THE DEVIL AS A CAUSE OF HATRED BETWEEN BROTHERS

Abstract

The paper presents some of the narrative strategies with which medieval authors describe demonic activity in secular settings. Although, in accordance with Christian teaching, it is about acting on human thoughts, the materialization of exponents of the absence of good in these frameworks, differs from the way the hagiographer talks about the same when describing the feat of the anchorite. The most paradigmatic examples of Stefan Provenčani, Domentian, Teodosije, Constantine the Philosopher and Danilo II are highlighted. This choice of sources results from the intention to indicate the schematism of the written expression in the title imposed by the frames. The paper presents three narrative forms of action by the unholy on the hatred between brothers. The first arises from the sinful potential of pride, as suitable for the influence of the unholy, when the brothers are ready for a direct conflict in order to win primacy in the ruling hierarchy. Another narrative solution tells about the relationship of brothers who are in love with each other, but their ambition (euphemistically speaking) leads them to be epigones of evil. The third narrative form tells about brothers who, although conflicted about power, are rehabilitated from their guilt in an indirect way. Namely, the sinful potential is attributed to the supreme authority according to which the conflicting brothers from the central story are in a vassal position. In the framework of old Serbian literature, we are talking about the influence of the Ottoman Empire on the vassals of Serbian origin.