THE MOONSTONE HARPER'S WEEKLY THE DEVIL OUTWITTED

This image is taken from the conclusion of Miss Clack’s narrative in The Moonstone and shows the story that directly follows: “The Devil Outwitted: An Hungarian Popular Tale.” This story follows the devil who leaves hell after hearing of “the wonderful bliss which was enjoyed by human beings in their marriage life” (Harper’s Weekly 294). The devil marries an old widow but eventually leaves when he finds that hell is “paradise when compared with earth, and such a witch of a woman for a wedded wife” (Harper’s Weekly 294). The placement of “The Devil Outwitted” after this particular installment of The Moonstone is significant because of the comparisons between Miss Clack and the devil’s wife. The story seems aimed to further devalue Miss Clack who is characterized as someone quick to scold others she feels are morally inferior by comparing her to the old hag who “torment[s] her husband [by] scolding and quarrelling without rhyme or reason” (Harper’s Weekly 294). This comparison also positions her as worse than the devil which reflects the disparity between the holy image she has of herself and the one she projects, similar to the illustration in this installment. This story also leans into the idea of sensationalism more so than All the Year Round because it continues the excitement and comedy found in Miss Clack’s narrative, unlike the non-fiction piece that follows the U.K. installment.

Works Cited

Harper's Weekly: A Journal of Civilization. Harper & Brothers, 1868, New York, pp. 294-295.