Unveiling the Eerie Secrets of Stranger Things' Hellfire Club
The Hellfire Club: Unveiling the Secrets of Britain's Elite Society Explore how Stranger Things' Hellfire Club intertwines with the true history of these exclusive secret societies
Summary
Season 4 of Stranger Things introduces fan-favorite character Eddie Munson, the Dungeon Master of the Hellfire Club, a group of misfits who find empowerment and camaraderie.
The Hellfire Club in Stranger Things is inspired by authentic 18th-century secret societies that were notorious for their indulgence in debauchery and mockery of religion. Despite facing accusations of being a satanic cult, the Stranger Things' Hellfire Club provides a sanctuary for social outcasts, similar to its historical equivalent.
Netflix's hit sci-fi horror TV series Stranger Things reached new heights of popularity in season 4, thanks to the introduction of fan-favorite character Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn). Eddie is the Dungeon Master of Hawkins High School's Dungeons & Dragons group, known as the Hellfire Club. One of the show's defining characteristics is its cast of misfit characters who feel like they don't quite fit into society. Whether it's Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) and his friends playing D&D in the basement or Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) trying to live a normal life outside the control of Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine), the characters all share this sense of being outsiders.
In season 4, the theme of misfits finding their place is especially prominent with the Hellfire Club and Eddie. The club consists mainly of Eddie, his bandmates, and the show's main characters, including Mike, Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), and Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin). Despite being a harmless group, the Hellfire Club faces accusations of being a satanic cult due to its name. The persecution intensifies when Eddie is wrongly accused of murdering several students from Stranger Things, such as Fred Benson. The Hellfire Club plays a significant role in Stranger Things season 4 and is inspired by real-life organizations from the 18th century.
The Hellfire Clubs Were Secret Societies For British & Ireland's Upper Class
During the 18th century in Britain and Ireland, a series of secretive and exclusive societies emerged, known collectively as the Hellfire Club. These elite upper-class groups were characterized by their indulgence in various forms of debauchery, including heavy drinking, hosting mock religious ceremonies, engaging in sexual games, and partaking in acts that were considered socially immoral (via Slate).
The original Hellfire Club, established in London in 1718, was founded by Philip Wharton, the 1st Duke of Wharton. This club, labeled as a "satirical gentlemen's club," openly mocked religion. However, the most well-known iteration of the Hellfire Club was formed by Sir Francis Dashwood, who referred to it as The Order of the Friars of St Francis of Wycombe. Like Wharton's club, Dashwood's Hellfire Club also ridiculed religion. Their meetings often involved members engaging in obscene parodies of religious rituals, alongside excessive drinking, banqueting, and mock ceremonies (via The Hell-Fire Clubs: A History of Anti-Morality).
How Stranger Things' Hellfire Club Compares To The Real Thing
Initially, the Hellfire Clubs of the 18th century and the one depicted in Stranger Things appear significantly dissimilar. In contrast to the affluent elites who belonged to the original Hellfire Clubs, the members of the Stranger Things Hellfire Club do not possess wealth and do not engage in any sort of decadent behavior. Despite these noteworthy disparities, the two clubs share two common threads: they both provided a refuge for social outcasts and misfits, and were perceived by outsiders as devil-worshipping cults.
Eddie, a self-proclaimed "freak" with a passion for '80s heavy metal and Dungeons & Dragons, utilized these interests as the foundation for establishing the Hellfire Club. Although certain residents of Hawkins accuse the club of being a satanic cult, Eddie remains indifferent to such allegations. For him, the club's significance lies in its ability to empower him and his friends while granting them freedom from societal constraints. Eddie successfully achieves this purpose, and despite his tragic demise in the fourth season of Stranger Things, he leaves behind a legacy of disenfranchised individuals coming together, embodying the core essence of the show.
