Hellish Harmony:The Angelic Child and The Devil “There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief”- Aeschylus. In Aaron Corwin’s, Brimstone and Marmalade, it may seem that Mathilde's character doesn't change and stays the same childish brat throughout the story, though Mathilde's evolving perspective on the world and her initial transition from childhood to young adulthood is shown through the employment of her guilt and loss of Ix’thor. Mathilde is a spoiled, little girl who dreams of having a pony, but feels betrayed when her parents and grandma decide to get her a mortifying demon. Mathilde’s perspective on her demon lord changes as she learns to love him, and even takes him trick or treating. Unfortunately, a life-changing incident occurs during Halloween, and results …show more content…
Nana, Mathilde’s grandma and Mathilde enter the demon shop, and Mathilde expresses her disappointment and disgust towards getting a demon instead of a pony. Mathilde understands that devils have spikes, horns, and are arrogant in nature in contrast to ponies who have manes, fur, and are graceful. When the store clerk asks Mathilde what type of demon she wants, she responds, “I want the kind with the pretty eyes and the long, shiny mane!” (Corwin 1). Despite knowing she is getting a pony, and how the demons look, Mathilde still requests for a pony, illuminating her childish behavior through her pettiness. Nana tells Mathilde that taking care of a demon represents the responsibility needed to convince her parents to get her the pony, which results in a reluctant Mathilde agreeing to buy a Miniature Dark Lord called Ix’thor. The storekeeper reveals that Ix’thor got rejected and is renounced by his family, but Mathilde's response is one of manipulation and deceit instead of compassion and empathy. Mathilde in her mind thinks, “She didn’t want to take care of him either; but.