The main thesis of the Devil’s Advocate is that evil dwells in humanity and that people create their own hells on earth. Humans have free will or the capacity to make their own choices as well as choose their own destinies, whether it be good or evil.

According to the horror writer Clive Barker, “that individual who sells his soul to the devil for wealth, power, or knowledge is an important mythic protagonist who figures prominently in the development of the popular horror story” (121). Kevin Lomax is a lawyer who always wins. Kevin is hired by John Milton for a large sum of money and is moved to New York, he is easily bought by Milton.

John Milton is the head of a big, mysterious law firm that provides defense for guilty clients who are suspected of horrific crimes such as, child molestation and murder. Milton appears to be a man who is disguised as the devil. He has all the power and money at his fingertips. In fact, John Milton is much like the character, Gregorius, seen in Clive Barker’s story, “Down, Satan!.” Like Gregorius, Milton is head of his own empire and is very rich. He is also critical of God and mocks Him.  They both very much represent the Anti-Christ. The story of “Down, Satan” and the film Devil’s Advocate, seem to have the same overall message that humans have the power to create their own hell in life.

The more money and power that Kevin Lomax gains, the more he becomes a self absorbed and superficial person. Kevin Lomax also shows weakness in religion and in faith of God, as he shows of his dislike of religion because of his strict Christian upbringing by his mother.

Kevin begins to neglect his wife, Mary Ann, even when she starts to go insane, leading up to her suicide. Kevin Lomax gives up his values, morals, and his wife for all the money, power, and glory.

Kevin struggles with many temptations, other than money. One main example is the repeated attempts of the enchanting and elusive seductions of Christabella, another employee of John Milton’s. Even though Kevin resists Christabella, he sees her while making love to his wife, Mary Ann. In the end, he also comes close to giving into his lust for Christabella.

Kevin Lomax is oblivious to what the money is doing to their lives but Mary Ann is very aware of it. Mary Ann sees through John Milton and his associates. She senses their evilness and begins to see what she calls “monsters,” in anyone associated with Milton. Kevin doesn’t believe in Mary Ann, and that seems to lead to her ultimate destruction, for she is already a very unstable and insecure woman.  Mary Ann begins to rapidly lose her mind. She is weak and John Milton has worked on unraveling the ties between Kevin and Mary Ann, although very subtly.

Towards the end, when Mary Ann is hospitalized, a little before committing suicide, she says to Kevin, “Why is this happening? It’s the money, blood money, Kevin. We just drank it down, both of us. We knew it. Winning these cases, taking the money.  We knew they were guilty. But you just kept on winning...” Deep down, Kevin Lomax knew the clients he represented were guilty but his love of money and power were greater than his conscience or moral values. In the end, he pays for his choices.

In essence, he is selling his soul to the devil, although he makes his decisions all on his own without John Milton forcing him to do anything. Despite the fact that John Milton is representative of the devil, he is unlike the traditional devil as he stresses that humans make their own choices and have free will. He may make suggestions, but in the end it is the person who makes his or her own choice in life. This is demonstrated in the dialogue that occurs between Milton and Lomax at the end of the movie. Kevin demands, “What did you do to Mary Ann?” Milton answers, “Free will, it’s like butterfly wings. Once touched, they never get off the ground.  No, I only set the stage. You pull your own strings.” When Kevin persists that John Milton destroyed Mary Ann because she knew Milton was evil, Milton responds with, “You blamin’ me for Mary Ann? Oh, I hope your kidding...Mary Ann, you could’ve saved her anytime you liked, all she wanted was love. Hey, you were too busy.” Kevin snaps, “That’s a lie!”

Further into the film, John Milton suggests that maybe it was Kevin’s time to lose, and Kevin explosively responds with, “Lose?! I don’t lose. I win! I win! I’m a lawyer! That’s my job! That’s what I do!” Milton goes on to say, “I rest my case.  Vanity...is definitely my favorite sin. It’s so basic...self love, the all natural opiate. You know, it’s not that you didn’t care for Mary Ann, Kevin. It’s just that you were a little bit more involved with someone else...yourself.” Kevin sniffles and agrees with him saying, “You’re right. I did it all. I let her go. I...I left her behind and just kept going.” Here, we see that Kevin admits that he had fate in his hands and that he made the wrong choices.

In conclusion, at the end of the film, Kevin confronts John Milton, and without saying it in obvious terms, we are led to believe that Milton is indeed the devil.  He is given the free will to choose whether to work with the devil and have anything he desires or get his life back.  Milton says, “It’s time to step up and take what’s yours.”

Although, Kevin Lomax seems to give into the devil at first, he then realizes that the choice at hand is really all his own.  Kevin Lomax, then says, “You’re right.  It’s time.  Free will...right?” he chuckles, as he then stuns John Milton by shooting himself in the head. Milton screams, “No,” as fire surrounds him.  As Kevin Lomax, destroys the devil’s hold, he is reborn, as he wakes up in the next scene as if he has been given the chance to start all over again.  This demonstrates my main point that humans make their own moral choices and must choose between good and evil in the end.