Reasons to like Smaug...

[Bombadillo]

...other than his being a dragon?

When reading The Hobbit, I didn't really see anything special about Smaug. In fact, I never though he could qualify as a character, and so I was quite surprised by the amount of attention he gets from mooters. He's a lot of people's favorite characters even, and I wonder is it just for the fact that he's a dragon, and therefore automatically and inarguably badass? Or is there some other quality to him that makes him a dynamic character of some important theme?

What's so appealing about Smaug?

[Lizra]

He's vain? :D

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

he's clever ...

[Valandil]

You know, I never really read many other stories I can recall that give a dragon such personality. I mean, when I think of 'dragon stories' - I think of a knight charging in to fight one with lance and sword against the dragon's fiery breathe. No dialog - just a fight. The dragon could have the limited mentality of any dumb animal, for all you'd know. And, thinking of them as 'lizards', I thought they would all be green.

But here in 'The Hobbit' - we have a dragon who thinks, talks, schemes and is RED! Plus, we have all this informed narration, expounding about the "do's and don'ts" of interacting with a dragon... as though we might need to make use of the information ourselves someday. Even though it's meant to be a bit scary, and the dragon a fearsome thing - the whole story itself comes off as so... charming! :)

I can't say I ever felt much of a 'liking' for Smaug myself... I didn't mourn his passing! But it makes for a great story.

Do other tales treat dragons in similar ways? Older stories anyhow... I imagine many writers after Tolkien may have borrowed from his treatment.

[Bombadillo]

Originally posted by Valandil
You know, I never really read many other stories I can recall that give a dragon such personality. I mean, when I think of 'dragon stories' - I think of a knight charging in to fight one with lance and sword against the dragon's fiery breathe. No dialog - just a fight. The dragon could have the limited mentality of any dumb animal, for all you'd know. And, thinking of them as 'lizards', I thought they would all be green.

But here in 'The Hobbit' - we have a dragon who thinks, talks, schemes and is RED! Plus, we have all this informed narration, expounding about the "do's and don'ts" of interacting with a dragon... as though we might need to make use of the information ourselves someday. Even though it's meant to be a bit scary, and the dragon a fearsome thing - the whole story itself comes off as so... charming! :)

I can't say I ever felt much of a 'liking' for Smaug myself... I didn't mourn his passing! But it makes for a great story.

Do other tales treat dragons in similar ways? Older stories anyhow... I imagine many writers after Tolkien may have borrowed from his treatment. That stereotype, I think, is what clouded my mind to distract me from even observing his character. I agree.

Hmm... maybe I should have named this thread "Help me procrastinate and postpone a desperately needed Hobbit re-read."

[Vilya]

Originally posted by Last Child of Ungoliant
he's clever ...

Yup, besides I don't really recall any other dragons with that much character depth.

[Nurvingiel]

Dealing with Dragons (the first book in a four book series by Patricia C. Wrede) has great dragons as character who are well-developped and interesting.

But anyway, the reason Smaug is so appealing to me is because (1) he is incredibly witty and intellingent
(2) he percipitates events that lead Bilbo's finding the Ring

I think he's more of an entertaining and interesting catalyst.

[Twista]

Imagine him much like the dragon in the film 'Dragonheart' ( I think its called that ). Thats how i see him anyway.

[hectorberlioz]

smaug is great because he's not only a formidable body, but also a formidable mind as well.
He remains on my list of my top five favorite Tolkien characters.

[Olmer]

Smaug is appealing because he is highly intelligent and, what is more important, extinct. Kind like velociraptor.
You would like to appreciate his intelligence from the safe distance.:D

[Lefty Scaevola]

He is rich, self assured, smart, in the prime of his life, a snappy dresser, that is if you like jewels.

[Valandil]

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola
He is rich, self assured, smart, in the prime of his life, a snappy dresser, that is if you like jewels.

Hmmm... *picturing Smaug at a Seventies Disco, jeweled shirt unbuttoned to the waist and big gold pendant hanging down in the opening* :p

[Elvengirl]

lol Val!

Reason to like Smaug?
He's a dragon, isn't that good enough. :)

[Vicky]

He is not only rich and cute, but he's also very well speeched. And that's all a girl want.... :D

[zinnite]

I thought Smaug was pretty bad-ass until I saw the animated Hobbit, where he looks like a cat with wings and has the voice of an 80 year-old man who smokes four packs a day. It was pretty anti-climactic.

Despite that, however, Smaug is still in my top ten ME characters, for all of the reasons already stated (although on my 'favorite dragons' list Glaurung comes out on top).

[elixir]

Well, with some characters the situation is that even when they are bad and you know that in real life situation you would hate them, you still love them. How to I say it, Smaug has style. Judging by his conversation, he was smart and clever and witty. He even died stylishly.

I would like to talk to him... by phone. Or from another side of extra-strong fire and drangon proof glass. Yes, that would be nice. :D :p :D

[Beor]

He is confident...chicks dig confidence ;)

[Rían]

He's just really funny - like a giant spoiled kid! I love how he actually falls for Bilbo's suggestion to see his underside for any weaknesses.

[Elanor the Fair]

Smaug has a sense of humour in a vain, egocentric kind of way. We all like someone with a sense of humour. :)

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

Originally posted by Nurvingiel
Dealing with Dragons (the first book in a four book series by Patricia C. Wrede) has great dragons as character who are well-developped and interesting.

Have you read Dragon Search, by Patricia C Wrede?
(Book 2 of the enchanted forest chronicles)
Kazul is one dragon who has a well developed character

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by zinnite
I thought Smaug was pretty bad-ass until I saw the animated Hobbit, where he looks like a cat with wings and has the voice of an 80 year-old man who smokes four packs a day. It was pretty anti-climactic.

LOL!!:D That made me laugh really hard!:D

Smaug is cool. (maybe not.:rolleyes: )
But he is (or was) funny and I love the way he talks to Bilbo. It sounds a bit like he had missed someone to talk to.:D

[Meriadoc Brandybuck]

He's rich (not to mentioned spoiled) and can flame anything in sight if he so chooses. Funny thing he didn't start flaming aimlessly around trying to burn Bilbo to a crisp. Perhaps he was lonley and wanted to talk to someone... anyone.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Surely your not meant to like him. I mean he is the ultimate bad guy of the book. He killed loads of dwarves and men. Destroyed Lake-Town and Dale. Stole all the dwarves treasure. Smashed down the secrret door in the Lonely Mountain. I mean this could go on for ever.

[Meriadoc Brandybuck]

Surely your not meant to like him. I mean he is the ultimate bad guy of the book. He killed loads of dwarves and men. Destroyed Lake-Town and Dale. Stole all the dwarves treasure. Smashed down the secrret door in the Lonely Mountain. I mean this could go on for ever.
Yes, but if you happen to be his friend (if he had any :rolleyes: ) you'd sure like him... for his treasures and power to destroy an enemy. ;) :evil:

[Elvengirl]

Surely your not meant to like him. I mean he is the ultimate bad guy of the book. He killed loads of dwarves and men. Destroyed Lake-Town and Dale. Stole all the dwarves treasure. Smashed down the secrret door in the Lonely Mountain. I mean this could go on for ever.

Hence some of the reasons he is soo awesome! :)

[Haradrim]

Smaug is the coolest. I mean just the fact that hes a dragon gives him points. Major points for the treasure. Huge points for his huge ego. And extra points becaquse the dragon has class. I mean he is smart, and funny, and kills everyone who he feels like. Who has more class than Smaug!

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Hence some of the reasons he is soo awesome! :)

Awesome yes but isn't this reasons to LIKE Smaug.

[Haradrim]

I dont know but I define some of my characters likability by their awesomeness so I think we are discussing likability when we say awesome. :)

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Yeah but wasn't Morgoth awesome and not many people like him.

[Haradrim]

Oh IO love Melkor/Morgoth. Its because of his awesomeness and his ability to thinkoutside fo the box.I mean just cause he didnt agree with Eru does that make him evil. How do we know Eru is the good guy. I mean we just take his word that Melkor is evila and has done all these things what if Eru and the others framed him. I think Melkor was just misunderstood. Same for Sauron when he joined the misunderstood Melkor he was immediately labeled as evil it sjust too sad. :)

[Earniel]

Misunderstood, Morgoth tainted the Gift of Mortality and you think he's just misunderstood. Right.

Besides, this thread is about the only evil character that gets my sympathy and that's Smaug, not Morgoth.

[Haradrim]

I think a lot of people misunderstand my posts because of the way iwrite online. Its completely my fault cause I use my computer the way I speak which is almost always ridiculous and I am always just having a bit fo fun. I know Melkor was evil and I know all these things but I just like to take a position and see if I can make it work out in the end. Also I was talking about Melkor becausewe were talking about what makes a character cool. I asaid it was awesomeness . T.D. said Melkor was awesome but not cool and I responded with my last thread. So back to Smaug everyone. :)

[HLGStrider]

There are certain characters that make evil just a little bit fun. They are evil and do evil things but they do it so charmingly and with such a quick wit that we love to hate them or hate to love them or something to that effect.

The villians are always my favorite part of James Bond movies (Well. . .Connery, Brosnan, and Dalton are all handsome beyond belief too. . .You can keep Moore and Lazenby). They are evil but they get such good lines.

Do you expect me to talk?
No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!

Smaug bandies words. He's like a big cat playing with his prey, and I like cats. I could be a cat if you gave me retractable fingernails. Plus he is relaxed and confidant.

Oh, I'm not sad when he swandives into Lake Town and gets his just desserts, but I like to read about him up until then.

[Something]

I like Smaug because he is a dragon.

[Roland]

This is simply my opinion, and may not be shared by other "mooters", but I feel it is the novelty of the character. Smaug is the only character in the Hobbit, besides Gandalf, who is the only member of his to be mentioned.

[Wayfarer]

I like Smaug, but not because he's a dragon. :cool: In fact, I'd go so far as to say that one of the reasons so many people like dragons is because of Smaug (lthough personally I favor Chrysophylax Dives)

[Elemmírë]

Hm. I thought I posted here... right, my connection is going crazy... :(

I like Smaug too... (relative of yours, WF? :evil: ) though Glaurung is much neater, and I liked dragons way before I started reading Tolkien... In fact, I almost did not read LotR or the Hobbit because the dragons were bad. :D I've gotten over that, obviously... ;)

btw, what do you mean by that, Roland? :confused:

[Pytt]

yes, I have to say as most here, he is after all a dragon, and a great one too! :)

[Blackheart]

Hrmm... He's a big flying hot.. well he looks a lot like a cat in the animated hobbit...

But yeah, he may be evil, but he's not deep deadly, dark evil, probably because the hobbit is a children's story in it's conception...

Compare smaug to glaurung, and you'll see a bit of difference...

Oh and for you information I did not taint mortality... you people are just weak minded...

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

btw, what do you mean by that, Roland? :confused:
I think he missed out a word and meant to say 'he is the only one of his kind to be mentioned in The Hobbit.'

[ItalianLegolas]

how could you possibly like smaug? i mean, hes an evil dragon, not a nice dragon like the ones in all those other fanatasy books

[Embladyne]

It is precisely because he is evil, and has such an interesting personality to boot that I like the characterization of Smaug. I was not sad to read of his death, but I really enjoyed the way he acted in life. I'm alway disappointed when dragons are made into good, and "helpful" creatures. I like them bad and dangerous. :)

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

its not the evil evil of Sauron or Morgoth,
Smaug has a sort of fun evil,
if you know what i mean! :D

[Embladyne]

its not the evil evil of Sauron or Morgoth,
Smaug has a sort of fun evil,
if you know what i mean! :Dprecisely :D

[inked]

A warm, toasty sort of fun-guy. Likes riddles. What could go wrong? :evil:

[Jon S.]

Do other tales treat dragons in similar ways? Older stories anyhow... I imagine many writers after Tolkien may have borrowed from his treatment.

There's a newer fantasy series that does, the Magic Kingdom of Landover Series by Terry Brooks. The dragon's name is Strabo. He's a character, all right!

P.S. Obviously, Brooks - who is no Tolkien - has borrowed from Tolkien in many ways. Brooks' writing, however, has improved consistently over time and there's something to said for that.

[ItalianLegolas]

evil is better then nice dragons, nice dragons are fake dragons

[Pytt]

I belive there are good dragons who is cool too. I don't have an example, but I will not say a dragon has to be bad to be cool.

But hey. Anyway, eagles beats those poor oh-look-I-can-blow-flames up where the sun seldom shine. Long live the Eagles! :D

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

in Patricia C Wrede's books, the dragons are good (or at least not evil :D ), and they are still cool

[ItalianLegolas]

which books would those be? and i meant good like in the the new Cornelia Funke book, Dragonrider i think it is.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

the enchanted forest chronicles