The Devils

Abercrombie’s exploration of sin and redemption in The Devils moves beyond traditional theological interpretations into personal, political, and psychological terrain, exploring how deeply personal and collective guilt can coexist with the often contradictory desire for atonement. However, The Devils offers no easy absolution, no divine forgiveness, and no simple moral victories. As Jakob notes, “There is no right door […] They all lead to hell” (174). Abercrombie’s characters are not heroes striving to overcome sin; they are survivors, outcasts, and failures, each grappling with their darkness in a world where redemption is not promised. Some, like Vigga and Sunny, struggle to forgive themselves. Others, like Jakob and Diaz, wrestle with the dissonance between faith and action. In Abercrombie’s world, redemption, if it comes, is not grace from above, but grace between people—sinners cling to each other and try to do something right.

Critically, the characters are all sinners in one way or another, evincing Abercrombie’s interest in exploring moral ambiguity through his characters. Jakob of Thorn epitomizes Abercrombie’s examination of sin as a byproduct of righteous intent. As a former grandmaster of the Iron Order, he has lived a life saturated with holy war, executing what he once believed were necessary acts of