Hypocrisy and Duplicity
The book systematically exposes the gap between stated virtues and actual behavior, particularly in religion, politics, and social conventions, defining terms like 'Christian' as one who follows Christ only when not inconsistent with sin.
Where it surfaces
Author's Preface
The forced title change due to religious scruples and the subsequent flood of imitator books highlight duplicity in publishing and the manipulation of public perception.
The Devil's Dictionary
The definitions consistently expose the gap between stated ideals and actual behavior, such as in the definition of 'Christian' or 'Conservative.'
A
Many definitions expose hypocrisy in politics, religion, and social interactions, such as 'Administration' and 'Admiration'.
B
Definitions like 'Befriend' ('To make an ingrate') and 'Benefactor' ('One who makes heavy purchases of ingratitude') expose the hypocrisy in human relationships and charity.
C
Evident in definitions like 'Christian' (one who follows Christ only when convenient) and 'Cemetery' (where mourners match lies).
D
Definitions like 'Diplomacy' ('the patriotic art of lying for one's country') and 'Dissemble' ('to put a clean shirt upon the character') highlight the theme of hypocrisy and duplicity.
Critique of Religion
Bierce satirizes religious institutions, clergy, and doctrines, defining 'prayer' as asking that the laws of the universe be annulled, and 'faith' as belief without evidence, often portraying religion as a tool for power and hypocrisy.
Where it surfaces
A
Definitions like 'Allah', 'Altar', and 'Anoint' satirize religious practices and beliefs.
B
Definitions of 'Baptism', 'Brahma', 'Baal', and 'Benedictines' mock religious rituals, deities, and clergy, reflecting a skeptical view of faith.
C
Prominent in entries such as 'Christian', 'Clergyman', 'Cross', and 'Carmelite', which mock religious piety and institutions.
D
The definition of 'Druids' mocks religious practices and church institutions, while 'Decalogue' offers a cynical revision of the Ten Commandments.
E
The definitions of 'Eucharist', 'Evangelist', 'Everlasting', 'Excommunication', and 'Elysium' mock religious doctrines, sectarian violence, and the absurdity of theological disputes.
F
Definitions like Foreordination, Frankalmoigne, and Frying-Pan satirize religious doctrines, monastic wealth, and Calvinist practices, often with dark humor.
Politics and Power
The dictionary defines political terms with cynical wit, such as 'politics' as the conduct of public affairs for private advantage, and 'conservative' as one enamored of existing evils, revealing the self-interest behind governance.
Where it surfaces
A
Definitions such as 'Administration', 'Allegiance', and 'Alliance' critique political systems and power dynamics.
C
Addressed in entries such as 'Coronation' (divine right to be blown up) and 'Corporation' (profit without responsibility).
D
The definition of 'Dictator' ('the chief of a nation that prefers the pestilence of despotism to the plague of anarchy') and 'Duty' ('that which sternly impels us in the direction of profit') critique political power and authority.
F
Entries such as Freebooter, Freedom, and Freemasons critique political conquest, the concept of liberty, and secret societies' influence.
J
The poem illustrates how political power (making a fool a duke) is used to circumvent religious and moral laws, and 'Justice' is described as a commodity sold by the state.
M
The definition of 'Mace' as a 'staff of office signifying authority' originally used for 'dissuading from dissent' critiques the coercive nature of political power.
Human Folly and Self-Deception
The work highlights the irrationality and vanity of human behavior, defining 'optimist' as a proponent of the doctrine that black is white, and 'fool' as a pervasive figure who invented all civilization's achievements.
Where it surfaces
A
Definitions like 'Ambition', 'Absurdity', and 'Abstainer' highlight human irrationality and self-deception.
B
Entries like 'Brain' ('An apparatus with which we think that we think') and 'Bore' ('A person who talks when you wish him to listen') highlight human irrationality and self-deception.
C
Highlighted in definitions like 'Crayfish' (wisdom only after folly) and 'Curiosity' (an objectionable quality of the female mind).
D
Definitions such as 'Discussion' ('a method of confirming others in their errors') and 'Decide' (illustrating the illusion of free choice) underscore human folly and self-deception.
E
Definitions such as 'Egotist', 'Enthusiasm', 'Envy', and 'Exception' expose irrationality, self-importance, and the misuse of logic.
F
The chapter opens with a poem on Folly and defines Fool as a pervasive, omnipotent figure responsible for all human endeavors, from invention to war and religion.
War and Violence
Bierce defines war as a byproduct of the arts of peace and a method of untying political knots with teeth, exposing the brutality and absurdity of conflict, often linking it to patriotism and national pride.
Where it surfaces
G
The definition of 'Gunpowder' describes it as an agency for settling disputes, and 'Grapeshot' is called an argument against Socialism.
T
The entry on 'Tope' links heavy drinking to military success and colonial domination.
V
The definition of Valor and the anecdote about the commander at Chickamauga satirize the foolishness and self-importance in military conduct.
W
The definition of 'War' presents it as a byproduct of peace and warns against professions of eternal amity.
Language and Meaning
The book itself is a commentary on how language is used to obscure truth, with definitions that invert common meanings, such as 'education' leading from darkness to immaturity, and 'diplomacy' as the patriotic art of lying.
Where it surfaces
Author's Preface
The author discusses the degradation of the word 'cynic' through misuse and the importance of clean English over slang, reflecting on how language shapes meaning.
The Devil's Dictionary
The entire chapter is a commentary on how words are used to deceive, obscure, or manipulate, redefining common terms with ironic twists.
F
The chapter plays with definitions and poetic forms, highlighting the absurdity and ambiguity of language, as seen in Force, Fork, and Friendship.
L
The extended definition of 'Lexicographer' critiques the role of dictionaries in stifling linguistic innovation and the arbitrary authority given to lexicographers.
N
The definitions of 'Noumenon' and 'Novel' play with philosophical and literary terminology, questioning the nature of reality and artistic merit.
Q
The chapter plays with words and their ironic or literal meanings, especially in 'Quotation' and 'Quixotic'.
Social Class and Inequality
Definitions like 'abasement' as a mental attitude in the presence of wealth, and 'distance' as the only thing the rich allow the poor to call theirs, critique class hierarchies and economic exploitation.
Where it surfaces
B
The poem under 'Beggar' and definitions like 'Bounty' and 'Bondsman' critique class disparities and the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy.
K
'Kleptomaniac' defines a rich thief, highlighting class-based leniency, and 'Knight' traces the decline of knighthood from warrior to dog.
R
The definition of 'Rich' highlights class conflict, and 'Riches' contrasts views of wealth from different social perspectives.
Marriage and Gender Relations
The dictionary cynically defines marriage as a state of union where one becomes nothing, and 'woman' as an animal with rudimentary susceptibility to domestication, reflecting a satirical view of gender roles and romantic ideals.
Where it surfaces
W
The definitions of 'Wedding', 'Widow', and 'Woman' offer cynical views on marriage, gender roles, and female nature.
Y
The definition of 'Yoke' humorously links the Latin word for yoke to the matrimonial situation.
