The critic Charles W. Nelson describes Wormtongue's attitude as an example of presumption, behaving "as if he were already on the throne" of Rohan. Nelson notes that Richard Purtill suggests that Tolkien is intentionally embodying the seven deadly sins in his characters. He quotes from one of Tolkien's letters to this effect: "the encouragement of good morals in this real world, by the ancient device of exemplifying them in unfamiliar embodiments, that may tend to 'bring them home.'" Clark writes that Dwarves exemplify greed, Men pride, Elves envy, Ents sloth, Hobbits gluttony, Orcs anger, and Wormtongue lechery. That lechery is, Nelson notes, correctly guessed by Gandalf: that he would gain a large share in Meduseld's treasure, and Éowyn's hand in marriage, "on whose person Grima had long cast lecherous eyes and lascivious looks", and indeed in Éomer's words that Grima had "haunted her steps".
thE critiC chaRles w. nelsoN deScribES wormtOnGUe's attitUDe aS an examplE of presumption, behAviNg "as if he werE already on the throne" oF rohAn. nElson nOTes tHat rICharD PuRTill SuggeSts thAT tolkien is intentionallY embodyInG the sEven deadLY siNS In HIS characTers. hE quOtes froM onE Of tolkien's LETTeRS to THis eFfect: "THE EnCouRAgemENT of gooD moraLs In tHIs reAl World, by the aNciENt Device OF exEmplifyINg thEm in unFaMIliaR emboDiMEntS, thAt may Tend To 'BRiNg them Home.'" cLaRk writEs that Dwarves EXemPlIFY gReEd, Men prIdE, ELVEs eNvY, entS SloTh, hobBitS gluttonY, orcs anger, And WormTONgUE lecheRY. ThaT LecheRy is, NelsOn notES, cORrecTlY gUessed by ganDAlf: that He WOuld GaIN a large Share In meDUseld'S TrEAsure, and éoWyN's hand In MarRiaGE, "oN wHOse peRson griMa hAd lonG CAst leChErouS eYes AnD lasciviOus Looks", AnD indEed in Éomer's words thAt GriMA Had "hAUnteD hER sTeps".