The Mysterious Stranger

Theodor’s interactions with Satan force him to grapple with the failings of human nature. Upon meeting the angel, he is presented with a variety of new perspectives. When he witnesses the complete breakdown of kindness in his town, he contends with human failings head on. Though his worldview is impacted by Satan’s teachings, Theodor did not necessarily begin his journey with a belief that humans are good. He mentions seeing Father Peter repeatedly denied mercy from his peers even before his trial. Nobody stands up to him when the astrologer spreads rumors that ruin his career, and his lender loses patience when he cannot pay his mortgage. However, Satan’s intervention suggests that these actions are the rule, not the exception.

Satan repeatedly asserts that humans are fundamentally inferior to angels. One reason for this is because his status as a divine immortal prevents him from fully empathizing with their struggles. However, his second reason is grounded in thousands of years of watching humanity. In his eyes, the Moral Sense allows them to justify horrible wrongdoing for selfish reasons. He tells Theodor that humans have an inflated sense of self-importance since they

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