The Devil Personified: How He Shapeshifts in Literature

The Devil Personified: How He Shapeshifts in Literature

This article relates to Craft

The Hebrew word "Satan" can be translated as "adversary," or "accuser," so in his nomenclature, he wasn't exactly set up for success. Satan, or the devil, is a figure who has origins in Abrahamic religions, well-known in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Conceptually, he has been depicted as a fallen angel, ghoulishly evil, as both an agent of and literary foil for God. Satan is so pervasive in religion and culture that it would be impossible to summarize how this character/being has altered history over time. However, it is interesting to view Satan through a postmodernist, contemporary lens. Ananda Lima's short story collection, Craft, presents the devil as a vehicle to teach a lesson, as a lover, and as a sympathizer. Here are some other titles where the devil shapeshifts into these three roles.

Perhaps the most common way this character is presented is as a vehicle to teach a lesson, but C.S. Lewis takes the cake for doing so in a way that doesn't feel stuffy. The Screwtape Letters is a series of epistles written by an old devil named Screwtape, addressing his nephew, Wormwood. Screwtape mentors Wormwood, teaching him how to tempt humans further and further from God. This mentoring takes the form of the two observing humans as they go about their daily lives, committing acts of sin, much to Screwtape and Wormwood's delight. The novel's satirical flare sparks a layered conversation about how heavily temptation can influence people.

Enough about lessons, you might be thinking. Perhaps that's too cerebral for your tastes. What about the devil as a literal lover? In The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab, Addie makes a deal with the devil so that she can live forever. Little does she realize, the caveat is that nobody will ever remember she exists after meeting her. The one being that seems to remember her for many years is the devastatingly evil devil with whom she made the deal. The two ultimately develop a romantic relationship that complicates her pact even further.

Should you be in more of a brooding mood, there is another title heavy on my mind. The devil acts as a sympathizer for mankind in Glen Duncan's I, Lucifer. In this novel, the devil receives a creative shot at redemption by having the opportunity to temporarily embody a suicidal human by the name of Delcan Gunn. Initially indulging in earthly hedonistic pursuits, the devil eventually has to confront the realities of human life, which proves to be a lot more complicated than he expected.

Just like you can choose your own adventure, you have the power to choose your own interpretation of the devil. After all, he has been a shapeshifter practically since the beginning of time. If you're of a more traditional or religious mindset, there is plenty of literature depicting him as a cautionary tale. If you want to channel your inner empath, there are novels about the devil being a sympathizer. If you're downright mischievous, you might want to imagine him as a lover. Whatever you fancy, there is a version of the devil to satisfy your curiosity.

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This article relates to Craft. It first ran in the June 19, 2024 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.