Sin
‹ 6 · Outline · 8 ›
7.Guilt, conscience and remorse
7a.Shame and the accusing conscience
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 49Helen calls herself shameless woman for whose sake the Achaeans went to war.read · scan
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 86–87Whether sinning or righteous, Job feels marked and unacquitted by God.read · scan
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 191–193Iniquities overtake him, more than the hairs of his head.read · scan
- p. 255–258Secret sins set in God's light; his wrath consumes us.read · scan
Buddhist WritingsVol. 45
- p. 765–766Ascetics said to lack shame and fear of sinning.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 128–129Confronted by Pontitianus's story, Augustine sees himself foul and defiled, having winked at his iniquity and prayed for chastity only not yet.read · scan
- p. 129–130Shame and self-condemnation over delaying conversion; he knows the evil he is while burdened by vanity's baggage.read · scan
- p. 133–134Defilements and shame of his former life; the chain of sin nearly broken.read · scan
- p. 192Fears his secret sins which God knows and he does not.read · scan
BeowulfVol. 49
- p. 68Beowulf suspects he has broken ancient law and embittered the Lord, black thoughts within.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 302Man meets God alone on judgment day laden with sin and crimes.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 98Fucci confesses his bestial life and the theft from the sacristy, and his shame at being caught.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 379–381Dante wails his sins and smites his breast.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 227–228Our sins and vices entangle us, giving grounds for grief and compunction.read · scan
- p. 305–306Having sinned, the speaker deserves contempt and confusion from creatures.read · scan
- p. 335–336The disciple's sins and impure conscience terrify him from approaching, though Christ invites the sinner.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 127–129The fathers accept blame for the needless deaths, and Grahame commends his soul to God before suicide.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 109–110The damsel calls Launcelot best of any sinful man of the world, hinting at his sin.read · scan
- p. 148Launcelot is told his sin blinds him to the Grail; he weeps and is asked whether he has confessed.read · scan
- p. 151–152Defeated for the first time in a tournament, Launcelot concludes he is more sinful than ever and sorrows.read · scan
- p. 181–182The ship suffers no sinner; Percivale accepts he will perish if untrue, and Galahad refuses the sword because of his offending.read · scan
- p. 184–185The sword breaks at Nacien's need because of his sin; he is wounded for drawing it unworthily and is warned against deadly sin.read · scan
- p. 202Ector is refused entry as one who served the fiend and left the Lord's service, and feels sorrow and shame.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 314–316Cellini admits he had done very wrong, and the old servant rebukes him as a cruel monster.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 104–107Hamlet suspects foul play, declaring foul deeds will rise to men's eyes.read · scan
- p. 152Hamlet says the play touches the guilty King but not those with free souls.read · scan
- p. 152–157The King's abrupt rising reveals guilt at the play's poisoning, confirming the ghost's word.read · scan
- p. 162Hamlet charges the Queen with a deed so shameful that heaven itself is sick at it, and he forces her to see her guilt.read · scan
- p. 162The Queen sees black spots in her soul and cries out under his words.read · scan
- p. 174–177The Queen says guilt is so full of jealousy that it spills itself in fearing to be spilt.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 265–266Guilty men with hidden crimes must tremble; Lear insists he is more sinned against than sinning.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 378–381Macduff calls himself sinful, believing they were struck for his demerits, not their own.read · scan
Ben Jonson, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 294–297Man may securely sin but never safely; guilt weighs on the conscience.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 303–304Mercies make him ashamed of sins more than judgments frighten him; offences deserve death and damnation.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 157Regret and shame for a past life of self-love, and the desire for preservation.read · scan
- p. 175Knowing one's iniquities is required to know God the Saviour of wretchedness.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 393–395Man cannot even know the crimes he is convicted of.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 13The great burden and anguished cry suggest guilt and conviction of sin.read · scan
- p. 13–14His burden and fear of judgment show conviction of guilt.read · scan
- p. 14–15His burden of guilt makes him unfit for judgment; told to fly from the wrath to come.read · scan
- p. 19The Slough is where the fears and doubts of a sinner awakened to his lost condition settle.read · scan
- p. 39His sins come to mind and conscience accuses him on every side.read · scan
- p. 47–48Christian laments his sinful sleep, likening his sorrowful backtracking to Israel sent back for their sin.read · scan
- p. 86–87Grace shows itself in conviction of sin, defilement of nature, unbelief, sorrow and shame, and need of mercy through Christ.read · scan
- p. 140–141Hopeful resists conviction of sin, loath to leave it, tormented by conscience and fear of damnation.read · scan
- p. 145–147He is ashamed of former vileness and sees the world condemned, yet the sinner justly justified.read · scan
- p. 151–152Ignorance is urged to see his wretchedness and flee for deliverance from condemnation; question of convictions of sin.read · scan
- p. 152–153Convictions of sin are from God and for good, though the ignorant harden against them.read · scan
- p. 159Christian is troubled by thoughts of his sins committed before and since pilgrimage.read · scan
- p. 180Conscience loads her with guilt for hardening her heart against Christian's entreaties; his cry 'What shall I do to be saved?' rings in her ears.read · scan
- p. 189–190Mercy laments her relations remaining in the sinful town without instruction.read · scan
- p. 208–209Guilt took hold of her mind for how she treated her husband.read · scan
- p. 215–216Christiana laments having let her husband go alone; fear and lusts keep others from pilgrimage.read · scan
- p. 257–258Sin, death and hell were what terrified Fearing, from doubts about his interest in heaven.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 94Antony calls himself murderer of Cleopatra's innocence, expressing inexpressible guilt.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 160–161She feels her guilt, calls herself a monster and begs to be struck to expiate her odious passion.read · scan
- p. 181–182She sees her guilt, incest and hypocrisy as beyond bounds, and dreads judgment before her father Minos in hell.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 147–150Faust feels guilt for ruining Margaret's innocent peace, calling himself God-hated and hurling her to ruin.read · scan
- p. 155–157Margaret, having condemned Barbara's fall, recognizes her own trespass, sweet and dear, known only to God.read · scan
- p. 162–164Valentine says even if God forgives her crime she will live accursed on earth.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 176–177Lady Teazle feels shame and self-reproach for listening to seduction, vowing gratitude to her husband.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 98–100Some think on their sins; the preacher brings tidings of damnation.read · scan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 715–716Mark of shame and seal of sorrow, the spell laid upon Christabel.read · scan
- p. 719–720Christabel wakes with vague guilt, 'Sure I have sinn'd', and prays to wash away sins unknown.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 34Renzo feels remorse for imagined murder and relief that it was only imagined.read · scan
- p. 59–60Ludovico feels remorse and compassion for the man he slew after the first blood he ever shed.read · scan
- p. 329–330The Unnamed, once unmoved by suffering, now feels regret and alarm at his power over Lucia.read · scan
- p. 343He considers asking forgiveness, feeling a demon possesses him; conscience stirs against past cruelty.read · scan
- p. 424Contrition and self-reproach begin to stir in Abbondio, who would have wept had he not feared Rodrigo.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 840–842Wish to live far from passion, pain and guilt.read · scan
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 935–936She calls her momentary doubt an error, regretting the occasion.read · scan
John Greenleaf Whittier, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1338–1340Feels guilt within and hears the world confess its sin; bows in shame with a prayer without claim.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 373Mildred laments her guilty love, deliberate feigning of maidenhood, and the shame and despair of their story.read · scan
- p. 388Mildred bears crushing guilt, consoled nightly by the plea of youth and love, trusting God's indulgence.read · scan
Matthew Arnold, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1138–1139Whether sin is unrecorded by Heaven; the inward judge should restrain it regardless.read · scan
7b.Remorse as torment and self-made hell
See also: Emotion 7d
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 281–282Affliction follows rebellion and transgression; fools suffer for iniquities.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 17–18He repents of slaughtering the cow when repentance is of no avail.read · scan
- p. 304–305He finds recompense for past actions, for he was sinful, and warns the reader to beware.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 57–59Edward's guilt for patricide and his curse of hell on the mother who counseled it.read · scan
- p. 59–60Robber, discovering he has killed his sisters, cries out over his evil deed and kills himself.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 340After the murder Macbeth cannot say Amen; guilt stops his prayer, and he hears a voice crying that he has murdered sleep.read · scan
- p. 382–383Doctor says unnatural deeds breed unnatural troubles; she needs the divine more than the physician; 'what's done cannot be undone'.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 442–443Alonso's guilt torments him; nature itself seems to pronounce his trespass, and Gonzalo compares guilt to slow-working poison.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 835–837Ferdinand's guilt seems to cause his madness, and he vows to confess nothing; the Cardinal invents an apparition story.read · scan
- p. 850–852The Cardinal's guilty conscience torments him with visions; he ponders hell's fire and begs mercy in vain.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 941Overreach's guilty conscience conjures widows' and orphans' tears and Furies scourging his soul; he goes mad.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 304Adam concludes all blame for corruption falls on himself and cries out against conscience.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise RegainedVol. 4
- p. 384Man turned ingrate and recreant; Satan stands struck with guilt for his own sinread · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 140–141Phaedra suffers guilt and remorse over a hidden crime of the soul, though her hands are clean.read · scan
- p. 165–166Phaedra feels her adulterous guilt and treason; the horror of her crime drives her to wish for death.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 170Remorse over cruelty and over undutiful reply to his mother; he prays for forgiveness.read · scan
- p. 284He feels sorrow over the earlier sale of the negro lad and his past trade in slave produce.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 164–167Evil Spirit taunts Margaret with her guilt: mother's death, brother's blood, and child beneath her heart; sin cannot hide.read · scan
- p. 195–197Vision of hell's fire and roaring devils reflects her guilt.read · scan
- p. 197–200Guilt-ridden, she says an evil conscience makes flight wretched, and sees blood on Faust's hand.read · scan
- p. 200–202Margaret, haunted by her murdered child and mother, faces the guilt of her deeds and refuses to flee.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 48–50Remorse and guilt for folly that ruins loved innocents is the worst torment, keener than hell's lash.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 485John, an outcast shrinking from his own image, is tormented by guilt for regicide; Tell curses the act yet pities him.read · scan
James Hogg, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 758–759The world is one of sin, sorrow and fear, and the sinner goes to a woeful doom.read · scan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient MarinerVol. 41
- p. 685–687Crew turn accomplice, then blame the Mariner; the dead bird as emblem of guilt replaces the cross.read · scan
- p. 694–696The dead men's curse still fixes on him; he cannot turn his eyes to pray.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 174The lay-sister who threatened to reveal secrets vanishes, implying murder; the Signora is haunted by guilt.read · scan
- p. 321Weariness, remorse and responsibility for his crimes grow on the Unnamed; conscience stirs against the example of violence.read · scan
- p. 323–324Gertrude, bound by guilt to Egidio, betrays Lucia, turning a means of expiation into fresh remorse.read · scan
- p. 325Gertrude's habitual guilty thought prevails over her momentary compassion and she sends Lucia to her fate.read · scan
- p. 344Each past crime stands before his conscience in its monstrousness, driving him to desperation.read · scan
- p. 364The Unnamed has hell in his heart; Federigo offers pardon, repentance and redemption.read · scan
- p. 402–403Unsubdued remorse speaks ever more sternly in the Unnamed, even as he undoes the order built on crime.read · scan
Lord Byron, ManfredVol. 18
- p. 411–414The spirit curses him: his own falseness, tears and heart supply the poison; guilt haunts him wherever he is.read · scan
- p. 415The curse condemns the hypocrite's guile and delight in others' pain, making him his own Hell.read · scan
- p. 417–419Manfred is haunted by guilty blood shed among his own kin; the hunter speaks of half-maddening sin and holy men's aid.read · scan
- p. 423Manfred says he destroyed Astarte by his heart, not hand; remorse torments him with Furies and despair.read · scan
- p. 423–428He grieves that Astarte suffers for his sins; had he never loved she would be happy.read · scan
- p. 437Manfred says no prayer, fast or penance can exorcise the sense of his own sins; remorse is self-inflicted hell; Abbot offers atonement.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 337Giacomo laments the wicked parricide and the remorse that comes too late, when the guilty soul was dragged from Heaven unrepentant.read · scan
- p. 337Orsino fears his past will never let him rest; his own contempt torments him and he cannot hide from himself.read · scan
John Greenleaf Whittier, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1359–1360Ireson's guilt: horror within is worse than public shame; he dreads God's hand and the dead; left with his shame and sin.read · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1239–1241The drama holds madness, sin and horror as its plot.read · scan
Alexander Smith, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1146–1147Sins and errors have been avenged on him in the years since her death.read · scan
William Morris, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1187–1188She argues a guilty queen would have a seared conscience and not weep.read · scan
Sidney Lanier, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1398–1400Hell begins in the heart of sin; the murderer's remorse is his damnation.read · scan
7c.Hardness of heart, impenitence and despair
See also: Chivalry 6b · Will 6d
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 126–127Job is said to add rebellion to his sin, multiplying words against God.read · scan
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 221–222If iniquity is regarded in the heart, the Lord will not hear.read · scan
- p. 239–240Israel is stubborn and rebellious, forgets God's wonders and tempts him by demanding food.read · scan
- p. 241–242Israel did not believe or trust, kept sinning after wonders, and flattered God with lying lips.read · scan
- p. 242Israel repeatedly rebelled, tempted God, forgot his deeds and turned to graven images.read · scan
- p. 263–264Israel's fathers tempted God and erred in heart, so were barred from his rest.read · scan
Euripides, The BacchaeVol. 8
- p. 432–435The Thebans confess 'we have sinned' but are told repentance comes too late.read · scan
Ecclesiastes; or, The PreacherVol. 44
- p. 344–345A sinner may do evil a hundred times and live long, yet it goes well only with those who fear God.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 386Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 435–438Stephen charges his hearers with stiff-necked resistance to the Holy Spirit, persecuting the prophets and betraying the Righteous One as their fathers did.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 72Augustine's unforgiven sins and misdeeds deserve torment; he refused baptism, his soul dead while he scorned Christ's true death.read · scan
- p. 96His sins multiply as he perpetuates the disease of the soul through enduring custom; only fear of death and judgment restrains him.read · scan
- p. 124–125Flesh lusts against spirit; he is bound by his own iron will and deserves just punishment as a sinner.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 891–892Pharaoh and the overturned cities sinned and rebelled against the apostle and were seized.read · scan
- p. 898–899El Walid's apostasy and attempt to pay another to bear his sin is condemned.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 104The inhabitants grow in impiety and obstinacy, ignoring a divine warning.read · scan
The Song of RolandVol. 49
- p. 184–185Marsil dies in sin, his soul the demon's prize.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 124–126A monk says Gawaine is wicked and sinful while Galahad is blessed, so Galahad will not accept his fellowship.read · scan
- p. 126–128The hermit tells Gawaine his wicked life bars him from the Grail and enjoins penance, which Gawaine refuses.read · scan
- p. 128–130Launcelot, overtaken by sin, cannot rise before the Sangreal; the squire says he dwells in unconfessed deadly sin.read · scan
- p. 131–132Launcelot confesses loving the queen and fighting for her sake, not God's, and the hermit shows his hardness of heart bars grace.read · scan
- p. 161–163The Grail appears not to sinners; Gawaine, an untrue knight and murderer, is told his sins bar him, while Launcelot forsakes sin.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor FaustusVol. 19
- p. 218–219Faustus, believing himself damned, chooses despair in God and trust in Belzebub, rejecting contrition and repentance.read · scan
- p. 224Faustus longs to repent but his heart is hardened; despair, and pleasure holding it off, keep him from repentance and salvation.read · scan
- p. 224–227Faustus, torn between repentance and despair, is threatened by devils and renounces God, and the Seven Deadly Sins appear.read · scan
- p. 239–240Faustus consoles himself that Christ called the thief on the cross, hoping for mercy despite despair.read · scan
- p. 244The Old Man urges Faustus to repent and trust Christ's mercy; Faustus wavers between repentance and despair, then reaffirms his pact.read · scan
- p. 244–247Faustus confesses a surfeit of deadly sin that has damned body and soul; a scholar reminds him of God's infinite mercy.read · scan
- p. 247Faustus believes his offenses can never be pardoned, having abjured and blasphemed God for vain pleasure.read · scan
- p. 248Faustus, facing damnation, tries to repent and call on Christ but cannot, seeing God's wrath.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 160Claudius confesses his rank offence, a brother's murder, and cannot truly repent while keeping crown, ambition and queen.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 361–363Macbeth, steeped in blood, sees returning as tedious as wading on, and resolves further deeds by the worst means.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 814Despair is rebuked as unchristian.read · scan
- p. 845–849The Cardinal's guilty conscience leaves him unable to pray, since the devil takes away his confidence in prayer.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 292–293Age does not cure but deepens vice; repeated sins grow worse and maturity removes excuse.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 220Rebels hardened by wonders, envious and perverse, refuse to relent.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise RegainedVol. 4
- p. 384Satan despairs of grace, owning his crime and dreading God's ire more than hellread · scan
- p. 384The captive tribes brought captivity on themselves by idolatry and remained unrepentant; restoration awaits repentance.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 366–367His heart is obdurate and possessed by vices and worldly attachments; only grace can bring conversion.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 38–39The man fell from professing faith into despair by hardening his heart, sinning against light and grieving the Spirit.read · scan
- p. 70–72Pliable is worse than before, like the dog to its vomit and the sow to the mire.read · scan
- p. 112–113Sinning before the Lord and despite warning examples is desperate hardness of heart, compared to picking pockets before the judge.read · scan
- p. 124–125Pilgrims shown hypocrites and apostates (Esau, Judas, Ananias) who strayed from the right way and were taken by Giant Despairread · scan
- p. 127–128Apostate Turn-away is carried off by devils, labelled wanton professor and damnable apostateread · scan
- p. 153–154Temporary had sight of his sins and the wages due them, but did not persevere.read · scan
- p. 155–156They shun thoughts of guilt and harden their hearts, progressing from little sins to open sin.read · scan
- p. 294–295Turn-away of Apostacy rebelled, refusing counsel, resisting Evangelist and the cross.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 85–86Rodrigo's hardened heart is compared to Pharaoh's, warning of judgment.read · scan
- p. 536Rodrigo's callous merriment at Attilio's death precedes his own stricken state.read · scan
Lord Byron, ManfredVol. 18
- p. 419His embrace was fatal to those he loved; he refuses penitence and prayers.read · scan
- p. 437Abbot offers penitence and pardon for rumored unholy commerce; Manfred refuses, claiming his guilt rests between himself and heaven.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 281Camillo urges Cenci to repent his unrepented crimes and reconcile with God, while Cenci scorns respite from hell.read · scan
- p. 318Giacomo hardens himself against remorse and speaks of repentance; his father's ghost might plead with God.read · scan
- p. 320Cenci intends she die unshrived and unforgiven, corrupting her conscience, with his soul a scourge in God's hand.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1212–1213Prays the Lord to stab his spirit awake, even with a killing sin, before his heart dies.read · scan
7d.Concealment, excuse and hypocrisy
See also: Hypocrisy 5d · Religion 11a
Aeschylus, AgamemnonVol. 8
- p. 67–68Clytemnestra disclaims guilt, blaming the old Avenger.read · scan
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 108Wrongdoers hide from the light: murder, theft, adultery under cover of night.read · scan
- p. 120–121Job says he has not, like Adam, covered his transgressions out of fear of the multitude.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 46–47Astrology excuses sin; confession and repentance are the right course.read · scan
- p. 58–59Augustine's pride led him to claim to be by nature what God is; he blamed God rather than confess voluntary error.read · scan
- p. 72–73Augustine excused his sins by blaming another nature within him; not confessing made his sin incurable, and impiety divided him against himself.read · scan
- p. 144Be angry and sin not: Augustine learns to be justly angry at himself for past sins, rejecting the Manichean excuse of another nature sinning.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 325Lothario calls himself a bad friend and worse Christian, reasoning he may be excused before God.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor FaustusVol. 19
- p. 234–236The clowns steal and lie, then beg the devil's forgiveness.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 143–144The King's conscience is lashed by Polonius's remark that devotion's visage sugars over the devil.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 330–331Macbeth wants the eye to wink at the hand, concealing the deed he fears to see.read · scan
- p. 336–339Macbeth settles on the murder, framing the grooms; false face must hide the false heart.read · scan
Ben Jonson, The AlchemistVol. 47
- p. 585–589Subtle names Ananias after the apostles' cozener and rebukes him as wicked.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written at Horton, 1632-1638Vol. 4
- p. 47–48'Tis only daylight that makes sin': concealment of nocturnal rites from the tell-tale sun.read · scan
John Milton, Samson AgonistesVol. 4
- p. 415Dalila acknowledges her offence and offers penance, seeking pardon; Samson dismisses feigned remorse.read · scan
- p. 415Weakness pleaded as excuse; Samson denies remission for treason.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 211–213Tartuffe accuses himself of sin for killing a flea in anger, absurd scrupulosity.read · scan
- p. 250–251He claims first fearing his love as the devil's snare, then finds it blameless.read · scan
- p. 255–257Tartuffe feigns confessing himself a miserable sinner and criminal, to win Orgon's sympathy against the accusation.read · scan
- p. 272–275Tartuffe claims secret sinning is no sin and that he will take the sin upon himself.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 84–85Abhorring sin from a godly antipathy differs from merely crying out against it; hypocrites cry out but tolerate it.read · scan
- p. 164–165There is a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven for the self-deceived.read · scan
- p. 205–206Hypocrites secretly drink iniquity and swallow sin like water; the healthy man is more prone to evil.read · scan
- p. 260–261Self-will justifies adultery, lying and guile by biblical examples; Great-heart says saints' sins of infirmity give no license to presumptuous sin.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 147–149Oenone argues the king's death frees Phaedra's love of guilt.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 70–72Willie confesses lust and drunkenness while claiming election, excusing his lapses as a thorn sent by God.read · scan
- p. 202–204Concealed illicit love hardens the heartread · scan
- p. 528–530Denies guilt, would have ignored Kirk and State, and says who could refuse for shame.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 173Gertrude's dealings with the profligate Egidio, repentance following each outbreak, and hypocrisy as her new 'virtue'.read · scan
- p. 321–322Disquiet and remorse grow, which he hides under greater ferocity to convince himself he is unchanged.read · scan
- p. 423–424Abbondio keeps excusing himself by accusing others rather than making confession; he needs pardon.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 50–51The girl disobeys, opens the forbidden door, and lies three times; the Virgin sees her sin.read · scan
- p. 52–53The Queen persists in denying her sin and refuses confession, losing her children.read · scan
George Gordon, Lord Byron, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 791–792Owns his faults and their reward without excuse.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 329Beatrice says if he has crimes he should repent, but this deed is none.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 429Bishops swear to be moved by the Holy Ghost while accepting rich livings, likened to perjury.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1012–1013Admits all are sinners but denies her son's unrepentance is knownread · scan
William Makepeace Thackeray, Jonathan SwiftVol. 28
- p. 17–18Fielding and Steele sinned and cried 'Peccavi'; Swift bound himself to life-long hypocrisy.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 386–388Mildred pleads youth, love and lack of a mother to explain her fall.read · scan
- p. 388–392Guendolen felt Mildred was free of the heap of irredeemable sins imputed to her.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Samuel PepysVol. 28
- p. 288Unlike the morbid religious diarist, Pepys records real misdemeanors without repentant whining or edifying design.read · scan
- p. 303Pepys shows no real penitence while undiscovered; only compensation gifts, then abject submission once found out.read · scan
‹ 6 · Outline · 8 ›