The Devil and Daniel Webster facts for kids

"The Devil and Daniel Webster" is a famous short story written by American author Stephen Vincent Benét in 1936. It tells the exciting tale of a farmer from New Hampshire who makes a deal with the devil. When the time comes for the devil to collect, the farmer is defended by Daniel Webster, a very smart and powerful lawyer. This story mixes real historical events from Webster's life with a fun fantasy plot.

The story first appeared in The Saturday Evening Post magazine on October 24, 1936. It was later published as a book. "The Devil and Daniel Webster" even won a special writing award called the O. Henry Award. The author also turned his story into a folk opera in 1938, with music by Douglas Stuart Moore.

The Story's Plot

Webster argues while the devil whispers in the judge's ear.

The story begins with a farmer named Jabez Stone, who lives in a small town called Cross Corners in New Hampshire. Jabez has terrible luck. Everything goes wrong for him, and he becomes so frustrated that he shouts, "It's enough to make a man want to sell his soul to the devil!"

The very next day, a mysterious stranger visits Jabez. This stranger is known as "Mr. Scratch" (another name for the devil). Mr. Scratch offers Jabez seven years of good luck and wealth in exchange for his soul. Jabez, desperate for a change, agrees to the deal.

After seven years, Mr. Scratch returns to collect Jabez's soul. Jabez tries to get more time, but Mr. Scratch refuses. So, Jabez decides to hire the most famous lawyer and speaker in the country, Daniel Webster, to help him get out of the deal.

The Trial Begins

On the agreed-upon night, at midnight, Mr. Scratch and Daniel Webster meet for a legal argument. At first, things look bad for Webster. Jabez's signature is clearly on the contract, and Mr. Scratch won't give in.

Webster then argues that Jabez Stone is an American citizen and cannot be forced to serve a "foreign prince" like the devil. He reminds everyone that Americans fought for their freedom. Mr. Scratch argues back, saying he has been in America for a very long time, even during important historical events. He claims his name is "older in this country" than Webster's.

Webster then demands a trial, which is a right for every American. Mr. Scratch agrees, as long as Webster lets him choose the judge and jury. Webster agrees, saying they must be "an American judge and an American jury."

The Jury of the Damned

A strange jury then enters, looking like they've come straight from a very hot place. These jurors are famous people from American history who had done bad things:

• Walter Butler and Simon Girty, who were Loyalists (people who supported England during the American Revolution).
• King Philip, a Native American chief who fought against English settlers.
• Governor Thomas Dale and Thomas Morton, early English colonists who had conflicts.
• The famous pirate Edward Teach.
• A fictional character named Reverend John Smeet.

After five other unnamed jurors and Benedict Arnold (who was "out on other business") are mentioned, the judge arrives. It is John Hathorne, a judge from the famous Salem witch trials.

The trial seems unfair, set up against Webster. But Webster calms himself, realizing he's fighting not just for Jabez, but for all people.

Webster's Powerful Speech

Webster begins to speak about simple, good things in life, like "the freshness of a fine morning" and "the taste of food when you're hungry." He talks about how wonderful it is to be human and to be an American. He admits that America has made mistakes, but he shows how something good and new grew from those mistakes. He says that everyone, even those who made bad choices, played a part in building the country. He argues that being human is a "great journey" that no evil spirit could ever truly understand.

The jury then announces its decision: "We find for the defendant, Jabez Stone." They admit it might not be "strictly in accordance with the evidence," but they were moved by Webster's powerful words. The judge and jury disappear as the sun rises. Mr. Scratch congratulates Webster, and the contract is torn up. The devil's pride in his unbreakable contract led him to agree to a jury trial, which allowed Webster to win.

Webster then grabs Mr. Scratch and makes him promise "never to bother Jabez Stone nor his heirs or assigns nor any other New Hampshire man till doomsday!"

Mr. Scratch's Predictions

Mr. Scratch offers to tell Webster's future. He predicts real events that happened to Daniel Webster later in his life:

• He would not become President (which was a goal of his).
• His sons would die (which happened in the American Civil War).
• He would face criticism for a speech he gave, with some people calling him "Ichabod" (meaning "inglorious" or "dishonored"). This refers to a time when Webster supported a law that many people in the North disliked.

Webster only asks if the United States will stay united after the Civil War. Mr. Scratch admits that it will. Webster then laughs and kicks Mr. Scratch, sending him flying out the door. Mr. Scratch is never seen in New Hampshire again.

Important Ideas in the Story

American Patriotism

A big idea in the story is love for one's country. Webster argues that the devil cannot take Jabez's soul because Jabez is an American citizen. Mr. Scratch argues that he has just as much right to be called an American, listing many bad events in U.S. history where he was present. He even says his "name is older in this country" than Webster's.

Webster insists on an American jury and judge. Even though the jury members are from hell, they are still called "Americans" by Mr. Scratch. Webster's speech is not just about legal points, but about "the things that make a country a country, and a man a man." He believes that freedom and independence define a person. The story suggests that even in hell, these American jurors are so independent that they can resist the devil's power.

Slavery and Freedom

The story also talks about slavery. Webster clearly states, "A man is not a piece of property." When he speaks about enslaved people, his voice becomes very powerful. The devil himself admits his presence during the start of slavery, saying, "When the first slaver put out for the Congo, I stood on her deck."

Webster admits that bad things have happened in American history, but he shows how something new and good grew from both the good and the bad. The real Daniel Webster was willing to make compromises on slavery to keep the country united, believing that a strong Union was the best way to eventually end slavery.

Native American Treatment

The story has mixed feelings about how Native Americans were treated. Webster says, "If two New Hampshiremen aren't a match for the devil, we might as well give the country back to the Indians." However, Mr. Scratch also says, "When the first wrong was done to the first Indian, I was there," showing that the author knew Native Americans were often treated unfairly.

King Philip, a Native American chief, is listed as one of the "villains" on the jury. But later, Webster includes King Philip among "the Americans" in his speech, showing that all people, even those who fought against the early settlers, played a part in American history.

The Devil's Character

In the story, the devil is shown as polite and well-dressed. He is described as a "soft-spoken, dark-dressed stranger" who arrives in a "handsome buggy." The names Benét uses for the devil, "Mr. Scratch" or "the stranger," were common ways to refer to the devil in New England before the Civil War. These names were inspired by another famous story, "The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving.

Story Adaptations

"The Devil and Daniel Webster" has been adapted into many different forms, including movies, TV shows, radio plays, and stage productions.

Movies and TV

• A 1941 movie called All That Money Can Buy (also known as The Devil and Daniel Webster) starred Edward Arnold as Daniel Webster and Walter Huston as Mr. Scratch. It won an Academy Award.
• A more modern version, Shortcut to Happiness, was made in 2001. It starred Anthony Hopkins as Daniel Webster and Alec Baldwin as Jabez Stone, with Jennifer Love Hewitt playing a female version of the devil.
• An animated TV film for kids, The Devil and Daniel Mouse, was loosely based on the story in 1978.

Radio Shows

The story was popular on radio, with several adaptations:

• A version aired on Columbia Workshop in 1938, with music by Bernard Herrmann.
• Actors from the 1941 film, Edward Arnold and Walter Huston, reprised their roles in radio episodes of Cavalcade of America and Theatre Guild on the Air.

Stage Plays

• Benét himself adapted his story into a one-act play in 1938 and a folk opera in 1939, with music by Douglas Moore.
• Another play called Scratch was written by Archibald MacLeish in 1971. It briefly played on Broadway.

In Popular Culture

The story's idea of making a deal with the devil and then having a trial has inspired many other stories and shows:

• In The Simpsons "The Devil and Homer Simpson" episode, Homer sells his soul for a doughnut. A trial is held, and Marge Simpson saves Homer's soul by showing he had already given it to her.
• An episode of The Monkees called "The Devil and Peter Tork" features Peter Tork selling his soul for a harp. Mike Nesmith defends him in a trial with a jury of famous bad guys.
• The Canadian studio Nelvana created the animated TV special The Devil and Daniel Mouse, where a musician's partner sells her soul for fame.
• Some religious comic books, called Chick Publications tracts, have borrowed ideas from the story, like "The Contract!" and "It's A Deal."
• A real U.S. federal judge, Gerald J. Weber, even mentioned this story as an "unofficial" example when discussing whether U.S. courts could have power over Satan in a 1971 lawsuit.
• The Tiny Toon Adventures TV special Night Ghoulery includes a parody called "The Devil and Daniel Webfoot."
• In the TV series Supernatural, the demon Crowley uses the alias "D. Webster" as a funny reference to the story.
• The show Tripping the Rift has an episode called "The Devil and a Guy Named Webster," where the main character accidentally sells his soul.
• In the TV series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a lawyer named Daniel Webster represents Sabrina in a trial that is similar to the short story.