Editor's Choice
What are Smaug's character traits in The Hobbit?
Quick answer:
Smaug in The Hobbit is characterized by greed, malevolence, intelligence, and pride. He is exceptionally greedy, obsessively guarding his treasure, and is aware of even a single missing item. His intelligence is evident in his ability to converse with Bilbo. Smaug's pride is highlighted by his boastful declarations of power. He is also vengeful and violent, shown by his destructive response to theft, and is ultimately portrayed as wicked and solitary.
As a previous Educator has already written, Smaug is defined as remarkably greedy, wrathful, and malevolent (especially if we are to take The Silmarillion, which establishes that the dragons were creations of Morgoth, into account). In addition to these qualities, it should be noted that Smaug is also highly intelligent. He is fully capable of speech and conversation, as can be seen in Smaug's conversation with Bilbo. At the same time, Smaug displays a great deal of pride. He is described in the text as "flattered" by Bilbo's grandiose introductions, and he also has a very lengthy diatribe about his might and power. When Bilbo tells him that they are interested in revenge, Smaug replies with the following:
My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, may claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death! (J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, Ballantine Revised Edition: 224)
So, based on this, I think any list of Smaug's key definitive characteristics should include greed, malevolence, intelligence, and pride.
As an antagonist in The Hobbit, Smaug has some undesirable character traits. The first character trait that the reader can identify with Smaug is greediness. Smaug sleeps on his mountain of treasure, trying to ensure that no one can take anything from him. He is so obsessed with maintaining control of the treasure that he is even aware of a single item being stolen from him.
Smaug is also seen as solitary, vengeful, and violent. Throughout the course of The Hobbit, Smaug is portrayed as living alone in the Lonely Mountain, trying to guard his stash of treasure. When the Arkenstone is stolen from him, he responds by destroying an entire town, demonstrating his vengeful and violent nature.
Other characteristics that could describe Smaug include wicked and evil, both of which are supported by the above evidence. His ultimate demise in the story is not one that leaves readers feeling sorry for him.
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