The Evil Eye

"The Evil Eye" is the story of an Albanian man named Dmitiri whose wife and daughter were attacked many years before the story takes place. The pirates killed his wife and abducted his daughter, Zella. Over the years, his grief and anger turned him into something less than human, and some believe he has the supernatural power of the evil eye: the ability to curse people with just a look.

In the process of helping his old friend Katusthius seek revenge on his brother, whom he believes has usurped his family fortune, Dmitri and Katusthius kidnap Katusthius's nephew, a young boy named Constans. Dmitri feels a strong connection with Constans and protects him from Katusthius's violence, and eventually realizes that Constans is his grandson, and his mother is his long-lost daughter.

The illustration accompanying the tale depicts Zella at the seaside.

"The Evil Eye" engages with the Gothic motifs of abduction, revenge, and lost identity. Although Dmitri does not really have any supernatural powers, by linking the force of his grief with his apparent supernatural ability, the tale explores the transformative power of feeling, particularly grief.

For more information about the tale, visit its Wikipedia page.

Title in Contents List: 

The Evil Eye, a Tale

Creator: 

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Attribution: 

Type of Work: 

Date of Publication: 

1829

Venue: 

Page(s): 

150–175

Text of the Tale: 

Plain text icon ShelleyMW_TheEvilEye.txt

Intertexts: 

Zella

Motifs: 

Named Characters: 

Katusthius Ziani
Dmitri of the Evil Eye
Helena
Cyril Ziani
Zella Ziani
Constans Ziani
Camaraz

Named Places: 

Page Image Gallery

Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 150. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 151. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 152. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 153. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 154. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 155. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 156. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 157. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 158. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 159. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 160. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 161. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 162. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 163. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 164. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 164a. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 164b. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 165. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 166. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 167. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 168. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 169. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 170. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 171. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 174. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.Mary Shelley, “The Evil Eye,” The Keepsake for 1830, p. 175. University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. Call number: AY13 K4 1830. Image by Caroline Winter, taken on 14 May 2019.