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"Hell Hath Enlarged Itself"
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The Devil

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“ A Great Terror will soon fall upon Salem, and there is not a soul alive upon this dull Earth who can stop me. ”
— The Devil[src]

The Devil, alternately called Lucifer or the Dark Lord, is the Lord of Chaos and Destruction, Ruler of Hell as well as the primary patron of witches. He has many names, but his angelic name is Samael, the Fallen Archangel of Death.

The Devil is a major character and ultimate antagonist in Salem primarily portrayed by American actor Oliver Bell.

Early Life[]

The history of the Devil has been passed down from different people scattered in different parts of the world, giving rise to legends and conflicting tales. Aeons ago, he was known as Samael, the Angel of Death, who carried out the wrath of God. He rebelled against God and was cast out of Heaven with a host of his Fallen Angels. Prisoner in the newly formed Hell, the Devil tempted mortal beings with his powers, promising them to right their wrongs and turning them into witches.[1] [2] One of his first followers was the Countess Von Marburg in her first life. [3]

Personality[]

Different cultures have attributed to this being different qualities. Nevertheless, due to the fact that there are many interpretations of what and who the Devil is, there are many variations of the Devil's identity. These include Puritan depictions of the Devil as the source of all evil to a shaman from a Wampanoag tribe likening him to a coiled snake within the earth that will destroy anyone on his path.

In the words of witches as Tituba, Mary Sibley and Countess Von Marburg, the Devil appears to be a sort of champion for the weak and oppressed, but by the time he was given a human body by means of the Consecration, the Devil acted as very cold, cruel and ruthless, not least against the witches themselves. His twisted nature manifested in sadistic acts of violence and mayhem ranging from sexual assaults to cold-blooded murder.

When the Dark Lord merged with John Sibley, his human vessel, he took over the boy completely but also inherited certain traits such as a morbid attachment to Mary Sibley, whom he continued to refer to as his mother even though Mary was not the mother of this primordial fallen angel but only his vessel. However, this was part of the plans to consummate the Royal Marriage.

His desire for revenge against God turned him bitter and willing to any means necessary, including destroying his brethren and witches out of a thirst for vengeance.[4]

Physical Appearance[]

The Devil took over the physical appearance of John Sibley. Following the sacrifice of Cotton Mather, the Dark Lord harnessed such energy to reach adulthood in the span of a few minutes. As an adult, he has retained fair complexion, green eyes, and thick black hair. His body is slim and quite muscular, tall, and with broad shoulders. The jaw is quite squared, as opposed to the previous delicate childish features.

On certain occasions, he appeared as a "Wood Demon" [5] covered in blood and mud, and featuring horns, cloven-hoofed, and black fleece.


Throughout Salem[]

SEASON ONE
Demon from The Vow

The "Wild Demon" in the woods

In 1685, Mary Sibley made a Deal with the Devil by giving him her unborn child in exchange for power to overturn the Puritans who had separated her from her lover. By 1692, Mary Sibley lured Cotton Mather to town and started the Salem Witch Trials so that the Puritans would kill each other while providing innocent victims for the witches. [6] The Essex Hive, in fact, chose Mary Sibley to conduct the Grand Rite and cleanse the earth to prepare for the Devil's arrival. Sacrificing thirteen innocent victims on each full moon, amidst obstacles such as the notorious witch-hunter Increase Mather and infighting in the coven, Mary managed to accomplish what had never been done—complete the Grand Rite. During this same period, the Devil claimed Mercy Lewis by assaulting her in the woods.[7]


SEASON TWO


A dark seed of the Dark Lord resides inside [John Sibley]], the child that Mary thought was dead, and the Essex Hive kept hidden in their stronghold.[8] Tituba reprimands the boy when he entertains himself with sadistic games such as piercing George Sibley with needles. [9]


Countess Von Marburg arrives in Salem after she learnt the Grand Rite was completed and orchestrates the kidnapping of the boy to catch a glimpse of the Devil by drawing the child.[10]

The Devil, meanwhile, manifests as a wild demon and assaults Anne Hale in the woods after she learns of her heritage from her father [[John Hale]'s Book of Shadows and starts to rely on the powers coming from the Devil.[11]


Lucifer awake

The Devil Rising

Upon learning that her long-lost son is alive and will be used as a vessel for the Devil, Mary Sibley tasks John Alden and Cotton Mather to perform an [exorcism]] on the boy. During the ceremony, the Dark Lord takes over the child. He taunts Cotton's beliefs and plays on John Alden's fears by questioning whether the child's misfortunes are due to Alden's violent nature rather than Mary's witchcraft. The Dark Lord also reveals his plan to take full possession of the child in order to have a foothold on Earth that he intends to rule. [12]


The Countess leads the Consecration in the Salem woods. After drowning the child in the pool of Hell-blood created by the liquefied bodies of Witch Pox's victims, the Devil takes full possession of the vessel despite Mary and John Alden's attempts to kill the child rather than have it possessed by the demon. [13]

At the House of the Seven Gables, the Dark Lord wears a white royal robe and sits on a throne surrounded by the Salem witches. He punishes Mercy Lewis by biting off the tip of the finger she used to point at during the trials for plotting against Mary and banishes Tituba for going behind her back. As Tituba flees Salem, she is attacked by a murder of crows set upon her by the devil. Anne Hale pledges allegiance to him as does Sebastian Von Marburg. The Countess is jealous of Mary's role beside her beloved and plots to murder her. However, the Dark Lord is aware of this and mortally stabs the witch who has loved him for millennia, thus imprisoning her in the relic. [14]


SEASON THREE


Salem-Promo-Still-S3E01-01-Sebastian and Dark Lord

Sebastian presents the Dark Lord

In the Salem woods at night, in the form of a black snake in the hands of Sebastian heralding his ascension, the Devil appeared before the gathered witches from any remote place on earth, demanding their devotion. When the spokeswoman for the Essex Hive refused to kneel, asking the Devil to live up to his promise, the Dark Lord executed her by lifting the woman from the ground with a wave of his hand and causing her fatal bleeding disorders. Later, the Dark Lord communicated to Sebastian and Anne about his plans on his "Inauguration" and how he would use the hatred between refugees and citizens to foment a war. That same evening, left alone with Sebastian, the devil forced the witch to drink the blood of Mary from a silver goblet, ordering Sebastian to forget the love for the woman since she would be his bride. Late at night, the Dark Lord received the visit of the long-lost brother and fellow fallen angel, The Sentinel. The two recalled past events during their fall, while the Devil was confident about the success of the new rebellion.[15]

Sebastian & Devil at dinner table

Dark Lord dining with Sebastian.

The Devil warmly welcomed the visit of Mary, believed dead, and immediately made sure that she was comfortable in her old house, leaving her with the Sentinel so that he might torture the woman while the Devil subjugated Salem through the words of the Reverend Cotton Mather, blackmailed to ally with the Devil. When Mary tried to stab to death the vessel in the bathtub, he lifted the glamouring veil out to be none other than the Sentinel, who instantaneously healed from the wounds. The Dark Lord appeared across the room, disappointed because Mary had failed the test. [16]

When the Dark Lord refused to kill Mary on the spot, the Sentinel swore at him, telling him to have softened; To which the Devil remembered his brother the pleasant pain that can be inflicted on a mortal body, far worse than death. While Sentinel tortured Mary, and Sebastian Vo Marburg urged the guerrillas outside the city limits, the Dark Lord revealed in the gloomy atmosphere that heralded the defeat of God. When Sebastian expressed doubts about such motivations, the Devil informed the witch of how he was going to wipe out the presence of God from the earth, creating a total war and lack of faith and hope in the future. Later that same night, the Dark Lord Mary deprived of all her witch powers in a dreadful ceremony known as "The Reckoning". After nailing her familiar toad on her hand, the Devil stripped the elements from Mary's body, leaving her in agony on the ground.[17]

Before devoting himself to his daily tasks, the Dark Lord, he was visiting an ailing Mary Sibley, still recovering after the Reckoning. Pleased by the woman's hatred so close to love, let her rest. Enraged by the recent escape of Cotton Mather, the Devil unleashed his Night's Black Agents so that they went immediately on his trail. When Cotton seemed nowhere to be found, even after the Dark Lord had released a flock of crows, he directed his anger on Anne Hale, lifting her against the ceiling beams and affecting her flesh until she bled painfully.[18]

File:305 still Mary and the Devil.jpg

Dark Lord and his betrothed Mary

Only the sudden return of Cotton Mather convinced the Devil to spare the ginger witch. He did this only if Cotton had agreed to become the clerk of his glorious deeds by recording the Fall of the Angels from the perspective of the fallen themselves. When Mary begged the Devil to have a reason for living, he informed the woman about the Royal Marriage, and how they would become a divine couple. By doing so, Mary was able to put the brothers against each other. The Sentinel, angered by his brother's aspirations, threatened to turn against him with the others still trapped angels. Cornered, the Dark Lord paid a visit to Tituba, who had remained a secret ally of the devil. The two shook a new covenant sealed with blood. Tituba was going to kill the Sentinel if the Devil would give her the revenge she so coveted.[19]

Dark Lord playing chess

Dark Lord playing chess

Satisfied by the destruction and despair felled upon Salem, the Dark Lord gathered his inner circle composed of Mary, the Sentinel, Sebastian, Cotton and Anne in the parlor of Sibley household to show them the Dollhouse, a mystical object that would protect those whose effigy would have been in the house. While speaking, he placed the statuette of Mary in the dollhouse. Later in the afternoon, while the transcription of the Word of the Devil at the hands Cotton continued, the Devil was playing chess with an invisible player, apparently God. It was just that directed the conversation to the true nature of angels, namely monsters, or engines of the wrath of God. The Devil expressed that all the plagues and devastation were and are still part of God's plan, a terrible despot. Harnessing the magic of the dollhouse, the devil discovered the secret meetings between Mary and Sebastian. [20]

The Dark Lord did not express disappointment when Sebastian, on his knees, confessed that he had slept with Mary, as the Devil said to have no preference for virgins like his father. He, however, was disappointed to discover that Mary was conspiring with Essex Hive in the woods. When he reached the place with Sebastian, however, he discovered that he had been deceived. Sebastian and even his own brother were allied with Mary, who dismembered the Devil's Vessel thanks to the ultimate sacrifice of the whole Essex Hive, only after Essex Elder reminded him the true meaning of sacrifice. After everyone had gone away, a mysterious hooded figure picked up in a bag the dismembered limbs of the body. [21]

S309 Tituba Card

Tituba sewing the Devil's host body

The mysterious hooded figure turned out to be none other than Tituba, who sewed the limbs with cunning craft and burning desire for revenge. [22] As events continued to plummet precipitously towards the completion of the Great Terror in spite of the various attempts to Mary, and John Cotton to stop him, the Dark Lord dragged his battered body before the Hell Gate, opened by Anne Hale, blackened to the bones without possibility of redemption. [23]

Adult Samael 310 3

Dark Lord seducing Mary

Before the Hell Gate, the Devil and Anne were able to force Cotton to sacrifice himself by entering the doorway to Hell to save the souls of Salem interrupting the ticking of the Instrument. In doing so, the devil was hit by new vitality. His adult body, in fact, began to make his way from inside the child, ripping limbs and decapitating the vessel until a naked and covered in blood adult man emerged from within child's mortal remains. He then seduced Mary, reminding her that she has done worse things than incest when she was a witch, and that she can not deny that she's sexually attracted by the masculine body standing in front of her. Cleaned and wearing a pair of trousers, the Dark Lord greeted Mary in his bed, ignoring that the body of the woman was possessed by the Countess.

Adult Samael 310 7

Dark Lord's vessel death

When during intercourse, Anne Hale joined the couple, the Devil showed no opposition. It was only when Anne pointed his throat with the Angel Dagger that he expressed some concern, immediately abandoned when he realized that Anne had the real potential to become Queen of the Night. Already carrying a baby in her womb to use as a vessel, she promised to raise him again to a new glory. At that point, he voluntarily accepted the death of his current human body.[24]


Powers and Abilities[]

“ You are first among equals. Stronger than I or any of our brothers. ”
— The Sentinel
Essex witch brutally killed

The Devil brutally kills an Essex elder.

The Dark Lord is believed to have been God's favorite angel, thrown into Hell after his rebellion; thus making him a Fallen Angel, possibly the first of his kind. Mary Sibley described his magic as rough as it is mainly based on bloodshed and violence of all sorts, to the point that rape is considered one of the initiatory forms he used to make a pact with aspirant witches. His powers are vast and, to a certain level, they are still unknown since his true potential was never shown. His hallmark is clearly the demonic possession, although he needs a special host body known as Vessel, appropriately prepared to host his immense essence. In addition to this particular form of possession, the Devil is able to appear on Earth using one of the many projection abilities available via magic - usually in the form of a satyr-like beast, with cloven feet and horns.

He has shown a stunning mastery of telekinesis and puppetry, as well as the ability to raise the dead, like when he revived a flock of dead crows and has influenced their actions, manipulating them to do his bidding. The powers of this demonic creature extend beyond mere physicality, since he showed a remarkable affinity with psychometry, or the ability to perceive facts, emotions, and secrets without having to resort to divination or physical contact. The Dark Lord is also able to instinctively perceive lies at a glance.

Old Tongue during Exorcism

A deadly recitation in Enochian causes listeners great pain.

The Devil also managed to create noise disturbance by simply reciting litanies in the Old Tongue, an archaic language spoke by unearthly beings, as demonstrated during the attempted exorcism on his host body by Cotton Mather. His skills also include glamouring, or the creation of illusions, and shapeshifting, as well as considerable physical strength, inferred by the fact that he has torn part of the Mercy Lewis's finger with just a bite. His power over his human body is such that he can inflict inhuman movements to his Vessel without any permanent damage, such as when he turned his head backward, walked covered with Hell-blood, or vomited swarms of insects.

Since the deadly practice of malice, commonly known as Witchcraft, originates from him, it is fair to believe that the Devil is able to work all of the magic feats made by his witch followers.

Appearances[]


Memorable Quotes[]

Mary Sibley: "Neither the world, the flesh, nor the Devil himself is like a Puritan suit in only black and white. All is gray. And the Devil they fear is not the Devil I know."
— Cry Havoc
Shaman: "The Earth and all the things that live on it share a single invisible form within. Like the bones within a man. But this is not bone. It is alive. Like a great, invisible Snake coiled, sleeping inside the Earth. They seek to wake Him. They think they can control it, but it will destroy them, and when they are through, this will not be the place we knew. It will be Hell."
— Cry Havoc
The Devil: "Cotton Mather, did you know you're in Hell even now? My children tear the wings from your soul as from a fly."
— On Earth as in Hell
The Devil: "I tell you what I once told him, I am Legion, and I come from Hell to the place prepared for me, Salem. And I owe it all to you and Mary rutting in the graveyard. Ah, my Mary, she was the finest of my witches. She did all I asked. Slaughter my enemies or got the fools to slaughter each other for me. But now the bitch thinks she can betray me? Stop my triumphant entrance into this miserable dunghill of creation?"
— On Earth as in Hell
The Devil: "This little puppet of shit and bones shall be my royal carriage so I may grow to manhood and rule this land."
— On Earth as in Hell
The Devil: "Come, Father. Come to me. I can offer you anything. Do you want to love Mary Sibley or kill her? Or perhaps you'd like to kill her, then love her. I can make the dead dance in the most delightful ways."
John Alden: "Enough!"
The Devil: "Oh, Father, how many men have you killed? What makes you think I'm here because my mother was a witch and not because you, Father, are a soulless killer?"
— On Earth as in Hell
The Devil: "I've never forgotten the sight of you lying on the damp forest ground mouth agape in pain, legs strained wide in birth, and your eyes as black as the endless night where I dwelled. And I knew, at last, you were the one."
Mary Sibley: "I remember that night, too. Thank you for reminding me that you are not my son. You are his tomb."
— The Witching Hour
The Devil: "A true God wants true love. Now, who will give me that?"
Countess Von Marburg: "I will. I do. My whole long life, I have loved no one else."
The Devil: "That is very good of you, madam. But it is her love I must have."
— The Witching Hour
Countess Von Marburg: "What shall we do first? How shall we conquer and rule?
The Devil: "I truly love all you do for me. But you know, I really must have my mother beside me. Today my mother, but tomorrow my queen. She and she alone must one day be my bride. There can be only one royal marriage One true consummation. You know it, and you must make it be."
— The Witching Hour
Sebastian Von Marburg: "History would say the Devil was born in Salem. Their God is dead, or lost in senile slumber, but not ours. Our God, their Devil, is alive. And now he’s here."
— After the Fall
The Devil: "Remember, dear ones, to the reaper all flesh is grass. Even witch flesh. A great terror will soon fall upon Salem, and there is not a soul alive upon this dull earth who can stop me."
— After the Fall
The Dark Lord: "That is your God. A vengeful, jealous, sadistic murderer, and hypocrite."
Cotton Mather: "And yet you plan a sacrifice every bit as cruel as the ones you charge Him with. Doesn't that make you the hypocrite?"
The Dark Lord: "No. I at least am honest. I do not ask those I torment to love and worship me. I am satisfied with mere obedience."
Cotton Mather: "Bitter is what I would call you. You don't just plan a mass sacrifice. You wish to inaugurate an age of total war. You cannot compete with man for God's love, nor with God's for man, so you would see his most beloved creation destroy itself. You, sir, are the vengeful one. All you want is revenge on God. It might be honest, it might even be just, but it is also petty and unworthy of one of the architects of creation."
— Wednesday's Child
The Dark Lord: "You and I shall both be gods. And we shall birth a race of gods and monsters."
— Black Sunday
The Dark Lord: "Mary, Mary, Mary. You have already violated every dicta of God and man ten times over. You have wonderfully overthrown every shackle of convention. Don't stop now. Say yes to a whole new world of freedom and feeling. What could hold you back from becoming my bride, and the real Queen of the Night?"
Mary Sibley: "Revulsion. The thought of touching you disgusts me."
The Dark Lord: "Is it revulsion that makes your heart beat faster and faster as I approach, or is it desire? Does my person not please you? (laughs) I can see that it does."
— Black Sunday
The Dark Lord: "I can taste your destiny. How did I not see it? You are indeed the one. You will bring me back. And who knows, maybe this time, with you, I shall have a happy childhood."
— Black Sunday

Name[]

  • Samael: Hebrew: סַמָּאֵל‎, "Venom of God", or "Poison of God," or "Blindness of God". Also spelled as Sammael or Samil. In Salem, this seems to be the primary name of this being.
  • Lucifer: literally "bringer of light," "illuminator" in Latin; In Greek-Roman culture, the term depicted the planet Venus, also known as Morning Star, often portrayed as Satan's name before he fell from Heaven.
  • Satan: Hebrew: שָּׂטָן‎‎ ha-Satan, meaning "enemy" or "adversary"; Arabic: شيطان‎‎ shaitan, meaning; "astray", "distant", or sometimes "devil". [25]

Titles[]

  • The Devil: his chief title, meaning slanderer and accuser.
  • Kenaima: also spelled as Kanaima or Canaima. Tituba is the sole witch who uses this title, a Carib word for a vengeful spirit.
  • Dark Man: a title used by Tituba.
  • Serpent: in reference to the Biblical tempter in the Garden of Eden.
  • The Beast: in reference to his monstrous nature. Also used in the Bible.
  • Legion: Biblical reference during the exorcism.
  • Father of Lies: how the Essex Elder refers to the Devil.

Status and Rank[]

  • Angel of Death: his primary role in the Heavenly host as the bringer of death on God's behalf.
  • The Dark Lord: As the chief of the Fallen Angels, and of all the hives of witches on Earth, the Devil is the Lord of Darkness.
  • George Sibley's Heir: The devil appears in society as John Sibley, believed by all to be an orphaned nephew of George Sibley.

Gallery[]

Season One[]

Season Two[]

Season Three[]

Season One[]

Season Two[]

Season Three[]

Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • Primarily credited as 'The Dark Lord', he is also credited as 'Demon' in the first season, 'Wood Devil' in "Wages of Sin", 'The Devil' in "Midnight Never Come" and "The Witching Hour".
  • Press release for Season 3 lists him as "The Dark Lord: the devil boy".

Navigations[]

Characters
Main Characters

Recurring Characters

Deceased Characters

References[]

  1. ↑ Adam Simon & Joe Menosky (writer) & David Von Ancken (director). June 22, 2014. "The House of Pain". Salem. Season 1. Episode 10. WGN.
  2. ↑ Adam Simon (writer) & Tim Andrews (director). November 9, 2016. "The Heart Is A Devil". Salem. Season 3. Episode 2. WGN.
  3. ↑ Donna Thorland & Adam Simon (writer) & Joe Dante (director). July 13, 2014. "The Beckoning Fair One". Salem. Season 2. Episode 7. WGN.
  4. ↑ Adam Simon & Donna Thorland (writer) & Peter Weller (director). December 14, 2016. "Wednesday's Child". Salem. Season 3. Episode 6. WGN.
  5. ↑ Al Septien & Turi Meyer (writer) & David Grossman (director). July 13, 2014. "Wages of Sin". Salem. Season 2. Episode 9. WGN.
  6. ↑ Brannon Braga & Adam Simon (writer) & Richard Shepard (director). April 20, 2014. "The Vow". Salem. Season 1. Episode 1. WGN.
  7. ↑ Joe Menosky & Adam Simon (writer) & P.J. Pesce (director). May 25, 2014. "The Red Rose and the Briar". Salem. Season 1. Episode 6. WGN.
  8. ↑ Brannon Braga & Adam Simon (writer) & Nick Copus (director). July 13, 2014. "Cry Havoc". Salem. Season 2. Episode 1. WGN.
  9. ↑ Brannon Braga & Adam Simon (writer) & Richard Shepard (director). April 20, 2014. "The Vow". Salem. Season 1. Episode 1. WGN.
  10. ↑ Donna Thorland & Adam Simon (writer) & Joe Dante (director). July 13, 2014. "The Beckoning Fair One". Salem. Season 2. Episode 7. WGN. }
  11. ↑ Turi Meyer & Al Septien (writer) & Peter Weller (director). July 13, 2014. "The Wine Dark Sea". Salem. Season 2. Episode 5. WGN.
  12. ↑ Joe Menosky & Adam Simon (writer) & Nick Copus (director). July 13, 2014. "On Earth as in Hell". Salem. Season 2. Episode 11. WGN.
  13. ↑ Donna Thorland & Adam Simon (writer) & Alex Zakrzewski (director). July 13, 2014. "Midnight Never Come". Salem. Season 2. Episode 12. WGN.
  14. ↑ Adam Simon (writer) & Brannon Braga (director). July 13, 2014. "The Witching Hour". Salem. Season 2. Episode 13. WGN.
  15. ↑ Brannon Braga & Adam Simon (writer) & Nick Copus (director). November 2, 2016. "After the Fall". Salem. Season 3. Episode 1. WGN.
  16. ↑ Adam Simon (writer) & Tim Andrews (director). November 9, 2016. "The Heart Is A Devil". Salem. Season 3. Episode 2. WGN.
  17. ↑ Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson (writer) & Wayne Yip (director). November 16, 2016. "The Reckoning". Salem. Season 3. Episode 3. WGN.
  18. ↑ Brannon Braga & Adam Simon (writer) & Joe Dante (director). November 30, 2016. "Night's Black Agents". Salem. Season 3. Episode 4. WGN.
  19. ↑ Adam Simon (writer) & Nick Copus (director). December 7, 2016. "The Commonwealth of Hell". Salem. Season 3. Episode 5. WGN.
  20. ↑ Adam Simon & Donna Thorland (writer) & Peter Weller (director). December 14, 2016. "Wednesday's Child". Salem. Season 3. Episode 6. WGN.
  21. ↑ Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders (writer) & Jennifer Lynch (director). January 4, 2017. "The Man Who Was Thursday". Salem. Season 3. Episode 7. WGN.
  22. ↑ Adam Simon & Donna Thorland (writer) & Nick Copus (director). January 11, 2017. "Friday's Knights". Salem. Season 3. Episode 8. WGN.
  23. ↑ Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders (writer) & Jennifer Lynch (director). January 18, 2017. "Saturday Mourning". Salem. Season 3. Episode 9. WGN.
  24. ↑ Adam Simon (writer) & Brannon Braga (director). January 25, 2017. "Black Sunday". Salem. Season 3. Episode 10. WGN.
  25. ↑ Meaning of Satan on Jewish Encyclopedia.
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