On July 25, 2026, Kasie and Rex were reunited for an episode on Greed. Here are the show notes:

Topic: Seven Deadly Sins – Greed

Agenda:

• Quick catch up
• What are the 7 deadly sins
• Why is greed a sin?
• How can you write about greed?

Segment 1

Welcome back to the series on the seven deadly since. This week we take on greed. 

We’ve done the seven deadly sins for the last few summers. It’s a good way to dive deep into character motivation and talk about specific works that engage specific “sins” as catalysts for protagonists and antagonists alike.

We first took on Greed in February of 2021 with episode 134. We point out how greed can by used synonymously with ambition and avarice. So let’s unpack the venn diagram that has those three overlapping.

Here is the Gemini analysis of the three with individual definitions and the overlaps. Basically, greed and avarice are focused on external rewards and material achievements while ambition is more about personal reward and intrinsic motivation. They overlap, though, where there is an “unchecked, ego-driven hunger for power and status.” Yikes. Examples please?

Ambition-turned-toxic: Macbeth

Pure greed: Ebenezar Scrooge

Drive with a side of greed: Jay Gatsby

Here is the Gemini analysis of the philosophical differences between greed, avarice, and ambition and the examples mentioned above.

Segment 2

Is greed only a villain’s motivation? How can you humanize a greedy character? Here’s a blog that talks about the character Gollum from Lord of the Rings and how Tolkien managed to humanize (did he?) the pathetic creature.

What would it take for us to recognize and accept the greed of others?

How would greed help a character? How would it hurt them?

As noted in Episode 134, most of Google equates greed and avarice so maybe we’ll be the first to differentiate between the two. Let’s give it a try (this link helps) (also this link):

• Greed is usually related to hunger and avarice with wealth or possessions
• Greed is less formal and more general while avarice has the stench of sin to it
• Greed is bad, but can be justified, avarice is mean-spirited and is hard to justify
• Avarice comes from the Latin root meaning “to crave” so it might be compulsive
• Greed is about wanting more than you need, so that implies there’s a natural (and understandable need) before there’s excess; avarice might spawn from jealousy

Segment 3

In Episode 271, back in 2024, we talked about Greed as being specifically the obsession with material wealth, and choosing material wealth over the spiritual promises of faith. And the Catholic link we shared describes greed as the rejection of God’s love in favor of physical or material things. That’s why it’s a sin.

With modern audiences less about the dichotomy of the human versus the divine, what role does greed play in modern stories? Is it still about the rejection of God?

Most modern stories of greed focus on the financial sectors, billionaire investors, swindlers who will do anything to hold on to their wealth and the lifestyle it affords. Some of the critical elements of the greed plot: lifestyle or access, things that cannot be afforded by regular people. Status or recognition that reinforces the greedy choices the character makes.

Here is a Gemini-generated list of modern novels and films that focus on greed.

Segment 4

So how do you do it? You’d want to identify which character you’ll burden with greed and then consider to what extent to person’s greed with drive their behavior. Materialism is a common use of greed. Materialism can also be a book’s theme (this link):

• Get it before someone else does.
• More is always better.
• Money can buy happiness.
• Success is measured by what you have.
• If they can’t hold onto what’s theirs, they don’t deserve to keep it.
• Greed is just a part of being human.
• Greed creates greatness.
• The greedy will ultimately be destroyed by their need for more.
• If you’re not happy with what you have, you won’t be happy with what you want.
• A person who never thinks they have enough will always be poor.
• A greedy person cares only about themselves.

As with most themes, you don’t want to over do it. No one is one thing entirely, but you can show how characters consistently choose the greedy option over the virtuous one.

Episode 271 ended with some real-life historical occurrences that would give you the perfect setting for greed to emerge – the gold rush, the 2008 housing crisis, etc.