By: Gina DiLisio
Through the changing views on religion over the period of developing British Literature and culture, the depictions of evil, and more specifically, the Devil, drastically evolved. In early Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman literature, the views of Christianity and Christ/God as a warrior or powerful figure meant as a reflection of the desires and want of the people at the time, the Devil was depicted as something of greater evil and great destruction in response. As the depictions of Christ and religion developed, in turn, the depiction of the Devil had to do the same.
Who’s the Devil?
You hear the word “Satan” or “devil” or maybe even “Lucifer” and you probably think of a horned, ugly creature that’s all red and has a pointy tail and a pitch fork. But have these ideas always been the same? Have we always thought of the devil as some creepy, crazy laughing figure surrounded by fire and brimstone?
The general perception of the Devil had been a figure of pure evil, probably conceived as a counter to Christ and God’s depiction as a figure of pure good and strength. Literarily, Satan, at least the Satan of the Bible, was seen as tempter. Visually, Satan often took a faceless or figureless form, up to interpretation. Often enough, the depictions we think of today are linked to gods of other ancient religions, as Christians would often morph these “false gods” into tempters to lead one astray from God.
Sympathy for the Devil
Soon, the Devil became not just a simplistic character of evil, but a being with dimension; he was a fallen angel, a beloved creature of God fueled by jealousy. He (or she, in some depictions) became at times even a sympathetic figure or someone to be pitied. This sort of humanizing can be seen in Paradise Lost, wherethe Devil is depicted as a more human character, even as someone that we can sympathize with and see as the “hero” of the story.
Humor in Evil
The Devil also represented more than just evil, becoming a symbol for power, knowledge, and much more. We see in Doctor Faustus the Devil as a mysterious being never seen on-stage that represents unknown knowledge and power, but also a representative of choices one must make in their lives. At times, there are also even comical depictions of Satan, seeing him as the butt of the joke rather than a being of pure evil. The incredible thing is that even in seemingly serious depictions of Satan, there can be a sort of humorous account to them, such as in Doctor Faustus. The “power” of the devil is rather comedic, seen in pranks or jokes on other people. In this way we tend to humanize Satan, seeing them as something that does not just have to be feared.
The point of exploring the Devil’s literary life in British Literature is to bring to question why. Why this depiction at this time? Why should we feel this way about Satan, and how does this reflect historically? What does the author and/or artist want to bring attention to with this representation, and how does this affect the reader’s perceptions, especially in modern readings?