Where did these concepts come from, and what would a medieval person have known about them? This article will explore these questions.īefore I discuss the Virtues and Vices specifically, however, it is useful to look at the topic of religious education in the Middle Ages. The Virtues and Vices figure prominently in art, literature, theology, and philosophy. In the Middle Ages, they, along with the corresponding Seven Virtues, were a concept the average medieval person would have been quite familiar with. However, the Deadly Sins are more than just a clever movie plot. The concept is familiar enough that a major movie (Seven) was built around the concept of a serial killer who selects victims who have committed or exemplify these sins-pride, envy, wrath, avarice, sloth, gluttony, and lust. Most of us have heard of the Seven Deadly Sins. Virtues and Vices The Virtues and Vices in Medieval Society Magistra Nicolaa de Bracton
