The Three Devils: Luther's, Milton's, and Goethe's; With Other Essays

"The Three Devils: Luther's, Milton's, and Goethe's; With Other Essays" by David Masson is a compilation of critical analyses from the late 1800s. The initial essay focuses on understanding the concepts of evil as shown by three important thinkers: Luther, Milton, and Goethe; each embodies evil differently. The essay looks at how these different depictions show their personal convictions and the cultural environment of their period. Early on, the author brings up that the figures of Martin Luther, John Milton, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe all had varying conceptions of the Devil, revealing how each person's understanding of evil is based on their own events and the stories they told. Luther's view of the Devil is shown as a personal battle connected to his difficult journey of faith; on the other hand, Milton's Satan is a towering literary character through his epic work, defined by honor and weaknesses. Goethe's Mephistopheles represents a current and skeptical view of evil, mirroring the intricate nature of society and the lack of moral clarity. The opening analysis is crafted to highlight the cultural and crucial effects of these three devils.