Page 150 - DENG403_BRITISH_DRAMA

British Drama

Notes sin, the broadest and most accurate definition of sin is found in 1 John 5: 17: “All wrongdoing is sin.
…” In other words, all unrighteousness is considered sin. The Bible has clearly and emphatically
indicated that which is not right; Gods laws and standards are very specific, showing us His utter
and complete holiness. This unit elaborates the seven deadly sins used in Doctor Faustus at length.

12.1 Seven Deadly Dins

The Seven Deadly Sins, when mentioned, conjure up ancient tales of dark deeds and dark characters,
like Faustus and Mephistopheles. Doctor Faustus supposedly sold his soul to the devil, the evil
Mephistopheles and, in so doing, made himself prey to all types of corruption and degradation. In
his descent into wickedness, the ruined Faustus committed all of these deadly sins: pride, envy,
gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth. These sins were considered deadly because they led Faustus,
or any man or woman who would commit them onto a path from which there was no return.
The characteristics that are considered to be the seven deadly sins can be described this way: Pride
is the exaggerated opinion of one’s worth in comparison to God and others and a willful oblivion to
one’s flaws. Envy is the unhealthy longing for the possessions, abilities, or status of another. Gluttony
is excessive indulgence in the pleasures of food and drink. Lust is extreme desire for sexual and
sensual gratification. Anger is manifested by fits of wrath and rage due to intolerance of others.
Greed is an insatiable desire to acquire material goods. Sloth is an almost pathological laziness
which hinders productivity and good health. Anyone possessing some of these vices was considered
evil; anyone who possessed all of them was utterly doomed.
By using the words “seven deadly sins,” it suggests that there are serious character flaws which
may exist in a man and that the deeds which are produced as a result of these flaws have fatal
consequences. All death is a type of separation; spiritual death is separation from God. The Bible
indicates that sin ends in death: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The use of words seven deadly sins suggests that there are serious character flaws
which may exist in a man and that the deeds which are produced as a result of these flaws
have fatal consequences. Explain.
James, the brother of Jesus said it this way, “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire,
he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when
it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

In Romans, Paul indicates that the Gospel reveals the righteousness of God. The Gospel
is the Good News that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again; Jesus paid the price. Jesus
paid this price by being brutalized and massacred in ignominy on a cross. This painful and
humiliating death showed us God’s attitude towards sin.
The Seven Deadly Sins as set forth in literature—pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth—
are by no means an exhaustive list of sins. It has already established that all unrighteousness is sin,
but the book of Proverbs also lists seven things that God hates: “There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a
heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours
out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” Yes, God has indicated that these are
things that he despises and that every wrong is sin—but He has also provided a remedy:

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