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Exercise #190: Self Knowledge
Posted 12/15/06

The generally accepted deadly sins are superbia (hubris/pride), avaritia (avarice/greed), luxuria (extravagance, later lust), invidia (envy), gula (gluttony), ira (wrath), and acedia (sloth). Each deadly sin is opposed by one of the corresponding Seven Holy Virtues.

According to Dante's The Divine Comedy, the sins have an order of greatness, shown below from lowest to highest.

For this exercise, choose one of these pairs and apply it to your own life experience. Examine where you think the sin and virtue show up, and in what manner they appear. Then you may:

a) Write a short piece showing examples of these from your life, or
b) Write a short piece in which a character experiences one of the above pairs

Example: If I chose Lust and Chastity as my pair, I could write about where and how these two show up (or have shown up) in my life or I could write about a housewife character who is tempted by the gardener’s physique but ultimately turns him down to remain with her couch-potato husband.

Remember, both items of the pair must show up in your SUB.

Word limit: 1200
Please use the subject line:
       SUB: Exercise #190/yourname

This self-knowledge exercise causes us to not only find our flaws (sins), but also our virtues. Or, for those with an already well-defined ego, causes us to find our flaws, as well.

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