What role did greed play in Tolkien's books?

[Tar-Jêx]

Interesting point about the Arkenstone.

It was probably written so it could be interpreted in any way, but still have sort of the same meaning.

I disagree that Bard was motivated by greed when in conflict at the beginning of the Battle of the Five Armies, however, as even when he had the Arkenstone, he didn't want to keep it, but instead use it as a bargaining tool, as Bilbo suggested, to get what was best for his people. Bard acknowledged Thorin's greed and tried to work with it, but Bard's diplomatic skills aren't quite as sharp as his skills as a bowman, and the tension between them rose until the goblins came and started the battle.

[Tar-Jêx]

Currently in the process of writing an essay on this topic. Should have it finished in a few weeks.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Tar-Jêx

Currently in the process of writing an essay on this topic. Should have it finished in a few weeks.

Due to my prescient ability, I am currently writing a scathing rebuttal to confute your essay on this topic.

[Tar-Jêx]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Due to my prescient ability, I am currently writing a scathing rebuttal to confute your essay on this topic.

Ah! A battle! This shall become very interesting within a short amount of time. I will be sure to include an opposing view to my own in my essay as to make your job more difficult.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Tar-Jêx

Ah! A battle! This shall become very interesting within a short amount of time. I will be sure to include an opposing view to my own in my essay as to make your job more difficult.

Ah, but I shall confound your opposing view by agreeing to your original assertions, thus assuming the points of your essay without wasting time doing the research. It is lazy....but diabolical!

P.S. Oh, by the way, I've just reached 2000 posts with one of my more pointless points.

[Tar-Jêx]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Ah, but I shall confound your opposing view by agreeing to your original assertions, thus assuming the points of your essay without wasting time doing the research. It is lazy....but diabolical!

P.S. Oh, by the way, I've just reached 2000 posts with one of my more pointless points.

I don't think post milestones are really anything to care about.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Tar-Jêx

I don't think post milestones are really anything to care about.

They're fun. Usually I miss mine (my last one was used for some banter about Christian babies ), but I've actually used the opportunity of my 5555th post to start a new and hopefully meaningful thread. Either way, post count is fun. We don't tend to pay much attention to it, as you said, but we do perk up at anniversaries.

To stay on topic, here's a small comment:

Originally Posted by Tar-Jêx

I disagree that Bard was motivated by greed when in conflict at the beginning of the Battle of the Five Armies, however, as even when he had the Arkenstone, he didn't want to keep it, but instead use it as a bargaining tool, as Bilbo suggested, to get what was best for his people. Bard acknowledged Thorin's greed and tried to work with it, but Bard's diplomatic skills aren't quite as sharp as his skills as a bowman, and the tension between them rose until the goblins came and started the battle.

I don't think he was motivated by greed either, more so by need. But a bit later, the sense of need turned into a sense of justice - we deserve a portion of that gold, and not just any portion, but our rightful share! I think that, although greed was not Bard's prime motivation, and although he did not quite come to it yet, it was creeping up on him too.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Tar-Jêx

I don't think post milestones are really anything to care about.

Life is illusory, therefore celebrate each trick of the light.

[Belegorn]

Originally Posted by Tar-Jêx

I don't think post milestones are really anything to care about.

I care about boogers in my nose. I think people will have a care about most everything in their experience. Like this big spider web in my room. Someone might be like why don't you care about that and wipe it away. I've kept it there cause I'm like maybe this spider can kill some of these nasty bugs for me, even though spiders are ugly to me. The even lesser brood of Ungoliant, ugly but maybe useful.