Doctor Faustus Sin Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)

Quote #4

COVETOUSNESS
I am Covetousness, begotten of an old churl in a leather bag; and, might I now obtain my wish, this house, you, and all should turn to gold, that I might lock you safe into my chest. O my sweet gold! (2.3.120-123)

Meet Sin #2, everyone. Covetousness is another word for plain old-fashioned greed, so it makes sense that the embodiment of this sin would want to get its hands on, well, everything. And of course having everything isn't enough; Covetousness wants it all to turn to gold, too. We guess greed only creates more greed.

Quote #5

ENVY
I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster-wife. I cannot read and therefore wish all books burned. I am lean with seeing others eat. O, that there would come a famine over all the world, that all might die and I live alone. (2.3.126-129)

Chim Chim Cheree! We never thought the chimney-sweeper of Mary Poppins was a jealous guy, but maybe we missed… something.

Quote #6

WRATH
I am Wrath. I had neither father nor mother. I leaped out of a lion's mouth when I was scarce an hour old and ever since have run up and down the world with this case of rapiers, wounding myself when I could get none to fight withal.(2.3.132-134)

The lesson to be learned from Wrath seems to be that it hurts the angry person as much as the person he's angry at, since Wrath wounds himself when he has no one to fight with. Whoops.