the devil and daniel webster theme


The story aims at revealing the cleverness of the American identity which figured out how to get itself out from under the yoke of the authority of the devilish European aristocratic class system.In presenting an actual historical figure as the embodiment of the strengths of America, the story also becomes an examination of the difference between a heroic human and mythic hero. Mr. Scratch, of course, is nothing less than the Devil himself. Not affiliated with Harvard College.Sexton, Timothy. In desperation Webster thunders, "Mr. Stone is an American citizen, and no American citizen may be forced into the service of a foreign prince. They had all done evil, and had all played a part in the formation of the United States: He foretells (actual) events in Webster's future, including his failure to become President (an actual ambition of his), the death of Webster's sons (which happened in the Webster takes the predictions in stride and asks only if the Union will prevail. "The Devil and Daniel Webster" is Stephen Benet's update of the classic short "The Devil and Tom Walker," by Washington Irving. The The Devil and Daniel Webster Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and … Webster insists on a jury trial as an American right, with Americans for the jury and an American judge. "The Devil and Daniel Webster Themes". They admit, "Perhaps 'tis Webster then grabs the stranger and twists his arm behind his back, "for he knew that once you bested anybody like Mr. Scratch in fair fight, his power on you was gone." The names Benét gives the devil—An animated television film loosely based on the story, Phil Reisman, Jr. adapted the story for a live television performance of "The Devil and Daniel Webster" on Edward Arnold, Walter Huston, and James Craig reprised their 1941 film roles in the "All That Money Can Buy" episode of Walter Huston again reprised his 1941 film role in the "All That Money Can Buy" episode of This article is about the short story. Patriotism is a main theme in the story: Webster claims that the Devil cannot take the soul because he cannot claim American citizenship. The devil says "I am merely an honest American like yourself — and of the best descent — for, to tell the truth, Mr. Webster, though I don't like to boast of it, my name is older in this country than yours." The film's title was changed to All That Money Can Buy to avoid confusion with another film released by RKO that year, The Devil and Miss Jones, but later had the title restored on some prints. Appearing in human form, he convinces Jabez to make the transaction that will gain him the man’s soul in exchange for a serious turn of fortune. Webster makes him agree "never to bother Jabez Stone Mr. Scratch offers to tell Webster's fortune in his palm. Discussion of themes and motifs in Stephen Vincent Benét's The Devil and Daniel Webster. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Mr. Scratch tells Webster, "I shall call upon you, as a law-abiding citizen, to assist me in taking possession of my property," and so begins the argument. We Webster demands a trial as the right of every American. The crowd's gossip during the square dance does all of the following exceptWhat are some facts about scratch from The devil and daniel webster It has also been released under the titles Mr. Scratch, Daniel and the Devil and Here Is a Man. Webster starts to orate on simple and good things – "the freshness of a fine morning...the taste of food when you're hungry...the new day that's every day when you're a child" – and how "without freedom, they sickened." In Daniel's speech "He was talking about the things that make a country a country, and a man a man" rather than legal points of the case. While Webster’s defense of his client against the devil takes place before this turn of events, what lay ahead of Webster is an essential component of the story. The Devil And Daniel Webster Summary Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “The Devil And Daniel Webster” by Stephen Vincent Benét. Scratch reluctantly admits that, although a war will be fought over the issue, the United States will remain united. The narrator also expresses sympathy for King Philip when he tells us that one juror "heard the cry of his lost nation" in Webster's eloquent appeal. Humankind "got tricked and trapped and bamboozled, but it was a great journey," something "no The jury announces its verdict: "We find for the defendant, Jabez Stone." This refashioning of the fundamentals of the European conventions of stories involving selling one’s soul is an examination of Benet’s theme of the special and unique quality of America. When the devil arrives he is described as "a soft-spoken, dark-dressed stranger," who "drove up in a handsome buggy." The The Devil and Daniel Webster Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and … For the film, see A point sometimes not known or appreciated by the reader is that, by agreeing to a jury trial under common law, Mr. Scratch has also agreed to be bound by the rule that a jury is the exclusive judge of both the facts and the law; as such, even in the face of overwhelming evidence favoring the plaintiff (such as the contract Mr. Scratch had with Stone) the jury could find for the defendant, acting as a sort of local law-making body with the power to suspend the law in this case (this can only be done for acquittals; convictions must be done strictly according to the law and the evidence). In addition to being set in America, the primary difference from the traditional course of the narrative is that the Faust figure’s soul is saved from eternal damnation and not by the grace of god. A jury of the damned then enters, "with the fires of hell still upon them." This tweaking of the outcome is not just aimless experimentation; Benet is suggesting that the American character is one not as corrosively corrupted as the European one that in the original construction of the tale ends with Faust doomed to having to fulfill his eternal bargain.Also related to the Faustian tradition is the subversive manner in which the devil is outwitted.

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. In Benet’s version, all that is required is cleverest American politician. He speaks passionately of how wonderful it is to be human and to be an American. Webster, as an experienced lawyer, would know that; presumably Mr. Scratch would have known that as well, but was confident that his hand-picked jury would do his bidding. Had the story been titled “The Devil v.

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the devil and daniel webster theme