Literary notes about mephistophelean (AI summary)
The term "mephistophelean" is frequently used to evoke a sense of diabolical charm and theatrical slyness in literary descriptions. It is often employed to characterize a smile, a look, or even physical traits that blend irresistible allure with an underlying hint of menace, as when a character’s countenance is described as commanding respect mixed with sinister appeal [1, 2]. This adjective can imply both a subtly disconcerting demeanor and an overtly theatrical, almost otherworldly presence, whether in reference to a mischievous doctor or a villainous companion whose appearance suggests a cunning spirit lurking beneath the surface [3, 4]. At times, it even extends to the portrayal of interactions imbued with a playful yet ominous quality, imbuing the narrative with ironic detachment and echoing the classic metaphor of the devilish tempter [5, 6]. Overall, "mephistophelean" serves as a potent literary device that encapsulates both charm and malice, deepening the character’s mystique and moral ambiguity [7, 8].
- Standing in the doorway he bowed, and if his smile was Mephistophelean, there was much about Colonel Juan Menendez which commanded respect.
— from Bat Wing by Sax Rohmer - "Just as he approached the crossing where the accident occurred he turned his head, and I don't think I ever saw a more Mephistophelean countenance.
— from Tin-Types Taken in the Streets of New YorkA Series of Stories and Sketches Portraying Many SingularPhases of Metropolitan Life by Lemuel Ely Quigg - In a flash there recurred to him every incident of those dramatic interviews with the Mephistophelean doctor.
— from The Doctor of Pimlico: Being the Disclosure of a Great Crime by William Le Queux - The red-haired judge, with straw hat and Mephistophelean limp, was there, looking like an Offenbach villain out for a spree.
— from South Wind by Norman Douglas - A scarlet halo begins to glow; and into it the Devil rises, very Mephistophelean, and not at all unlike Mendoza, though not so interesting.
— from Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philosophy by Bernard Shaw - Mendoza, with a Mephistophelean smile, bows profoundly.
— from Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philosophy by Bernard Shaw - When he smiled he revealed a row of very large white teeth, and his smile was correctly Mephistophelean.
— from The Golden Scorpion by Sax Rohmer - The reader may, perhaps, recall the high forehead and the singularly long black eyebrows that give such a Mephistophelean touch to his face.
— from The Country of the Blind, and Other Stories by H. G. Wells
