A humanização do diabo em Lucifer: do algoz do inferno ao detetive com problemas de identidade

Abstract

The humanization and protagonism of classical antagonists are becoming increasingly common in contemporary literature and media, so it becomes even more interesting to analyze such movement. This work presents an analysis in the scope of comparative literature to understand this process in one of the oldest villains in the history of our society: the Devil. The research has as object of study the drama series Lucifer, in which the Devil becomes the protagonist, helping a detective and having his possible rise as an angel. It is worked with an analysis of the historical construction of the Devil, from its origin to the contemporaneity, through the camouflage imposed by the church in the mid-twentieth century on the account of the Enlightenment and, after, its ascension by the nonconformity of the satanic romantics. With this timeline, one has perceived that the historical construction of the Devil, from its origin to the present, contributed to his identity construction, being able to observe the factors of the rebellion, the argumentation and power of the word, the angelic androgyny and temptation. By tracing a comparative line among the Devils of Gil Vicente and Ariano Suassuna, the contemporary Devils of The Powerpuff Girls, South Park and Lucifer, it is possible to consider that the contact of the characters with human beings resigns and humanizes them. Through the plot’s construction or the authors’ train of thought, these characters end up acquiring charisma from the audience and also many of the characteristics from our society – including possible redemption and heroic protagonism.