The Seven Deadly Sins Vanity/Pride Sloth Gluttony Lust Avarice Envy/Jealousy Wrath/Anger According to Sacred Origins of Profound Things, by Charles Panati, Greek monastic theologian Evagrius of Pontus first drew up a list of eight offenses and wicked human passions:. In the late 6th century, Pope Gregory the Great reduced the list to seven items, His ranking of the Sins' seriousness was based on the degree from which they offended against love. It was, from most serious to least: pride, envy, anger, sloth, avarice, gluttony, and lust. The Contrary Virtues were derived from the Psychomachia (韮attle for the Soul�), an epic poem written by Prudentius (c. 410). Practicing these virtues is alleged to protect one against temptation toward the Seven Deadly Sins: humility against pride, kindness against envy, abstinence against gluttony, chastity against lust, patience against anger, liberality against greed, and diligence against sloth.

Vanity/Pride

Vanity/Pride Excessive belief in one’s own abilities or excessive love of oneself. Othello commits the sin of pride in that he cannot conceive of anyone being disloyal to him and is therefore easily manipulated by Iago. Part of the reason Othello kills Desdemona is to restore his pride after being cuckolded. Pride/Vanity are often associated with the colour purple, perhaps because it is linked to royalty. It is considered the colour representative of the Gay Pride movement. The animal associated with pride is the peacock. The contrasting heavenly virtue is humility. Can anyone think of sayings related to Vanity/Pride? Pride comes before a fall, Vanity thy name is woman

Vanity/Pride “ But he, as loving his own pride and purpose…non-suits my mediators.” Act 1, Scene 1 “ But, alas, to make me the fixed figure for the time of scorn to point his slow unmoving finger at.” Act 4, Scene 2

Vanity/Pride Punishment for the deadly sin of pride was to be broken on the wheel - laced on a cartwheel with limbs stretched out along the spokes. The wheel revolved slowly and a large iron bar was then applied to the limb over the gap between the beams, breaking the bones

Sloth

Sloth Sloth is apathy - not caring about others or living life in a fulfilling way. When one is apathetic they do not help their fellow people and this affects their spiritual well-being. An slothful person commits no good deeds. In Othello the storm’s destruction of the Turkish fleet leaves the group idle and therefore prone to trouble and open to manipulation by Iago. The animal associated with sloth is the goat (and, of course, the sloth) The colour is light blue. What else is the colour blue linked to? (sadness, depression, calm, tranquility_

Sloth The deadly sin of sloth was punished by being thrown into snake pits.

Gluttony The animal traditionally associated with gluttony is the pig.

Gluttony The consumption of more of anything than you need. Not just confined to food - can also include resources and excess materialism. Cassio’s problem with alcohol and the fights that follow excessive drinking in Othello can be seen as a warning from Shakespeare against gluttony.

Gluttony “Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop, not to outsport discretion.” Act 2, Scene 3 “The very elements of this warlike isle, have I tonight fluster’d with flowing cups.” Act 2, Scene 3

Gluttony The deadly sin of gluttony was punished by being forced in the afterlife to eat rats, toads and snakes.

Lust

Lust In Othello, Roderigo is so consumed by lust for Desdemona that he is easily manipulated by Iago. Iago constantly tries to debase Othello’s and Desdemona’s relationship by inferring that it is based on lust. The animal traditionally associated with lust is the cow

Lust “ When the blood is made dull with the act of sport…” Act 2, Scene 1 “ When she is sated with his body she will find the error of her choice.” Act 1, Scene 3 “ If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure…” Act 1, Scene 3

Avarice/Greed

Avarice/Greed Avarice is the desire for material gain. It is similar to gluttony but possession rather than consumption is the key. Iago can be considered to commit the sin of avarice when he uses Roderigo for his money. He abuses Roderigo’s friendship for financial gain. The animal traditionally associated with greed is the leech. The colour yellow is associated with greed. Why might this be the case?

Avarice/Greed “ Thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine…” Act 1, Scene 1 “ Thus do I ever make my fool my purse.” Act 1, Scene 3

Avarice/Greed The deadly sin of greed was punished by being boiled alive in oil for all of eternity.

Envy/Jealousy

Envy/Jealousy Envy is the desire to possess what others have, whether it be material objects, like cars; or character traits, like beauty, patience, etc. Jealousy relates to the fear that someone has something that belongs to you. In Othello, Iago is envious of Cassio’s position as lieutenant, Roderigo is envious of Othello’s marriage to Desdemona. Iago claims to believe that Othello has slept with Emilia and this jealousy is part of his reason for hating Othello. Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair and therefore destroys him with his own jealousy. The colour green is thought to be associated with envy because being green is linked to being ill, thus sick with envy. It is also the colour of mould and decay and jealousy is thought to eat away you - decaying you. What else is green the colour of? Money, naivety/inexperience, nature. The snake is often used as a symbol of envy because Satan was said to be jealous of God’s power so he tuned himself into a snake to tempt Eve and upset God’s power.

Envy/Jealousy “ He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, and I…his Moorship’s ancient.” Act 1, Scene 1 “ I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leap’d into my seat, the thought whereof doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards…” Act 2, Scene 2 “…yet that I put the Moor at least into a jealousy so strong that judgment cannot cure.” Act 2, Scene 2 “ O beware, my lord, of jealousy: it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” Act 3, Scene 3

Envy/Jealousy Punishment for committing the deadly sin of envy was to be immersed in freezing water for all eternity.

Wrath/Anger

Wrath/Anger Choosing violent and hateful actions over love and patience. Desire to seek revenge outside the workings of the justice system. Suicide was considered a form of wrath as it was seen as extreme anger at oneself. In the play, Othello orders the death of Cassio and kills Desdemona out of rage at her perceived infidelity. He then kills himself upon realising that he has been utterly deceived by Iago. Anger is traditionally associated with the colour red - this could relate to the rush of blood to the blood vessels in the face or to the actual letting of blood that can result from a violent response to anger. What else does the colour red symbolise? Red is also linked to passion and anger is a passionate response. Red can also symbolize sin - being caught red-handed, the red light district, love, danger, stop, hell The animal associated with wrath is the bear. Why might this be so?

Wrath/Anger “ Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
 than answer my wak'd wrath.” Act 3, Scene 3 “ O that the slave had forty thousand lives! One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.” Act 3, Scene 3 “ Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!” Act 3, Scene 3

Wrath/Anger Punishment for the deadly sin of wrath was being dismembered alive.