Greed

Greed is a predominant feeling amongst the characters within the novel. The dwarves begin their quest due to a desire to retrieve the treasure that their family had lost when the dragon took their home. It is the thought of the treasure that keeps them going no matter what happens to them along the way. Once Thorin finds the treasure and spends long hours amongst it, the lust of the treasure works into Thorin’s heart and hardens it against requests that he would otherwise have found just. He does not want to share the treasure with the descendants of Dale, who rightfully have a claim to a percentage of it, nor does he want to pay the Men of the lake back for the help they gave him in reaching the Lonely Mountain.

The treasure is infected with feelings of greed and lust after being lain upon...