Poetry · Chapter
The Woman and the Devil explained
A poetic narrative describes the creation of Man and Woman, with the Devil sneaking into the workshop while the Master rests on Sunday.
What happens
A poetic narrative describes the creation of Man and Woman, with the Devil sneaking into the workshop while the Master rests on Sunday. The Woman, curious about her missing disposition, accepts the Devil's offer to borrow his, and she never returns it.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Self-Deception
The Devil deceives the Woman by lending his disposition, which she never intends to return, highlighting mutual deception.
Nature and Artifice
The poem contrasts the natural creation of Man and Woman with the artificial intrusion of the Devil, altering the Woman's nature.
Characters to notice
- The Master
The creator who rests from work on Sunday.
- Emancipated Woman
The Woman who cries out for a disposition and accepts the Devil's loan.
- Jack Satan
The Devil who sneaks into the workshop and lends his disposition to the Woman.
Key passages
“The Devil to the workshop strayed, And somehow gained admission.”
The Devil wandered into the workshop and managed to get in.
Describes the Devil's intrusion into the creation process.
“The Adversary said: 'No doubt 'Twill be extremely fine, ma'am, Though sure 'tis long to be without— I beg to lend you mine, ma'am.'”
The Devil said the disposition would surely be very fine, but since she has been without it so long, he offers to lend her his own.
The Devil offers his own disposition to the Woman.
“The Devil's disposition when She'd got, of course she wore it, For she'd no disposition then, Nor now has, to restore it.”
Once she had the Devil's disposition, she naturally kept it, because she had no inclination then, and still has none, to give it back.
The Woman permanently keeps the Devil's disposition.