The Devil’s Dictionary · Chapter
L explained
This chapter presents a series of satirical definitions for words beginning with 'L', including 'Liar', 'Liberty', 'Life', 'Lighthouse', 'Limb', 'Litigant', 'Litigation', 'Liver', 'LL.D.', 'Learning', 'Lecturer', 'Legacy', 'Leonine', 'Lettu
What happens
This chapter presents a series of satirical definitions for words beginning with 'L', including 'Liar', 'Liberty', 'Life', 'Lighthouse', 'Limb', 'Litigant', 'Litigation', 'Liver', 'LL.D.', 'Learning', 'Lecturer', 'Legacy', 'Leonine', 'Lettuce', 'Leviathan', 'Lexicographer', 'Lock-And-Key', 'Lodger', 'Logic', 'Logomachy', 'Longanimity', 'Longevity', 'Looking-Glass', 'Loquacity', and 'Lord'. The definitions are laced with irony, cynicism, and social commentary, often targeting human folly, religion, politics, and language.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Duplicity
The definitions of 'Lickspittle' and 'Litigant' expose the hypocrisy and self-serving nature of editors, lawyers, and litigants.
Human Folly and Self-Deception
The definition of 'Life' satirizes the human preoccupation with longevity and the contradiction of fearing death while life is not missed when lost.
Language and Meaning
The extended definition of 'Lexicographer' critiques the role of dictionaries in stifling linguistic innovation and the arbitrary authority given to lexicographers.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The narrator provides the definitions and commentary throughout the chapter.
- Lord Cadde
Mentioned in the definition of 'Lord' as an example of an English tourist.
- Rev. John Satan
Referenced in the definition of 'LL.D.' as a suggested recipient of a new degree.
- Shakespeare
Mentioned in the definition of 'Lexicographer' as an example of a great Elizabethan writer.
- B
Appears as the author of a poem in the definition of 'Limb'.
- Leo
Referenced in the definition of 'Leonine' as the poet after whom leonine verses are named.
Key passages
“God said: “Let Spirit perish into Form,” And lexicographers arose, a swarm! Thought fled and left her clothing, which they took, And catalogued each garment in a book.”
The poet suggests that when God allowed spirit to become material form, lexicographers appeared in great numbers. Thought abandoned its outward expression, and the lexicographers collected and listed every piece of that expression in a book.
This poem criticizes lexicographers for reducing living language to static catalog entries.
“Life A spiritual pickle preserving the body from decay. We live in daily apprehension of its loss; yet when lost it is not missed.”
Life is defined as a spiritual preservative that keeps the body from rotting. People constantly fear losing it, but once it is gone, they do not miss it.
This definition satirizes the human fear of death and the paradox of valuing life only in the abstract.
“Litigation A machine which you go into as a pig and come out of as a sausage.”
Litigation is compared to a machine: you enter it as a whole pig and emerge as processed sausage, implying that the legal process grinds you down.
This metaphor highlights the dehumanizing and destructive nature of lawsuits.
