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Sloth In Modern Society

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Unlike virtue, which is desirable and moral, vice is immoral or wicked behavior. As one of the “Seven Deadly Sins”, the vice of sloth is defined as reluctance to work or make an effort. According to Franklin, sloth is caused by habit which takes “the advantage of inattention” (Franklin, 331). In other words, a lazy person unconsciously sticks to their life routine, which keeps them from doing anything more productive than their usual chores. On the other hand, Saint Augustine believes that sloth is caused by the “peculiar attractiveness” of not having to do anything (Saint Augustine, 299). Whether it is caused by habit or the “peculiar attractiveness”, sloth has a significant impact on a modern society. But what are some of the long-term effects …show more content…

According to Pynchon, “the notorious Couch Potato” lives in a symbiosis with television and sucks in all its “colored shadows” (Pynchon, 2). As he avoids the discomfort and pursues pleasure, he gets sucked into a pleasant world of virtual reality and stops being useful to himself and to a society. While enjoying the pleasure of sloth, without even realizing he commits other deadly sins. As he watches his favorite show, he gorges himself on his favorite food. He also envies the celebrities because of their fortune and fame; however, he is not willing to work for it. Merchandise advertised in between the TV shows make him covet, images lust, and the news make him angry (Pynchon, 2). Nonetheless, with a rapid development of technology, a lifestyle of the Couch Potato is becoming so popular that it is not even considered to be slothful anymore. However, recognized or not, sloth produces guilt and depression (Pynchon, 1), causing a deep dissatisfaction. Even though dissatisfied, Couch Potatoes are too slothful to change, which leaves a modern society with a group of unproductive, lazy and anxious people whose number is gradually

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