A recurring theme in The Death of Conchobhar is punishment, through one of the seven deadly sins.
In the story Conchobhar has a brain ball slung into his head by Cet who set him up by having woman
call him over to look at him, knowing that Conchobhar was very proud of his perfect figure. The brain
ball represents sin because it is what nearly killed him as he was leaving his soldiers to die as he
lusted over the woman and prided his good looks, both considered to be one of the seven deadly sins.
Later the doctor tells his soldiers that if the brain ball comes out Conchobhar will die emediatly
but will not be disformed. This shows that Conchobhar would be ridded of his seven deadly sins although
dying, he would likely rise into heaven as his sins would be gone. However the sins, or the brain ball,
are kept in Conchobar's head. Later in the story when he hears that Christ has been killed by the Jews
Conchobar falls into a fit of envy, "a thousand armed men shall fall at my hand...with that fury, Meis-Geghra's
brain sprang out of his head...and he died of it." This shows that when Conchobar goes into a fit of rage
claims he is going to kill a thousand armed men, he is punished for it. Wrath being another one of
the seven deadly sins. The brain ball and brains being a symbol for sin, shows that when Conchubar became
full of sin, the sin exploded out of his head, and he died of it. Thus the story is a sermon on why you
should not go around lusting up on woman, being proud of your good looks, and avenging your wrath
upon the Jews.
