The DEVIL's child the devil's luck

Insights

The Prosperity of the Wicked

The proverb suggests a fundamental injustice in the world, where malevolent or morally corrupt individuals often seem to prosper as if rewarded for their wickedness.

Unearned or Tainted Fortune

It implies that the success of the 'devil's child' is not earned through merit but is a tainted gift from a corrupt source, rendering their fortune illegitimate.

Moral Inversion

The proverb reflects a cynical worldview where the conventional relationship between virtue and reward is inverted; dishonesty and knavery appear to be more advantageous than integrity.

Folk Theology of Injustice

Rooted in a worldview where the Devil actively rewards his followers, this proverb offers a theological explanation for the perplexing success of the wicked, framing their fortune as a form of cosmic patronage from a malevolent source.

Psychology of Envy

The proverb functions as a psychological coping mechanism, allowing people to rationalize the success of rivals or the unscrupulous by attributing it to illegitimate, supernatural aid rather than merit. As the 1721 quotation notes, it is often 'spoken enviously'.

Critique of Moral Order

This saying resonates with the universal 'problem of evil' and the perceived unfairness of life, where virtue may go unrewarded while vice prospers. It aligns with cynical observations like 'The more knave the better luck'.

Rhetorical Devices

Parallelism and Repetition

The repetition of 'devil's' creates a strong, memorable parallel structure that directly links the identity ('child') with the outcome ('luck').

Ellipsis

The proverb omits the verb (e.g., 'has'), creating a concise, punchy, and aphoristic statement that strengthens the causal link between the subject and their fate.

Symbolism

The 'Devil' serves as a powerful symbol of ultimate evil, immediately framing the 'luck' received as corrupt, dangerous, and morally bankrupt.