...forgive me if this doesn't belong under this thread, but while you were on
the topic of greed, I wanted to ask if anyone else felt that it hindered their
enjoyment of the Hobbit. For me, it is the single reason that I do not
like the book. At no point could I feel any sympathy for the main
characters. The dwarves were driven on a foolhardy quest of greed (IMO),
and Bilbo driven by an equally senseless desire to accompany them, for no good
reason (IMO). I find that motivation is the glue that holds a story
together, and without some goal with which I can sympathize, some desire or
pain which I can feel, I can't be very interested in what the characters are
going through. I contrast it with LOTR, where the motivation--saving the
world, their homes, and their friends--was a gripping motivation, one I cared
about, and one that made the experiences of the characters meaningful.
Anyone else care to
comment?
