In folklore and mythology, witches are commonly associated with magic and the supernatural. They are often portrayed as females who possess mystical powers and engage in spellcasting. However, the male counterpart to a witch is often less well-known and frequently overlooked. The male parallel of a witch is commonly referred to as a warlock. Like witches, warlocks are practitioners of magic, but they are specifically male. While witches are typically associated with herbs, potions, and divination, warlocks are often associated with darker forms of magic, such as curses and summoning supernatural beings.
So anyways, Lutz and Garner are investing Jenny and Thom's deaths, and they quickly stumble across the yoga studio, in part because warlock lawyer Will Spanner (Ryan Cleary) gets involved, on behalf of an actual white witch who has already been suspicious of Samuel. It is not clear this time around that Will is still a lawyer. It's even less clear that his awakening as a powerful warlock at the end of Blood of the Chosen has taken hold even a little bit. Also, kudos to everybody involved in making Angel of Death: this is the 12th film in the series with an adult Will, and while we haven't exactly been swinging from peak to peak, we are incontestably at the very worst Will yet: Cleary plays the character with a petulant squawk, and he's not even trying to win the battle to hold more attention than the veneer of eyeshadow he's been caked with, nor the spiked hair and V-neck shirts. The whole package exudes the horrible aura of some dreadful Angelino himbo whose glory years are a decade in the past, but who has decided that he will fight aging by clinging to a years-out-of-date conception of what is "hip" until you can practically see the sweat forming. And if that's what the movie wants us to think of Will, then okay, but I can't imagine it's what the movie wants. It's deeply unwatchable, anyways.
And then every single cast and crew member, individually, is given a title treatment using 3-D rendered text zooming in on itself so it flips around. So for right now, we re just looking at the first leg of the trilogy Witchcraft XIV Angel of Death , which is one of those back to basics stories that the franchise trotted out every now and then, and that makes sense for a place to start this profoundly ill-advised exercise in brand extension.
While witches are typically associated with herbs, potions, and divination, warlocks are often associated with darker forms of magic, such as curses and summoning supernatural beings. Despite the lack of mainstream recognition, warlocks have played an important role in various cultures and mythologies throughout history. For example, in Norse mythology, Odin, the ruler of the gods, is often depicted as a warlock.
ANGEL OF DEATH
The notion of an angel who extracts the soul from the body at death seems to have developed from earlier ideas about divinities of death. Such figures are widespread in world culture. In Hinduism, for example, Yama is the god of the dead. In the earliest Vedic texts, Yama ruled an afterlife realm not unlike the Norse Valhalla in which the deceased enjoyed carnal pleasures. As Hinduism was transformed in the post- Vedic period, Yama became a rather grim demigod who snared the souls of the departed and conducted them to the otherworld.
The angel of death concept was most fully developed in rabbinical Judaism. As did Yama, the Jewish angel of death (malakh ha-mavet) metamorphosed across time. At first these biblical emissaries of death were clearly under the direct command of God, as for example in Second Samuel:
Then the angel stretched out his arm towards Jerusalem to destroy it; but the Lord repented of the evil and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Stay your hand.” (2 Sam. 24:16)
Although no biblical reference identifies a particular angel or group of angels as having the specialized task of meting out death, many references do make allusions to “destroying angels” (Exod. 12:23, 2 Sam. 24:16, and Isa. 37:36); a fatal “reaper” (Jer. 9:20), and “messengers of death” (Prov. 16:14).
Only in postbiblical literature does the idea of the angel of death as such emerge. This “angel” gradually develops into a demonic figure acting on his own initiative. According to the Talmud, the angel of death was identified with Satan, and the notion of the angel of death as evil was reflected in many folktales and in many folk practices associated with death, burial, and mourning. For instance, one commonly known bit of folklore is that it is impossible to die in the midst of studying the Torah.
The many folktales associated with the angel of death fall into roughly three categories. In the first group, which may be called tales of horror and magic, the stubborn and cruel angel of death is a kind of antihero, somewhat like Dracula in many vampire stories. In the second category the angel of death can be defeated, especially by human deception. In these tales he is portrayed as being rather stupid. In the final group the angel of death is moved by compassion to spare someone’s life or otherwise act benevolently. In many of these narratives the confrontation with the angel of death occurs on a wedding night, during which one of the two betrothed is fated to die.
FURTHER READING:
- Encyclopaedia Judaica. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan, 1971.
- Masello, Robert. Fallen Angels . . . and Spirits of the Dark. New York: Perigree, 1994.
- Sykes, Egerton. Who’s Who: Non-Classical Mythology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
- Wigoder, Geoffrey. The Encyclopedia of Judaism. New York: Macmillan, 1989.
SOURCE:
Angels A to Z 2nd Edition – Written by Evelyn Dorothy Oliver & James R. Lewis – Copyright © 2008 by Visible Ink Press
The many folktales associated with the angel of death fall into roughly three categories. In the first group, which may be called tales of horror and magic, the stubborn and cruel angel of death is a kind of antihero, somewhat like Dracula in many vampire stories. In the second category the angel of death can be defeated, especially by human deception. In these tales he is portrayed as being rather stupid. In the final group the angel of death is moved by compassion to spare someone’s life or otherwise act benevolently. In many of these narratives the confrontation with the angel of death occurs on a wedding night, during which one of the two betrothed is fated to die.
In Celtic folklore, there are stories of powerful male magic practitioners known as druids, who could be considered the male equivalent of witches. It is important to note that the terms "witch" and "warlock" are not always used interchangeably. In some traditions and belief systems, "warlock" has a negative connotation and is associated with deception or betrayal. In modern paganism and Wicca, the term "witch" is often used inclusively to refer to both male and female practitioners of magic. In conclusion, while witches are widely recognized and celebrated in folklore and popular culture, the male parallel of a witch, known as a warlock, often receives less attention. Warlocks are male practitioners of magic, often associated with darker forms of sorcery. Despite the variation in terminology and cultural context, both witches and warlocks play important roles in mythology and magical traditions..
Reviews for "Men in Witchcraft: Exploring the World of Warlocks"
1. Stephanie - 1 star - I found "What is the male parallel of a witch" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The author failed to provide any new insights or perspectives on the topic. The writing was dry and lacked creativity. I was expecting a thought-provoking exploration of gender roles and stereotypes, but instead, I was left disappointed. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking read.
2. Derek - 2 stars - "What is the male parallel of a witch" felt like a missed opportunity. While the concept of exploring the male equivalent of a witch is intriguing, the execution fell flat. The author seemed more concerned with showcasing their knowledge of historical facts rather than delving into the deeper aspects of the topic. I felt disconnected from the characters and the narrative lacked depth. Overall, it was an average read that didn't live up to its potential.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I found "What is the male parallel of a witch" to be confusing and poorly written. The author jumped between different time periods and characters without proper transitions, making it difficult to follow the story. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The book lacked a clear direction and failed to engage me as a reader. I was left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied with the overall reading experience. I would not recommend this book to anyone.