves, the thieves, the
dignity are the ruling forces of morality, greed
filthy little thieves.” (The Two Towers 599)
and material wealth hold no place in the social
order of things, and all those that pursue these Clearly, Gollum has been completely
negative morals almost always come to an end, consumed by greed over the “Precious,” the One
with very rare instances of repentance. A lot can Ring, and when he loses it, he thinks Bilbo has
be learned from characters such as Thorin and tricked him, and so curses the names of Baggins
Boromir, as both openly repent of their lust for and Hobbits forever for stealing the only thing he
power and wealth, albeit on their deathbeds; ever cared for. Indeed, it is ironic that Gollum
Isildur (King of Gondor and the one who curses Bilbo for ‘stealing’ the Ring, when all
removed the Ring from Sauron at the end of the Bilbo did was ‘find’ it; Gollum, on the other
Second Age – approximately 3000 years before hand, is the real thief in the long history of the
Frodo came to possess it) kept the Ring for Ring, as Gandalf explained to Frodo:
himself, instead of destroying it, thus ending all
evil: Tolkien’s criticism of mankind’s greed and “Give us that, Déagol, my love,” said
wish to dominate is personified in Isildur, as he Sméagol, over his friend’s shoulder.
thinks only of himself and what material wealth “Why?” said Déagol.

Plaza: Dialogues in Language and Literature 2.2 (Spring 2012)

The Problem of Greed in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings 69

“Because it’s my birthday, my love, and I the Ring instilled in its possessor. Some may
wants it, said Sméagol. argue that Tolkien is implying that one cannot
sometimes help but fall to desire and greed, and
“I don’t care… I found this, and I’m going
this may be true, but to have him come so far
to keep it.”
only to fail utterly is a problematic issue for me,
“Oh, are you indeed, my love,” said and one that requires more discussion than time
Sméagol; and he caught Déagol by the permits here. I simply mention it here to illustrate
throat and strangled him, because the gold the problems greed can cause if given enough
looked so bright and beautiful. Then he put time to develop: had Frodo been able to destroy
the ring on his finger.” (The Fellowship of the Ring sooner (or, even, without going all the
the Ring 52) way to Mordor, where its powers are magnified),
he would perhaps have been successful and
The Ring has a power that only a few can saved himself as well as Middle-earth. Instead,
withstand, so it is understandable that a lowly, he does not succeed in destroying the Ring,
common creature like Sméagol would fall prey to having claimed it for his own – he simply loses
its controlling influences. Sméagol, of course, it, and it ‘accidentally’ falls into the fires of
does not immediately know what he has come in Orodruin with Gollum. Frodo is unable to live in
to possession of, but he quickly learns that he can a world where he cannot have the Ring – his
use its magical properties to his advantage, ‘Precious’ – and so he has to eventually leave; he
making himself extremely powerful in relative craves what he cannot have, and cannot live in
terms: he sneaks in and out of rooms, gathers peace without it: this, arguably, is an appropriate
information that he uses to blackmail people, all definition of greed.
thanks to the invisibility the Ring bestows on its
bearer when worn. This pursuit of material The real world is, of course, filled with
wealth ultimately brings about his (timely) instances of people doing things for the right
downfall in the fires of Mount Doom, along with reasons, only to end up failing at what they do,
the fate of our ‘hero’, Frodo Baggins. but it is the wealth of knowledge that one gathers
on the way and the conviction of one’s actions
Frodo is seen by many as the ultimate hero in that proves to be the true wealth of a person, in
The Lord of the Rings: he remains loyal to his
Tolkien’s estimation at least. Possessions, wealth,
companions (mostly), he never deviates from his greed, they all come and go, but the one thing
appointed task, and he shows great kindness and that remains constant in all of us is honesty. If we
humility towards Gollum/Sméagol, mainly are to get through the troubled times we live in
because he sees that he will become that piteous today, we must take a page out of Tolkien’s
creature should he fail to destroy the Ring. works and become more like his kind, heroic,
However, I believe that Frodo becomes a villain honest, charming hobbits. We need to live in a
of the narrative, due to the important point that world where we take care of one another, not
he ultimately fails to destroy the Ring; not only compete against everyone all the time; we need
that, but he keeps it for himself, declaring “I have to help each other through crises, just like the
come… But I will not choose now to do what I great Samwise Gamgee; we need to consider all
came to do. I will not do this deed. The Ring is paths, choosing the one that will cause the least
mine!” (The Return of the King 924). As Isildur harm to all, like Gandalf; and above all, we must
did 3000 years before, Frodo had overcome great start to alleviate ourselves of a quest for wealth,
mortal peril, but succumbed to the lust and greed power and greed, for otherwise we, too, will fall

Plaza: Dialogues in Language and Literature 2.2 (Spring 2012)

The Problem of Greed in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings 70

in to the Mountain of Doom: as a society we will Works Cited

become Gollum, shunning all that is good in the Carpenter, Humphrey (Ed.). The Letters of JRR Tolkien.
world and become utterly selfish. This is not the Boston: Houghton-Mifflin Company, 2000. Print.
world Tolkien created, nor is it the one we should
continue to live in. Shippey, Tom. JRR Tolkien: Author of the Century.
Glasgow: Harper-Collins Publishers, 2000. Print.

--. The Road to Middle-earth. UK: Grafton, 1992. Print.

Tolkien, JRR. The Lord of the Rings: The Hobbit or, There
and Back Again (75th Anniversary Edition). Glasgow:
Harper-Collins Publishers, 2011. Print.

--. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Glasgow: Harper-Collins Publishers, 1997. Print.

--. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Glasgow: Harper-Collins Publishers, 1997. Print.

--. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Glasgow:

Harper-Collins Publishers, 1997.

Plaza: Dialogues in Language and Literature 2.2 (Spring 2012)