How Does Zofloya Use Satan As A Scapegoat

A review of Zofloya from the Literary Journal in 1806 states that people perceived Satan as a scapegoat and ‘they might safely lighten the burden of their sins by placing the better part of them on his shoulders’ (Craciun 264). Hence, using Satan as a scapegoat gave people the leeway of continuing to act out their innermost desires; accordingly, this is a theme found in Zofloya. The gothic villain as a scapegoat caused the closet-criminal protagonist to be the recipient of pity. Readers felt bad for the main character because they are being provoked by Satan. This can invoke fear of losing control, but also eases the worry of being malicious before the devil became involved. However, this contradicts the earlier argument that evil already resides