An Offer You Can't Refuse: Dealings With The Devil in European Fiction

                                                   

 Erik Nelson
Mentor: Ron McFarland

    

BACKGROUND

 

For the last three years, I've been focusing the majority of my literary efforts on studying what are generally accepted as the 'major' writers and poets in the field of British Literature- Chaucer, Milton, Blake, Byron (etc.). In recent months, I have brought my attention to a more focused topic- the hero of these tales. The protagonist of an epic story is, in many ways, exemplar of that which society desires most in their heroes- they epitomize the values and ethical qualities which are considered to be 'best' for an individual to possess. But it came to me, as these things so often do, the realization that for every great hero, the story requires a great villain. And what better villain is there than the Son of Perdition himself- Lucifer?

I had begun with Goethe's Faust in an attempt to broaden my overall comprehension of the Romantics in general, especially the mainland European writers (with whom I am woefully unfamiliar). I have long had a fascination with the powerful religious and counter-religious overtones so commonly present in the British genres. I was using Byron's “Manfred” as a starting point when it occurred to me that these stories reflect through the folly of Man the potency of the Devil and his agents, such as Mephistopheles. These villains become critical in understanding our heroes, because they are the morale framework against which the writer can paint the canvas of ethicality which heroes possess. To put it another way, you're only as heroic as your villain is evil.  

The research so far has stimulated my search and given me more excitement for my topic. I have Byron's Cain sitting on my desk, as well as Faust and “Manfred” at my elbow. Marlow's “Dr.. Faustus” should provide a more humorous insight into some of the characters, but I don't want to discount Milton's Lucifer or Blake's derision thereof. My  major concerns have been that of time- there is a tremendous volume of literature for me to read, for one, and I will have to take pains to make sure that my paper does not deviate greatly from the topic of Satan- without denying the importance of the theology that may have fueled his appearance.

 

CURRENT PROJECT

 

Right now I'm in the process of collecting and assembling the books I will be reading during the course of my analysis, as well as consulting frequently with Ron about which authors in particular I should be looking at as well as which ones I should be avoiding. The quagmire of Blake's complicated theology, for instance, I will be undertaking with the utmost of trepidation. I believe I have a solid place to stand upon, with Goethe, Milton, and Byron giving me my major starting point, and bringin in Blake and  Marlow to supplement my work.

 

PLAN FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS

This semester the goal is to assemble a fairly comprehensive series of examples of Satan as presented through British literature and fiction, focusing especially on characterization and archetypal roles he plays, both those benign and villainous in nature.

Following this, I will attempt to form a coherent summary and analysis of the character of Satan himself. This will not be conducted as an article proselytizing on behalf of a faith or specific religious doctrine, but will be a character analysis of a major player in the fiction genre. 

I will use this research as the basis for an analytical essay which I will then submit as my final project for this course, and may then use later on in my graduate studies- especially as counterpoint to my studies of the British Hero that I conducted in previous semesters.

 

IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO PRESENT THIS WORK

My goal for a “product” is a thorough composition and analysis of the character of Satan as has been presented in major milestones in British Literature. I hope that the benefits of this will be threefold- one, a major exploration into portions of British Literature with which I have been thus far ignorant (Goethe, for one); two, working to maintain a unifying thread that can tie many of these disparate tales together into one definitive theme; and three, I want to work under Ron's guidance into assembling a professional-level composition in which I will present the conclusions I have arrived at during the course of my analysis. 

 

RECOMMENDED SOURCES

Blake, William. The Marriage of Heaven and Hell; All Religions Are One

Milton, John. Paradise Lost; Paradise Regained  

Marlowe, Christoper. The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus

 

 

TENTATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

Atkins, Stuart. Goethe: Faust I & II. Boston: Shurkamp/Insel Publisher's Boston, 1984. 

Bergstrasser, Arnold. Goethe's Image of Man and Society. Freiburg, Herder. 1962.

Gleckner, Robert F. (Editor). Critical Essays on Lord Byron. New York: Maxmilliant Int'l, 1991.

McGann, Jerome J. Byron. Oxford, Engl.: Oxford University Press, 1986.

Norton Anthology. Norton Anthology of British Literature, 8th Ed. New York: 2007.

Steffan, Truman Guy. Lord Byron's Cain. Texas: University of Texas, 1968.