In the earliest mention of demons in the Hebrew bible, they are described as malevolent entities who enter living bodies to possess them. In this way, Demons have manifested in human culture for centuries, reflecting  the fears of the era and acting as a warning for those who breach the fabric between the temporal and spiritual realms. In The Dybbuk, or Between Two Worlds, a play crafted from Jewish folklore by playwright S. Ansky, the fear of losing traditional ways of Shtetl life is central to the plot. The spirit possessing demon, the Dybbuk, emerges when spiritual tradition clashes with modern sensibilities. Ultimately, the Dybbuk reflects the fear of losing the past. 

This film follows a young girl Regan who has been possessed by a demon and her mother's attempt to save her with the help of two Catholic priests to perform an exorcism.  At the time the film was released, religion was more prevalent in society. Original audiences of this film were reported to faint, vomit, and run out of theaters. The film was the first of its kind to show a young, helpless girl as the victim instead of scummy teenagers or uncaring adults. The movie further emphasizes the fear of a devil in a religious context. 

Mr. Applegate, is a devil disguised as a salesman. He helped fulfill Joe’s wish, but Joe had to leave his wife. This has once again shown the message that everything comes at a price. 

Appearing at the turn of the millennium, where technology was advancing rapidly and where the accomplishments of the present were uplifted and touted as exalting people from those of the past, The Judge, an immortal demon from the middle ages, represented a direct confrontation between modernity and the past. Around this period, we began to see the demon as not only a representation of classic evil but a representation of human history, often seeing demons depicted as related to or being temporally located in our past. Similarly, they began to take on and embody the speech, mannerisms, clothing, and beliefs of previous eras. 

Sixtass, is a mischievous demon known for bringing pain and chaos to the living world through the act of possessing one's body.  Most of his origins are unknown, but it is said that he was once an angel that was punished. In result, he was sent to live in the dark realm called "The Further", which is a deminsion between Earth, Hell and Heaven. 

Unlike its predecessor, this retelling’s Mephistophilis appears in an era where belief in religion and the supernatural is less prevalent. Accordingly, instead of being grounded in the mystical, this Mephistophilis is grounded through his relationship to the Dr. Faustus. There is a duality between the ambitious doctor and the devil he’s damned his soul to, showing demons as the dark reflections of man that embody the unrestrained and indulgent parts of the human condition. Here, demons are no longer perceived as something wholly separate from man but as a mirror connected to our own worse traits that we’ve voluntarily contracted with. 

Valak, is a powerful demon known for manipulating objects, possessing humans and creating illusions all so that he can further his own goals. Valak, was once angel, but he was ultimately rejected by God and was sent to prison in hell. Valak likes to take the appearance of a demonic nun to not only mock the faith of his eneimes, but also to blend in and hide among them. 

In our modern era, demons do not just possess the living, but often take on nuanced personas of their own. Crowley, a witty and indolent demon, stars in Good Omens (2019). He, together with the angel Aziraphale, act as the show's protagonists. Instead of possessing people, Crowley is seemly possessed by modern human culture, being an enjoyer of fine wine and British rock music. 

Danily, is a troublesome demon, who is known for stirring up conflicts and creating  even more chaos. Although, most of Danily's origin is unknown it said that he came from a realm that is clouded in mystery and darkness. Danily adds chaos to conflicts by adding his own eerie touch, such as hiding in the dark and observing with glowing eyes. 

In the tv show Hazbin Hotel (2024), the lord of demons, Lucifer, experiences his own redemption. He grows from being the deadbeat dad of the protagonist, who is haunted by his own fear of Heaven's wrath, to a supportive parent who confronts his fear directly by standing up to the Angels who had persecuted him. In Hazbin Hotel, rather than demons possessing humans, the viewer is able identify and sympathize with the fears and struggles of demon-kind. In a way, that brings us full pentagram. 

In the live production of Richard III, Katy Sullivan plays the role of Richard III who shows qualities of being a tyrant from doing anything at any cost for what she desires just like the original Richard III who ultimately had the blood of his reign on his hands just to be next to take the throne. The inhumane and non remorseful actions for someone high in ranking shows that a person is willing to go to the extreme to get what they want whether it be morally right or not. The selection of Richard III being a woman and having disability incorporates feelings of societal expectations that she feels aside from the tyrannical and cynical traits Richard III has.