The 7 deadly sins vs. The 7 heavenly virtues.

[Tar-Telperien]

Well, the majority of Númenor's latter-day populace displayed Envy par excellence. Envy doesn't usually get as much attention as some of the other sins, so it is interesting to read a story in which it is the focal point of all the troubles and conflicts.

The Rest of the Sins

Pride: is pretty well represented by most of the major figures in Arda's history (Melkor, Fëanor, Túrin, etc.). Overly proud people, while causing problems for society, do get things moving.

Gluttony: hmm... Hobbits can fall into this. Actually it tends to be a bit of a problem for mortals in general; Bombur was a fat Dwarf after all. But Elves are pretty unafflicted by it (save for those who drank a bit too much wine and passed out in The Hobbit; I bet Thranduil wasn't pleased with them).

Sloth: again, mostly a problem for mortals if anyone. Another one fairly well represented in the Hobbit population (Tolkien himself said as much in his letters).

Lust: this category is so broad that you could fit practically anyone under it, so I won't really bother to try. In the more narrow definition of "rampant sexual desire", it is most clearly displayed by Morgoth when he meets Lúthien.

Greed: Númenor again, big time. The whole world couldn't slake their desire for more material goods (with which they became obsessed to allay their fear of Death).

Wrath: hoo boy. The major denizens of the Wrath category are about the same as the Pride one. However, I'm tempted to include certain Valar and Maiar such as Tulkas and Ossë here.

The Virtues

I'm a whole lot less familiar with the Virtues than the Sins, but I'll give this a try anyway.

Faith: anyone who has estel, which is pretty much its Middle-earth equivalent. Finrod, being the one who describes estel to us in the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, is a good candidate. Also Eärendil, for being willing to voyage into the West to save a people who had done him no good (kidnapped his children, no less) because he believed in their need for rescuing.

Hope: again, pretty much the same as estel. Most of the people living in Beleriand after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad somewhat fit this category in that they were still able to soldier on despite their horrific loss.

Charity: Finrod. He gave the gifts of wisdom, kindness, safety, and rest to the lowly race of Men.

Fortitude: most of the heroes, of course. Frodo, especially.

Justice: Mandos. That about says it all.

Temperance: the Faithful of Númenor, who abstained from the decadent practices of their fellows.

Prudence: I dunno... most of the Children of Ilúvatar have the tendency to stick their nose where it doesn't belong. But I think Ulmo showed prudence in his unwillingness to bring the Noldor to Valinor. He actually saw that messing around with the Elves (and basically viewing them as glorified toys for the enjoyment of the Valar) wasn't a good idea and wanted to leave well enough alone.

[Thinlómien]

I would like to add, that Ungoliant is surely an incarnation of lust and gluttony. Just think about her lust for light, the gems and the two trees...

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

I would like to add, that Ungoliant is surely an incarnation of lust and gluttony. Just think about her lust for light, the gems and the two trees...

Yes Lommy, I thought of her for gluttony especially.

While there is lust for power and the ring in LOTR, lust in its primary sexual sense is just about absent, where as the Silmarillion, for all that it is archaic and in many aspects takes place in a more remote world, is populated by more complex and psychologically developed characters, and is in some respects more "worldly". In the Rings the closest you get to lust is Grima in his desire for Eowyn. In the Silmarillion, as well as Morgoth's lust for Luthien mentioned by Tar Telperien, there is Maeglin's near incestuous lust for his cousin Idril, arguably Eol's lust for Aredhel and other instances ..it is all a lot more full blooded (and indeed red blooded ).

Since Tar-Telperien stumpled on Prudence in her splendid list, I would cite Idril (my first age heroine) as a fine example. Thanks to her foresight and preparation some of the people of Gondolin did survive.