# Gilligan's Island and the 7 Deadly Sins **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 29, 2000, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384 "2000-02-29T03:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheIronChef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@TheIronChef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheIronChef)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/1 "2000-02-29T03:46:00Z")
You can apply the Seven Deadly Sins to the characters in Gilligan’s Island: Mrs. Howell = Sloth (Never baked Coconut-cream pie) Mr. Howell = Greed Mary Ann = Jealousy (Wanted to be Ginger) Ginger = Vanity The Professor = Lust (Always wanted Ginger) The Skipper = Gluttony and Wrath (He always hit Gilligan) That leaves all 7 sins but only Gilligan is left. What is he? He wears a red shirt and nobody can leave the island because of him…He’s the DEVIL!! Do you guys think this was intentionally put into the show or was it some kind of demonic coincedence? The Iron Chef * * * “Pimpin’ ain’t easy, but is sho is fun.” ---
**Author:** ![NickyLarson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b2d939/32.png) [@NickyLarson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NickyLarson)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/2 "2000-02-29T03:49:00Z")
As my wife would say, If I proposed theat to her: **You have WAY too much time on your hands** But it **is** an interesting postulation. * * * If it jams, force it; if it breaks, it needed replacing anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ursa\_Major](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e57/32.png) [@Ursa\_Major](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ursa_Major)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/3 "2000-02-29T03:50:00Z")
Of course it was intentional! Gilligan’s Island completes the unholy trinity with Bewitched and I Dream of Jeanie. That explains why my entire generation secretly worships the devil and…oops…I’ve said too much already. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/4 "2000-02-29T03:55:00Z")
Yeah, I’ve heard it was intentional. I always thought the seven broke down like this: Gilligan…Sloth Skipper…Anger Professor…Pride Ginger…Lust Mary Ann…Envy Mr. Howell…Greed Mrs. Howell…Gluttony I once heard this on the radio as the answer to the trivia question “What well-known TV show had its characters based on the 7 deadly sins?” Of course, it could just be a UL. ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/5 "2000-02-29T05:27:00Z")
Lovey? A glutton? I don’t see it. **Ursa** : Shutupshutupshutup. (Hail, Satan!) ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/6 "2000-02-29T05:37:00Z")
Here’s the version of the secret meaning of G.I., as I first read it: * * * The Seven Deadly Sins of Gilligan’s Island theory is quite simple. Each of the seven characters on the island represents each of the seven deadly sins. Now, this theory seems to fit upon initial inspection, there are technical difficulties when you get down to THE MAN himself, Gilligan. Run with me on this one… Most obvious is the Professor, who fits PRIDE to a T. Any man who can make a ham radio out of some wire and two coconuts has to be pretty cocky. (His character was later revised and given a series of his own, called “MacGyver”.) For the sin of ENVY we need look no further than Maryann, who may have worn those skimpy little tops, but could never achieve Ginger’s glamour. (As an interesting and completely irrelevant side note, a nationwide survey of college students a few years ago revealed that the professor and Maryann were voted the most likely couple to have ‘done it’ on the island.) And who could doubt for a moment that Ginger is LUST incarnate? Sure, the kids were supposed to think she was ACTING, but we all know what being deprived episode after episode was doing to her. You know and I know that glazed look wasn’t boredom, my friends. What kind of person takes a trunk full of money on a three-hour cruise? Mr. Howell gets my vote for GREED. We are now left with three characters and three Deadly Sins. We have Gilligan, the Skipper and Mrs. Howell to whom we must match GLUTTONY, SLOTH and ANGER. As you can see, there is a Gilligan problem here. Certainly we can further eliminate Mrs. Howell from this equation by connecting her with SLOTH. She did jack during her many years on the island and everybody knows it. This leaves ANGER and GLUTTONY, either of which the Skipper had no shortage. He was, after all, a big guy with the tendency to hit Gilligan with his hat at least once an episode. After much consideration, I have decided that he can easily do double-duty, covering the two remaining Deadly Sins. So here we have the Seven Deadly Sins trapped in an endlessly recurring Hell of hope followed by denial and despair, forced to live with each other in our TVs until the last re-run ends. And who is their captor? What keeps them trapped there? Gilligan. Gilligan is SATAN. Think about it. The Seven Deadly Sins of Gilligan’s Island theory is quite simple. Each of the seven characters on the island represents each of the seven deadly sins. Now, this theory seems to fit upon initial inspection, there are technical difficulties when you get down to THE MAN himself, Gilligan. Run with me on this one… Most obvious is the Professor, who fits PRIDE to a T. Any man who can make a ham radio out of some wire and two coconuts has to be pretty cocky. (His character was later revised and given a series of his own, called “MacGyver”.) For the sin of ENVY we need look no further than Maryann, who may have worn those skimpy little tops, but could never achieve Ginger’s glamour. (As an interesting and completely irrelevant side note, a nationwide survey of college students a few years ago revealed that the professor and Maryann were voted the most likely couple to have ‘done it’ on the island.) And who could doubt for a moment that Ginger is LUST incarnate? Sure, the kids were supposed to think she was ACTING, but we all know what being deprived episode after episode was doing to her. You know and I know that glazed look wasn’t boredom, my friends. What kind of person takes a trunk full of money on a three-hour cruise? Mr. Howell gets my vote for GREED. We are now left with three characters and three Deadly Sins. We have Gilligan, the Skipper and Mrs. Howell to whom we must match GLUTTONY, SLOTH and ANGER. As you can see, there is a Gilligan problem here. Certainly we can further eliminate Mrs. Howell from this equation by connecting her with SLOTH. She did jack during her many years on the island and everybody knows it. This leaves ANGER and GLUTTONY, either of which the Skipper had no shortage. He was, after all, a big guy with the tendency to hit Gilligan with his hat at least once an episode. After much consideration, I have decided that he can easily do double-duty, covering the two remaining Deadly Sins. So here we have the Seven Deadly Sins trapped in an endlessly recurring Hell of hope followed by denial and despair, forced to live with each other in our TVs until the last re-run ends. And who is their captor? What keeps them trapped there? Gilligan. ## Gilligan is SATAN. Think about it. And **Ursa** , who says our generation keeps our unholy practices secret? Bwahahaha! ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/7 "2000-02-29T05:38:00Z")
Of course, we all know that magical incantations must be chanted multiple times… ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/8 "2000-02-29T13:38:00Z")
Seven deadly sins? Please. Everyone knows the story is more complext than that (thanks to Adam-Troy Castro): Look at the Howells. Millionaires, yet the take all their clothing along on a supposed “three-hour tour.” Obviously they were skipping the country. How do you think he made his money. Why? Look at the Professor. Obviously an ex-con (that’s what they call brainy people in stir). Knows chemistry. Probably able to synthesize cocaine. Ginger Grant. A movie star. Hollywood is known for its illicit drugs. She’s the connection. The Skipper. The courier. Mary Ann. Obviously her story is phoney. She was in Hawaii because she won a trip for one. But no one gives trips for just one person. She’s the FBI agent there to track down the drug smugglers. That explains why they never get off the island; if they go back, they’re all jailed. Gilligan, of course, is the mastermind behind the gang. They keep up their appearances to fool Mary Anne, and Gilligan sabotages and attempts to get them off the island. * * * “What we have here is failure to communicate.” – Strother Martin, anticipating the Internet. [www.sff.net/people/rothman](http://www.sff.net/people/rothman) ---
**Author:** ![Nurlman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Nurlman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nurlman)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/9 "2000-02-29T14:14:00Z")
No, no, no. You’ve got it all wrong. _Gilligan’s Island_ was a metaphorical geopolitical study. [www.pissedoff.com/gilligan.shtml](http://www.pissedoff.com/gilligan.shtml) Duh! It’s obvious. ---
**Author:** ![sean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@sean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sean)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2000, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/10 "2000-03-02T20:29:00Z")
Gilligan is Keyser Soze ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2000, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/11 "2000-03-03T13:52:00Z")
Why do people continue to believe that because there were seven of us, we must represent the Seven Deadly Sins? There are other things that come in sevens, but you never hear people say we are each supposed to represent one of the: Seven Seas Seven Samurai Seven Wonders of the World Seven continents Seven Sisters Seven sacraments Seven hills of Rome Seven levels of Hell Seven Dwarves Seven days of the week Seven Ages of Man Any takers? Thanks for the great link, Nurlman! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2000, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/12 "2000-03-03T15:08:00Z")
Hmmmmmmmmmm… Okay, the Professor is Vassar, Mary Ann is Bryn Mawr, Ginger is Sarah Lawrence… No, I just can’t. ---
**Author:** ![mrblue92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2000, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/13 "2000-03-03T17:17:00Z")
Oh, I don’t know… Gilligan Island… Seven levels of Hell… Sounds like a match to me. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/14 "2000-03-04T02:14:00Z")
Okay, let’s try it: _Seven Holy Sacraments_ Baptism - Skipper (captain of ship \<\> water) Reconciliation/Penance - Gilligan Eucharist/Holy Communion - Ginger Confirmation - Mary Ann Holy Matrimony - Mrs. Howell Holy Orders - Professor Anointing of the Sick - Mr. Howell Don’t ask me how I decided on the correlations and feel free to offer corrections. ---
**Author:** ![Ursa\_Major](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e57/32.png) [@Ursa\_Major](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ursa_Major)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/15 "2000-03-04T02:33:00Z")
How about the _7 Dwarves_? The Professor: Doc Gilligan: Dopey The Skipper: Grumpy Mary Ann: Bashful Mr. Howell: Greedy Mrs. Howell: Lovey Ginger: Slutty Okay, it’s been a while since I’ve seen _Snow White_, but I think I got most of them right. ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/16 "2000-03-04T16:27:00Z")
I forgot the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: **Wisdom** - the Skipper, with his years of experience. **Understanding** - Ginger, she can be _very_ understanding… **Counsel** - Mr. Howell, he always offers advice, even if it’s just a stock tip. **Fortitude** - Maryann, she takes on much of the work without complaint. **Knowledge** - the Professor, obviously. **Piety** - Mrs. Howell, she is the high priestess of society. **Fear of the Lord** - Gilligan, he’s afraid of everything. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Coleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dfb087/32.png) [@Paul\_Coleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_Coleman)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/17 "2000-03-04T17:58:00Z")
What about seven swans a swimming? Mr. Howell Swan Mrs. Howell Swan Professor Swan Maryanne Swan Ginger Swan Skipper Swan Gilligan Swan Irrefutable. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2000, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/18 "2000-03-04T23:45:00Z")
Ursa, first you confirm the unholy trinity of Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie and Gilligan’s Island, then you volunteer the 7 Dwarfs correlation. I’m going to have to kill you now. With my teeth. * * * The Dave-Guy “Since my daughter’s only half-Jewish, can she go in up to her knees?” J.H. Marx ---
**Author:** ![Sentinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sentinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sentinel)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/19 "2000-03-05T17:12:00Z")
I don’t know about the others, but I lusted after Maryann for ages. Cute but not gorgeous. JUST the right size. GREAT legs. HOT looking in those hot pants. Cheerful and friendly. Great hair. Energetic (Hmmm) Bouncy (Also, Hmmm) Great eyes Compact, fine body Small feet Caring Optimist Intelligent Even today she looks pretty hot, while Ginger has turned into a wrinkled and withered crone. Maryann STILL has GREAT LEGS. * * * ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384/20 "2000-03-06T05:08:00Z")
Thank god for Sentinel. For years I was worried that I was the only one who’d noticed Mary Ann’s hot small feet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligans-island-and-the-7-deadly-sins/14384.md?page=2)