# The Devil — Russian Folktales character guide

> The Devil in Russian Folktales by A. N. Afanasyev.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Devil

**First appearance:** 0031-the-smith-and-the-devil

## Who they are

A devil who tempts or is outwitted by humans in moral tales.

## Relationships

### [The Soldier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/the_soldier)

_rivalry_

The Devil and the Soldier are locked in a cunning battle of wits, with the Soldier often outsmarting him.

### [The Soldier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/the_soldier)

_rivalry_

The Devil and the Soldier are locked in a cunning battle of wits, with the Soldier often outsmarting him.

### [The Soldier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/the_soldier)

_rivalry_

The Devil and the Soldier are locked in a cunning battle of wits, with the Soldier often outsmarting him.

## In the story

### [The Sorry Drunkard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-sorry-drunkard)

Invites Petrúsha as a guest and offers rewards; appears as a fine youth.

### [The Thoughtless Word](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-thoughtless-word)

Appears as an old man, lures the boy to an underwater palace, and offers him a bride among twelve maidens.

### [The Soldier and Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-soldier-and-death)

An old devil who is trapped by the soldier, forced to serve him, and later gives him a magical glass.

### [The Smith and the Devil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-smith-and-the-devil)

The devil, painted in the smithy, endures abuse from the smith's son before taking revenge by posing as an apprentice and tricking a rich couple.

### [God’s Blessing Compasses All Things](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/god-s-blessing-compasses-all-things)

Appears in human guise to mislead the peasants, later revealed as the source of the devils' gathering.

### [The Feast of the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-feast-of-the-dead)

Referenced indirectly as 'the Devil's poker' in the girl's answer to the bones.

### [The Quarrelsome Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-quarrelsome-wife)

A little devil found in the pit who becomes the peasant's servant.

### [The Journey to Jerusalem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-journey-to-jerusalem)

Unclean spirit caught in holy water; bargains to serve the archimandrite by transporting him to Jerusalem.

### [Never-Wash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/never-wash)

The little devil who contracts the soldier and later claims the souls of the two elder daughters who refused the soldier.

### [The Devil in the Dough-Pan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-devil-in-the-dough-pan)

Appears as the demon Potánka who gets trapped in the dough.

## Links

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