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deal with the devil

n. (alternative nameFaustian bargain)

Wikipedia
Deal with the Devil

A deal with the devil or pact with the devil is a cultural motif, best exemplified by the legend of Faust and the figure of Mephistopheles, but elemental to many Christian folktales. According to traditional Christian belief in witchcraft, the pact is between a person and Satan or a lesser demon. The person offers his or her soul in exchange for diabolical favours. Those favours vary by the tale, but tend to include youth, knowledge, wealth, fame, or power.

It was also believed that some persons made this type of pact just as a sign of recognizing the devil as their master, in exchange for nothing. Nevertheless, the bargain is considered a dangerous one, as the price of the Fiend's service is the wagerer's soul. The tale may have a moralizing end, with eternal damnation for the foolhardy venturer. Conversely, it may have a comic twist, in which a wily peasant outwits the devil, characteristically on a technical point. The person making the pact sometimes tries to outwit the devil, but loses in the end (e.g., man sells his soul for eternal life because he will never die to pay his end of the bargain. Immune to the death penalty, he commits murder, but is sentenced to life in prison).

Great achievements might be credited to a pact with the devil, from the numerous European Devil's Bridges to the violin virtuosity of Niccolò Paganini to the "crossroad" myth associated with Robert Johnson.

The "Bargain with the devil" constitutes motif number M210 and "Man sells soul to devil" motif number M211 in Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature.

Deal with the Devil (album)

Deal with the Devil is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Lizzy Borden released in 2000 (see 2000 in music).

A return to form, featuring a cover by Todd McFarlane.

Two covers were recorded. "(This Ain't) The Summer Of Love" is originally by Blue Öyster Cult and "Generation Landslide" by Alice Cooper.

The Japanese version includes a cover of Scorpions' "We'll Burn the Sky" as a bonus track.

Deal with the Devil (Pop Evil song)

"'''Deal with the Devil '''" is the second single from Onyx and is the eleventh single overall from American rock band Pop Evil. The video, which was directed by Johan Carlén, is the second part of a trilogy that is being presented in reverse. The song became the band's second number-one single, following their previous single "Trenches".

Deal with the Devil (disambiguation)

Deal with the Devil is a cultural motif elemental to many Christian folktales.

Deal with the Devil may also refer to:

  • Deal with the Devil (album), an album by Lizzy Borden, or the title song
  • Deal with the Devil (Pop Evil song)
  • "Deal with the Devil", a song by Judas Priest from '' Angel of Retribution ''
  • "Deal with the Devil", a song by Dale Watson from the 2001 album Every Song I Write is for You

Usage examples of "deal with the devil".

Greatrix, who lived in the neighborhood, and knew, as may be presumed, how to deal with the devil as well as anybody.

I must feed the people of Harmony, and to do that I'll deal with the devil himself if that's what it takes.

She'd make a deal with the devil to keep her daughter safe, even if the devil is me.