If I described to you a hit television show with deep Christian underpinnings and hidden meanings about a bunch of people being stranded on a strange island which had some audience speculating that the characters were in “Hell,” what show would you say we were discussing?
Gilligan’s Island, of course.
Sherwood Schwartz, the creator of Gilligan’s Island, said he patterned the ’seven stranded castaways’ after the seven deadly sins but he didn’t admit it until years later in his book about the show.
I’m sure you can attribute the sins to the proper characters but here they are:
The Professor – Pride
Thurston Howell III – Greed
Ginger – Lust
Mary Ann – Envy (of Ginger’s looks)
Mrs. Lovey Howell – Gluttony
The Skipper – Anger or wrath
Gilligan – Sloth
Take that LOST!
Some have even speculated that the castaways were in Hell and Gilligan (who always wore red!!!!!) did everything he could to ensure they stayed there making Gilligan “Satan.”
And you thought it was just a silly show!
July 1, 2010 at 6:51 pm
I saw it thusly:
The Professor – Pride
Mr Howell – Greed
Mrs Howell – Sloth
Ginger – Envy of MaryAnne who the guys wanted!
Mary Ann -Lust because most guys did want her!
The Skipper – Gluttony
Gilligan – was the grandfather of Dobby in Harry Potter!
July 1, 2010 at 7:01 pm
It's interesting that the creator of Gilligan's Island patterned the characters after the seven deadly sins. I grew up in the 1960's, and watched the show, of course. All of the characters were extremely annnoying, but they were funny, too.
Contrast this with Lost, where all of the characters are just annoying, period. Though Hurley and Miles were sometimes funny, thank heavens.
And at least Gilligan's Island did not bash Catholicism (while pretending to be sympathetic to it), as Lost does.
July 2, 2010 at 2:37 am
You know, I think the assignments are right. This isn't a strict theologcial treatise, afterall.
I see Mrs. Howell's gluttony in terms of being a "conspicuous consumer". Gluttony is not so much simply over-eating (although this is the classic case), but it is more along the line of wastefull consumption which denies the use of goods by others. There it is! She was definitely guilty of that, it would seem.
Ginger & lust… yes, lust is in the eye of the beholder and he may have been more than anything an object of lust, rather than the personification of lust itself, but the was not totally innocent of appealing to lust in others– she did ply her womanly wiles to get what she wanted, especially from Gilligan.
Yes, Mary Ann was hotter than Ginger, objectively speaking, but she did have an inferiority complex borne of a touch of envy when as a poor farm girl she related to Ginger.
The one I do have a tough time with is the Skipper and Gilligan. Yes, I can see bursts of anger in the Skipper, but not anger purely as such. His anger seemed to be out of frustration rather purely out of a poor reaction to the corruption of justice. Gilligan was just a boob. If sloth is defined as not putting one's gifts and talents to use for the glory of God and the good of the neighbor, then I'm still not sure that he had anything to offer that he was holding back.
July 2, 2010 at 11:05 pm
There seems to be quite a bit of debate as to who fits what sin and why … As an avid viewer of Gilligan's lsland, I think I can resolve the issue once and for all …
Avarice: No doubt, Thurston Howell III, but an argument for pride could easily be made
Pride: The Professor. This just seems to be assumed as he is a "scientist."
Lust: Ginger … Many argue that Ginger is not lust, but the object of lust, but I must disagree. In every episode where sex is implied, it is Ginger who becomes a conduit of lusty action. She continually throws herself at the men of the island, who, for some unknown reason, refuse her advances. It is always Ginger who kisses and tries to kiss men … it is rare when any of the men kiss or attempt to kiss her.
Envy: Undoubtedly Maryann. This was a key point in the after article posted debate. Few people see Maryann as the representation of envy, but I can call out two episodes where Maryann is clearly jealous and envious of Ginger. In one episode, Maryann's diary is discovered and it shocks the island world into worry and concern. But in the end, Maryann admits she made it all up because Ginger had so much and she had so little. In still another episode, Maryann forgets who she is and takes on the persona of Ginger … again underscoring her envy for the things of others.
Wrath: The Skipper. He is the only one who has an explosive temper and uses physical threats and coercion to get his way (mostly on Gilligan). Many debated this position and said the Skipper was guilty of gluttony, but I disagree hotly with this conclusion.
Now we get into the last two deadly sins and you may be surprised by my observation.
Gluttony: Almost everyone argued that Gilligan was sloth. Yet, nobody else recalls the fact that in many, many episodes, Maryann observes and complains how much Gilligan can eat and yet stay so thin. Gilligan will clean the island of food if not kept in check.
Sloth: Lovie Howell. Again, the article is adamant that Gilligan is the representation of sloth, but Gilligan is the only one on the island who works. No one works as hard as Gilligan. He's constantly building, fishing, climbing and being the servant of all the others. Lovie, on the other hand, seldom does any work and complains bitterly about it when forced.
So, there you go; the official and definitive speculation on Gilligan Island and the 7 Deadly Sins. I hope that you go to confession soon and share this contemplation with your favorite priest!
Have a great Independence Day and remember, if you want to see the 6th, don't have a 5th on the 4th.
July 3, 2010 at 3:44 am
Pulu si bagumba!
November 25, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Pride- Ginger
Envy – Mary Ann
Sloth – Gilligan
Greed – Mr. Howell
Anger – Mrs. Howell
Lust – Professor
Gluttony – Skipper