The Wolf-Leader · Chapter
V: The Pact with Satan explained
Thibault encounters the black wolf again, who offers to grant his wishes for ill against his neighbors in exchange for a small portion of his person, with the price doubling each time.
What happens
Thibault encounters the black wolf again, who offers to grant his wishes for ill against his neighbors in exchange for a small portion of his person, with the price doubling each time. Thibault agrees, exchanging his silver ring for the wolf's gold one, which bears the monogram 'T. S.' for Thibault and Satan. He then wishes for a serious accident to befall the Baron and Marcotte, and soon sees them carried back, seemingly lifeless. The Baron is revived with a remedy made from Thibault's goat, but the Baron, upon recovering, destroys Thibault's prized wooden cup.
Themes in this chapter
Deal with the Devil
Thibault makes a pact with the black wolf, who is implied to be Satan, exchanging his soul for the power to harm his enemies.
Revenge and Its Consequences
Thibault's wish for revenge on the Baron and Marcotte leads to their apparent deaths, showing the immediate and severe consequences of his pact.
Supernatural and Folklore
The chapter is steeped in folklore, with the black wolf as a supernatural being, the magical pact, and the folk remedy used to revive the Baron.
Characters to notice
- Thibault
Makes a pact with the black wolf, exchanging his silver ring for a gold one marked with the initials of Thibault and Satan. He uses his first wish to harm the Baron and Marcotte.
- Satan
Appears as the black wolf, offering Thibault a deal to fulfill his wishes for a price that doubles each time. He seals the pact by exchanging rings.
- Baron de Vauparfond
The target of Thibault's first wish, he is found seemingly dead after a hunting accident but is revived with a remedy made from Thibault's goat.
- Mocquet
Not directly present in this chapter, but his earlier tale of Thibault and the black wolf is the context for this encounter.
Key passages
““You fool! has not a moralist said, ‘There is always something sweet to us in the misfortune of our friends—even the dearest.’ ””
The wolf quotes a moralist who said that people find pleasure in the misfortunes of even their closest friends.
The wolf uses this to persuade Thibault that harming his enemies will bring him satisfaction.
““For the fulfilment of your first wish, one of your hairs; two hairs for the second wish, four for the third, and so on, doubling the number each time.””
The wolf explains that the price for each wish will be a number of Thibault's hairs, starting with one and doubling with each subsequent wish.
This establishes the escalating cost of the pact.
““Ah!” he exclaimed, in a cold sweat, “Thibault and Satan, the family names of the two contracting parties. So much the worse for me! but when one gives oneself to the devil, one has to do it without reserve.””
Thibault realizes the ring bears the initials of both himself and Satan, acknowledging that he has made a binding deal with the devil.
This moment marks Thibault's full comprehension of the pact he has made.