# the Devil — Household Tales character guide

> the Devil in Household Tales by Jacob Grimm.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** The Devil, Stupid Devil

**First appearance:** 0028-the-devil-with-the-three-golden-hairs

## Snapshot

A bargain-hunting tempter who trades wealth for souls, then finds himself outwitted by a pious girl's tears and a father's terrible obedience.

## Who they are

He corners the miller at the mill with promises of treasure, claiming what stands behind it — and returns three years later to collect the daughter. His power collapses against her washed hands, her weeping, and finally her maimed arms, exposing a creditor who cannot seize what he cannot soil. His escalating demands — no water, then no hands — drive the story's central rupture between father and child.

## In the story

### [The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-devil-with-the-three-golden-hairs)

The infernal being whose three golden hairs are sought; he reveals answers to the riddles in his sleep.

### [The Girl Without Hands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-girl-without-hands)

The evil stranger who tricks the miller and tries to claim the girl.

### [Brother Lustig](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/brother-lustig)

The ninth devil who escaped from Brother Lustig's knapsack and later prevents him from entering Hell.

### [The Devil's Sooty Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-devil-s-sooty-brother)

Appears as a little man in the forest, hires the soldier for seven years of service in hell, and later helps him recover his stolen gold.

### [Bearskin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/bearskin)

The tempter who offers wealth in exchange for seven years of unkempt living and no prayer; he appears in a green coat with a cloven foot and later claims the souls of the two jealous sisters.

### [The Three Apprentices](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-apprentices)

Disguised as a richly-dressed man, the Devil tempts the three apprentices with wealth and sets the terms of their speech; later appears as a nobleman to save them from execution and claim the innkeeper's soul.

### [The Devil and His Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-devil-and-his-grandmother)

Disguised as a dragon, he makes a pact with three soldiers, offering them gold in exchange for seven years of service, and sets a riddle for their freedom.

### [The Lord’s Animals and the Devil’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-lord-s-animals-and-the-devil-s)

Creates goats with long tails, later bites off their tails and puts his own eyes in them after being tricked by the Lord.

### [The Peasant and the Devil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-peasant-and-the-devil)

The Devil appears sitting on a treasure in the peasant's field and makes a bargain for half the harvest, but is tricked twice by the peasant's clever sowing choices.

### [The Grave-Mound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-grave-mound)

The Evil One who comes to claim the rich man's soul but is tricked by the soldier and forced to flee at sunrise.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_devil
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters