History Main / DealWithTheDevil

Please note that this trope is about deals with the actual devil, or other demonic beings. A deal with a really evil but otherwise standard (meaning: not demonic) villain may be called a "Deal with the devil" as an analogy, but it's not an example; see EnemyMine for those cases.

# [[FemalesAreMoreInnocent In comical versions, if the devil is female]] -- usually [[MinionWithAnFInEvil some apprentice demon who always fails]] -- of course she will be insanely sexy or cute (according to EvilIsCool, EvilIsSexy, HornyDevils and CuteMonsterGirl rule), [[InterspeciesRomance so why not ask her to become your girlfriend or wife]]? Of course, MostWritersAreMale, so it's extremely rare to see a female protagonist do this with a male devil.

You know how it works. [[GetRichQuickScheme Want to be a]] [[Fiction500 millionaire]], TakeOverTheWorld, gain [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity infinite power]], or just get back at that obnoxious JerkJock? Well, mosey on down to [[AtTheCrossroads those crossroads]] and [[LouisCypher Mr. S]] will [[YourHeartsDesire guarantee your wildest dreams]], if you just sign on the dotted line with your own blood. This trope doesn't even require the Abrahamic Devil; any [[TheTrickster trickster]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demon]], or evil deity [[EverybodyHatesHades roughly equivalent]] to {{Satan}} can be used. It reached its current version in the 16th-century legend of Myth/{{Faust}} selling his soul to {{Mephistopheles}} (who technically isn't ''quite'' exactly Satan, but still a high-ranking demon). The basic story is far, far older, however, with Sanskrit and Sumerian tales of craftsmen making deals with demons for superlative skill, making this OlderThanDirt.

# Manipulate some tiny, arcane loophole or hire some RulesLawyer to render the contract null and void. (Rarely successful, [[EvilLawyerJoke as Hell is full of lawyers after all]].)

You know how it works. [[GetRichQuickScheme Want to be a]] [[Fiction500 millionaire]], TakeOverTheWorld, gain [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity infinite power]], or just get back at that obnoxious JerkJock? Well, mosey on down to [[AtTheCrossroads those crossroads]] and [[LouisCypher Mr. S]] will [[YourHeartsDesire guarantee your wildest dreams]], if you just sign on the dotted line with your own blood. This trope is OlderThanDirt, and does not even require the Abrahamic Devil; any [[TheTrickster trickster]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demon]], or evil deity [[EverybodyHatesHades roughly equivalent]] to {{Satan}} can be used. It reached its current version in the 16th-century legend of Myth/{{Faust}} selling his soul to {{Mephistopheles}} (who technically isn't ''quite'' exactly Satan, but still a high-ranking demon). The basic story is far, far older, however, with Sanskrit and Sumerian tales of craftsmen making deals with demons for superlative skill, making this OlderThanDirt.

Deal With The Devil plots can overlap with IdiotBall, as smart and rational people know to stay well the [[{{Pun}} hell]] away from deals like these. Some writers try to defend the Faust by turning the deal into a LeonineContract - either the deal was made when the Faust was in desperate straits or under some kind of duress, or the Mephistopheles made the offer when the victim had no time to think (e.g., offering to save him from the DeathTrap in return for something nasty). Others make the contract so long, complex and filled with Latin-esque legal jargon that no one will ReadTheFinePrint [[SevenDeadlySins (Sloth is a very undervalued sin)]]. Also expect ExactWords and YouDidntAsk to be employed against the Faust.

You know how it works. [[GetRichQuickScheme Want to be a]] [[Fiction500 millionaire]], TakeOverTheWorld, gain [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity infinite power]], or just get back at that obnoxious JerkJock? Well, mosey on down to [[AtTheCrossroads those crossroads]] and [[LouisCypher Mr. S]] will [[YourHeartsDesire guarantee your wildest dreams]], if you just sign on the dotted line with your own blood. This trope is OlderThanDirt, and does not even require the Abrahamic Devil; any [[TheTrickster trickster]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demon]], or evil deity [[EverybodyHatesHades roughly equivalent]] to {{Satan}} can be used. It reached its current version in the 16th-century legend of Myth/{{Faust}} selling his soul to Mephistopheles (who technically isn't ''quite'' exactly Satan, but still a high-ranking demon). The basic story is far, far older, however, with Sanskrit and Sumerian tales of craftsmen making deals with demons for superlative skill, making this OlderThanDirt.

Deal With The Devil plots can overlap with WhatAnIdiot, as smart and rational people know to stay well the [[{{Pun}} hell]] away from deals like these. Some writers try to defend the Faust by turning the deal into a LeonineContract - either the deal was made when the Faust was in desperate straits or under some kind of duress, or the Mephistopheles made the offer when the victim had no time to think (e.g., offering to save him from the DeathTrap in return for something nasty). Others make the contract so long, complex and filled with Latin-esque legal jargon that no one will ReadTheFinePrint [[SevenDeadlySins (Sloth is a very undervalued sin)]]. Also expect ExactWords and YouDidntAsk to be employed against the Faust.

This trope includes both literal {{Magically Binding Contract}}s with a literal devil, and crooked deals between any corrupt exploiter (the Mephistopheles role) and a desperate pawn (the Faust role). The exploiter can be offering anything from some shiny new AppliedPhlebotinum to making a high school nerd [[InWithTheInCrowd popular]], to [[LeonineContract saving your life moments before death]]. Sometimes it has [[MadeOfTemptation no practical value whatsoever]]. But whatever the service, whatever the offer, '''there is always a price.''' This price can be anything -- the Faust's soul, their conscience, their firstborn, their loved ones, their voice, their eternal servitude, or even [[ForWantOfANail something that seems completely innocent]] -- but whatever the price, it's something that will render the Faust a lot worse off when it is paid, if not bring them to complete ruin.

Compare BargainWithHeaven, which this trope [[MorePopularSpinOff originated as an]] [[InvertedTrope Inversion]] of, but which is largely [[ForgottenTrope forgotten]] in the mainstream, but still very much in use in some contexts. Compare also ReasoningWithGod. For the occasions when the Devil comes out ''behind'', see DidYouJustScamCthulhu. See also EvilIsNotAToy, which this trope overlaps with.

# If the contract was written, destroy the physical scroll or other material that the contract was written on. Depending on the material and the devil's magic, this may not be as easy as it sounds.

# If the contract was written, then destroying the scroll or other material that the contract was written on may free the person contracted. Depending on the material and the devil's magic, this may not be as easy as it sounds.

# If the contract was written, then destroying the scroll or other material that the contract was written on may free the person contracted. Depending on the material and the devil's magic, this may not be as easy as it sounds, and the devil may try to use a decoy on you.

# If the contract was written, then destroying the contract may free the person contracted. Depending on the material and the devil's magic, this may not be as easy as it sounds.

* Buddha is similarly offered a deal by Yama, king of the dead, as Buddha's teachings mean people will stop existing after death instead of being reincarnated, killing his business. He tries to threaten Buddha with a rain of poisoned arrows, swords, and other weapons, but the other gods turn them to harmless flowers, as the gods need the teaching of Buddha just as much as men. He then tempts Buddha with his beautiful daughters, and when that fails tries to make Buddha go back to defend his family. Buddha merely tells him they are destined, as everyone else, to die some day, even he saves them now. Finally Yama tells him, "No one will listen to you. People are so deluded they even like my crappy merry-go-round of reincarnation." This last attempt is the only thing that gives the Buddha pause, but he replies, "That's true, except at least SOME will listen."

* Buddha is similarly offered a deal by Yama, king of the dead, as Buddha's teaching mean people will stop existing after death instead of being reincarnated, killing his business. He tries to threaten Buddha with a rain of poisoned arrows, swords, and other weapons, but the other gods turn them to harmless flowers, as the gods need the teaching of Buddha just as much as men. He then tempts Buddha with his beautiful daughters, and when that fails tries to make go back to defend his family, but Buddha merely tells him they are destined, as everyone else, to die some day. Finally Yama tells him, basically,"No one will listen to you. People are so deluded they even like my crappy merry-go-round of reincarnation." This last attempt is the only thing that gives the Buddha pause, but he replies, "That's true, except at least SOME will listen."

[[folder: Films- Live Action]]
* In ''Film/ReadyOrNot'', the Le Domas family's gaming empire is supposedly the result of their ancestor making a deal with Le Bail, where they would be granted wealth in return for worship and a few goat sacrifices here and there. Oh, and whenever someone marries in to the Le Domas family, they have to play a randomly selected game, and if the game chosen is Hide & Seek, then the family must hunt down and kill the person before dawn. Most of the younger Le Domases don't think the bargain was real, but they aren't willing to take any chances. [[spoiler: [[RealAfterAll Le Bail is indeed real]] and when Grace survives the game and Helene tries to kill her after daybreak, he punishes the family by making them all explode.]]
[[/folder]]

%% * In 2013, a Romanian boy named Radu Dulama, signed imaginarily a deal with his darker, mean-spirited side for being a [[SubvertedKidsShow Cartoon]] [[CrapsaccharineWorld Ne]][[DarkerAndEdgier tw]][[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids ork]] fan in that year. [[BrokenPedestal Quite unconsciously]], [[MindRape he gets bet]][[BlatantLies ter]].

An alternate form is a deal where the Mephistopheles offers the Faust exactly what he wants, if not more, but to get it, he has to undergo an ImpossibleTask that Mephistopheles obviously does not think the Faust can complete, with the Faust's soul as the penalty if he fails. In such occasions they can escape the Devil's trap. Alternately, the deal truly has no strings attached, as it's a XanatosGambit where the Faust's good fortune or success will deliver the soul of another to Mephistopheles. Finally, in the case of villains that make a deal with the devil for power, it often involves the villain doing something [[MoralEventHorizon truly heinous]] for the devil in question in order to earn their favor. Magic gained in this fashion is very often BlackMagic by definition.

This trope includes both literal {{Magically Binding Contract}}s with a literal devil, and crooked deals between any corrupt exploiter (the Mephistopheles role) and a desperate pawn (the Faust role). The exploiter can be offering anything from some shiny new AppliedPhlebotinum to making a high school nerd [[InWithTheInCrowd popular]], to [[LeonineContract saving your life moments before death]]. Sometimes it has [[MadeOfTemptation no practical value whatsoever]]. But whatever the service, whatever the offer, '''there is always a price.''' This price can be anything -- the Faust's soul, their conscience, their firstborn, their loved ones, their voice, their eternal servitude, or even [[ForWantOfANail something that seems completely innocent]] -- but whatever the price, it's something that will render the Faust a lot worse off when it is paid, if not bring them to complete ruin. When villains make a Deal with the Devil for power, it often involves them doing something [[MoralEventHorizon truly heinous]] for the devil in question in order to earn their favor. Magic gained in this fashion is very often BlackMagic by definition.

An alternate form is a deal where the Mephistopheles offers the Faust exactly what he wants, if not more, but to get it, he has to undergo an ImpossibleTask that Mephistopheles obviously does not think the Faust can complete, with the Faust's soul as the penalty if he fails. In such occasions they can escape the Devil's trap. Alternately, the deal truly has no strings attached, as it's a XanatosGambit where the Faust's good fortune or success will deliver the soul of another to Mephistopheles.

This trope includes both literal {{Magically Binding Contract}}s with a literal devil, and crooked deals between any corrupt exploiter (the Mephistopheles role) and a desperate pawn (the Faust role). The exploiter can be offering anything from some shiny new AppliedPhlebotinum to making a high school nerd [[InWithTheInCrowd popular]], to [[LeonineContract saving your life moments before death]]. Sometimes it has [[MadeOfTemptation no practical value whatsoever]]. But whatever the service, whatever the offer, '''there is always a price.''' This price can be anything -- the Faust's soul, their conscience, their firstborn, their loved ones, their voice, their eternal servitude, or even [[ForWantOfANail something that seems completely innocent]] -- but whatever the price, it's something that will render the Faust a lot worse off when it is paid, if not bring them to complete ruin. When villains make a Deal with the Devil, it often involves them doing something [[MoralEventHorizon truly heinous]] for the devil in question in order to earn their favor.

This trope includes both literal {{Magically Binding Contract}}s with a literal devil, and crooked deals between any corrupt exploiter (the Mephistopheles role) and a desperate pawn (the Faust role). The exploiter can be offering anything from some shiny new AppliedPhlebotinum to making a high school nerd [[InWithTheInCrowd popular]], to [[LeonineContract saving your life moments before death]]. Sometimes it has [[MadeOfTemptation no practical value whatsoever]]. But whatever the service, whatever the offer, '''there is always a price.''' This price can be anything -- the Faust's soul, their conscience, their firstborn, their loved ones, their voice, their eternal servitude, or even [[ForWantOfANail something that seems completely innocent]] -- but whatever the price, it's something that will render the Faust a lot worse off when it is paid, if not bring them to complete ruin. When villains make a Deal with the Devil, it often involves them doing something [[MoralEventHorizon truly heinous]] in order to gain the devil's favor.

This trope includes both literal {{Magically Binding Contract}}s with a literal devil, and crooked deals between any corrupt exploiter (the Mephistopheles role) and a desperate pawn (the Faust role). The exploiter can be offering anything from some shiny new AppliedPhlebotinum to making a high school nerd [[InWithTheInCrowd popular]], to [[LeonineContract saving your life moments before death]]. Sometimes it has [[MadeOfTemptation no practical value whatsoever]]. But whatever the service, whatever the offer, '''there is always a price.''' This price can be anything -- the Faust's soul, their conscience, their firstborn, their loved ones, their voice, their eternal servitude, or even [[ForWantOfANail something that seems completely innocent]] -- but whatever the price, it's something that will render the Faust a lot worse off when it is paid, if not bring them to complete ruin.

Of course, the devil ''has'' been in this business since day seven. Therefore, the only way the villain of the piece can expect to get out of the "accounts receivable" column is by getting moved into the "owner's equity" column.

* Matt Tremont justified working with Drew Blood by explaining that he had scene a ladder leading up to heaven through a light Blood had told him to look at and came to the realization that there was no God, that the closest thing to God was himself because he was the savior of Wrestling/{{CZW}}but that [[DevilButNoGod the devil was in fact real]] because he realized in the same moment it was Blood.