The Hobbit

Materialism in The Hobbit

There are several examples extremely early on in The Hobbit, which discuss the attitude towards property and material wealth. The first example is the way in which the hobbits, particularly Bilbo live. There is mention that Bilbo is part Took, and part Baggins. Immediately there is a class distinction made, as the Baggins were simple, well respected, and middle class hobbits. The Tooks, on the other hand were miraculously wealthy and disliked, due to their adventure loving nature. Bilbo is a hobbit who enjoys the comfort of material possessions, especially his home, however he is not at all greedy. While material possessions provide a comfort to Bilbo, he choses a life more like his Baggins ancestors, one filled with few worries, leisure, and NO ADVENTURE, or so he thinks.

The Dwarves on the other hand contrast Bilbo greatly. They are extremely greedy, as their greed was the direct reason they lost their home, possessions, and many other dwarf kin. At first it is unclear whether the dwarves are going on a mission to reclaim their home, or on a treasure hunt. It seems that perhaps the dwarves are more interested in the material objects inside their lost city, then reclaiming a home. While the dwarves have rebuilt an acceptable life for themselves in the mountains, that is not enough. The dwarves’ greed is seeded too deep. As if they did not learn their lesson the first time. The dwarves were pushed out of their home because they amassed a treasure so great, and a greed so deep, that it attracted a dragon who destroyed and took all that was there’s, leaving a people who’s culture was so based on material objects and wealth, penniless and homeless. Clearly Tolkien is making the statement, “GREED IS EVIL!” Tolkien was a man who appreciated middle class life and wrote about it often so this is in character with much of the author’s ideals.

The final symbol of greed and possibly that most important is Smaug. Smaug is the epitome of greed. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this dragon is that while he has an intense desire for wealth, he has no purpose with it. All he really does is lie in it all day. For this, the reader might reason that Tolkien is making the statement, “Those who covet wealth, covet nothing.” This novel seems to hint that friendship, adventure, family, love, and loyalty are all things that should be coveted, not material possessions or wealth.