Tétiyette and the Devil

“Tétiyette and the Devil” is a simple moral of how a young woman’s false knowledge landed her in the belly of the devil. In “Tétiyette and the Devil” the author applies several overlapping themes to the reader, the most prevalent being deception. Though Tétiyette the narrator shows how arrogance can lead to unfortunate predicaments. If Tétiyette listened to her mother and shown the slim coated rag, she would have to admit she picked the wrong person. The devil lulled Tétiyette into false confidence so well she would not care if he was, in fact, the devil, a perfect opportunity for an easy meal. The story tells a cautionary tale young women who are listening to be wary of who you choose to lie with, if not you will end up in the belly of a devil.

          Tétiyette relationships with her family are not clearly developed in the story but as she called for help from both her parents neither one came to her aid. Her brother did despite both parents refuting to any reason to help. Any good parent would offer a helping a hand in their child’s moment of desuetude right? This is not the case however for Tétiyette, a disobedient child is an abject child. As Tétiyette sang for her mother and father’s aid their replay “…I have already warned her to beware.” And “As far as I’m concerned, I had also warned her to beware.” Her father in the text had not previously spoken prior to Tétiyette crying for help, but her mother offered Tétiyette salvation by giving her a litmus test to see if he was the devil. Knowing this her mother felt no pity for her insolent daughter. Her savior, however, played no part in the story until it was over. With no prior mention of our hero, the audience can draw no other conclusion but that he is a doting little brother. Family isn’t fleeting but it can be if we make the wrong decisions, the author is sending a message children to in to account the words of our elders because they have more wisdom to offer.

 

            The author doesn’t tell us if Tétiyette survives the ordeal, whether she lived or not is not the purpose of the story. The purpose is to illustrate the licentiousness of evil men and how they pray on the naïve. The author faults Tétiyette, not her parents or the devil, Tétiyette knew that she laid with the devil, she had irrefutable evidence. She is complicit therefore punished, being complicit is the same as acceptance of another’s wrongdoing, aiding and abiding the behavior. A lesson that warns young people to beware of the depraved because before you realize your hurt.