An earnest Puritan, dedicated to his principles, fervently opposes dancing and frivolity, earning respect from both supporters and detractors. He actively works to suppress entertainment and promotes a strict moral code, believing that fanciful poetry could corrupt the youth. His appearance, characterized by black clothing and a pure-white beard, reflects his serious demeanor and commitment to morality. One night, the Devil visits him in a dream, acknowledging the Puritan's efforts to discourage joy and laughter. The Devil claims that the Puritan's actions align with his own goals, as he revels in the suppression of happiness. The Puritan, however, rebuffs the Devil's attempts to befriend him, insisting that his black attire is a sign of divine allegiance, not infernal. The Devil argues that it is God who created the beauty of the world, including love and the desire to dance, which the Puritan has sought to eradicate. The Puritan, shocked by the Devil's blasphemy, realizes he may have misjudged right and wrong. He vows to fight the Devil upon waking, but the Devil reveals that he cannot escape this dream. As they descend into Hell together, the Puritan faces the grim reality of his actions: the knowledge that those he sought to protect will continue to indulge in the very pleasures he condemned. His punishment is the realization that his moral crusade has led him to a fate worse than he could have imagined, trapped in the depths of Hell alongside the embodiment of the joy he despised.
By Lord Dunsany · First published 1918 · Genre: Fantasy, Allegory, Satire