HTKAA: spoilers
This post contains spoilers for How to kill an angel. Below is an analysis of Nathaniel's character, which I only recommend to those who have already read the book. How many of these did you catch? What did you miss? Some are very subtle.
When we think of angels, we picture perfect godly beings that are patient, fair and understanding, but that's not who Nathaniel is. He struggles with patience in the very first chapter. Wrath is the first deadly sin he displays and the one he battles with the most; he's quick to anger and often fails to calm down. Innocuous comments from Aiden are enough to set him off. His hatred for demons is so strong that, even when he falls and gets to know them better, he still wishes harm upon them simply because they are demons. His position in the army allows him to act upon this rage with no consequence. In fact, he's celebrated for it.
Pride is another sin he shows very early on. He wears a golden wreath on his head, given to him by other angels, as a symbol of his status in the army. He takes great pride in his position as a representative of the gods and all the wars he's been in. He still believes he's better than the entire demon race even after falling, never respecting their hierarchy or treating them as equals. He considers fallen angels to be above any and all demons just because they're angels. That behavior is normalized. Paradise doesn't consider the seven deadly sins to be negative traits. So far, we've seen Paradise celebrate at least two of them.
Lust is the most obvious sin Nathaniel displays and the one readers will catch onto the quickest. Upon meeting Aiden, the very first thing Nathaniel notices are the similarities between Aiden and his ex-boyfriend Zea. He only struggles with self-restraint for a moment before giving in completely to lust. Even though he's remorseful at first, he continues doing it. Then, he stops feeling remorse at all. This behavior ties into gluttony. The sexual act itself isn't an issue in Paradise; what is considered sinful is both their power dynamic and different races. Angels aren't allowed to mingle with humans, because humans are seen as lesser than any and all celestials. Nathaniel's expected to find a parter that shares his position in society, not someone below him. That's reason for scandal. His previous relationship with Zea, another angel, had been standard.
Gluttony is an easy sin to miss. Most readers will point to Nathaniel's excessive drinking near the end, yet completely miss the fact he's been indulging in sexual encounters with Aiden at every opportunity. He even stops feeling remorseful for it. His justification is that sex is the only way he's able to successfully control Aiden, or in Charmaine's own words, "put him back in his place." Paradise brands itself as the resting place for deserving humans, yet this display of excessive control is unproblematic; there is a correct way humans must behave. They're not allowed to enjoy Paradise on their own terms. Nathaniel doesn't seem to believe any repercussion will come from his infringements, after all, he's the one who enforces the law. His influential position leads him to believe he's deserving of indulgence. He only realizes he will be punished when he makes an attempt on the Oracle's life.
Nathaniel's greed is mostly covered up and dismissed. He tells the reader his reasoning for reporting Zea's coup is because he believes in law and order, but conveniently leaves out his own promotion. Zea's plan was to replace his current boss, Salus' Representative, which is the position Nathaniel holds when we meet him. Once he falls, one of his concerns is whether he has any influence in the Abyss. Even though he doesn't openly say it, he covets prestiege and rank. When he discovers how much power he holds over the head of the Abyss, he quickly exerts it, removing the Prince from his own office.
Envy is and greed are closely related. As an orphan with nothing to his name, Nathaniel grew up envious of those who had everything. That detail is obscured in the narrative; Nathaniel never mentions the orphenage, disclosing only the fact he and Zea grew up together. He does, however, tell Charmaine that she's his family, agreeing with her role as a mother figure. So, angels have parents, but Nathaniel does not. Envious of his boss' position, Nathaniel takes it for himself. His envy is the primary reason for his drive. His conquests later give way to pride. This is where it all begins.
The only sin Nathaniel doesn't seem to display is sloth. He's the only angel in the narrative who works two jobs. None of the others mention any other roles, so we understand that Nathaniel was most likely not forced to take on a second job, but did it of his own volition. In the Abyss, he's bothered by his own idleness, wishing to be the driving force of his own destiny. That's mainly a narrative tool; a main character that does nothing propels the narrative nowhere. It also does not match Nathaniel's character.
What did you think of this breakdown? Did you catch all of the sins as you read through the book? Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!