Demons afflict people with diseases among other things, but the name devil means false accuser or slanderer. Satan is our adversary who is accusing us before God. Jesus is our advocate who intercedes for us before God, He pleads our cause. His intercession is based on the fact that we believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and we are justified by
The Screwtape Letters and the Challenge of Interpretation The Screwtape Letters, written by C.S. Lewis, are made up of a series of beautifully worded corresponding between a young and unexperienced demon, known as Wormwood, and a seasoned, veteran demon known as Screwtape. The information being communicated between the two, consists solely of the techniques involved in the corruption and manipulation of the human mind. Their purpose is to, unknowingly to humanity, infuse evil and remove or completely avoid Christianity in one’s life. The letters are displayed as a guide towards the undoing of good in a life by pointing out the weaknesses, flaws, and behaviors of men.
In East of Eden, Steinbeck makes Cal the main victim of the struggle between good and evil by emphasizing thou mayest. In East of Eden, The struggle of good and evil is seen constantly throughout the novel in a variety of characters. Cathy, symbolizing Satan, looks for the evil in each person and tries to draw it out and exploit it. Steinbeck says,
What imbeds evil into the human mind? Many people have many different opinions of evil and what brings it to us. Ideas range from the devil himself to evil simply being inherited. Within the text The Moral Of The Story by Nina Rosenstand, it is said that evil may be a force outside of human being such as some satanic power that infects human souls, also that evil may be a force within the human mind that does not see the need and interests of others, or that evil may be a blind spot in the mind where most of us have a sense of community, belonging, and empathy for others. No matter where evil comes from, it is a very strong and dark force that only causes destruction, depression, and fear.
It describes a God that is personal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good. Theodicy is one criticism against the second premise of this argument, which attempts to try and explain why an all-PKG allows evil to exist (Sober, pg. 111). Theodicy claims that some evils are necessary as they have the property of being “soul-building”. Soul-building evils are meant to force human beings to live through adversity and in turn strengthen our characters (Sober, pg.
There is also Dr Lanyon, who is seen to be completely opposed to the science of Jekyll but loses his Victorian values to his curiosity when Jekyll reveals his secret. The contrast of “Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case” to the narrative of Mr Utterson in the other chapters of this book shows duality because Mr Utterson uses the other characters as a point of view whereas Jekyll’s statement of the case looks from only his perspective. Stevenson uses the lasting moral message that good and evil are conflicting inside people - the way that savagery and civilisation contrast and our effects on religion and science. Robert Louis Stevenson uses the character of Sir Danvers Carew to portray that civilisation and religion are important for good people whereas Mr Hyde shows evil through his curiosity of life and his height to represent youth, showing that Jekyll’s youthful sins; which were not explained in detail are replicated as Hyde. This is a comment on Victorian values that Stevenson is making.
Double standards resonate deeply in “The Scarlet Letter.” Nathaniel Hawthorne uses specific characters to represent many different evils in society. One of these evils, hypocrisy, exists as one of the most important themes in the novel. At very specific and timely points in the book Hawthorne and the Narrator are able to portray fraudulence as the root of why the world seems to fall apart for Dimmesdale. Because of his hypocritical tendencies, Dimmesdale pains the people closest to him; including himself. Even though Pearl was willing to have a relationship with her father, Dimmesdale's heart was not strong enough to fully reveal himself to his own daughter until much too late.
Since this holy chain was established by almighty God, it was considered sinful to disturb it and doing so would ultimately result in chaos. Macbeth's experiences bear testament to this. The prophecies made by the three witches (who are the manifestations of a troubled mind and are “instruments of darkness” – the active agents of evil in the world) awaken the seeds of evil within Macbeth. The first significant indication of Macbeth’s “vaulting ambition” comes when Malcolm is named heir to the throne, and Macbeth confesses to his “Black deep and dark desires” for the crown. This incident is significant in that it illustrates Macbeths reversed state of mind where emotion overpowers reason instead of reason overpowering emotion.
Throughout the story, Chillingworth acts as torment towards the reverend because of his intent on revenge, only to cause Dimmesdale more struggle and greif. Each character is equally significant in setting up the novel, but perhaps Hawthorne’s most successful manner of communication is the repetition of symbols he utilizes throughout the romance. Such symbols include the scarlet “A”, Pearl, the scaffold in which Hester was punished, and the forest. Although each can be interpreted as individual entities, together the symbols form a larger image about the judgmental and conformist nature of society which causes confusion of identity. The “ignominous letter” that Hester wears is in many ways a specific example of
However much we may want others to be transparent, it is impossible because everyone wears a veil. In this case the veil is a symbol for hidden guilt. There is a reality of personal evil and the veil stands in for man’s hypocrisy. Mr. Hooper says, “if I cover it for secret sin, what mortal might not do the same?” Mr. Hooper believed that everyone had secret sin and should thus wear a veil. Mr. Hooper may be said to be a moral prophet who shows by example the reality of men.