Rumpelstiltskin is a name many have heard before. The impish, demon-like character approaches a young girl who has been locked away in a tower because her father told the king a lie, saying his daughter can spin straw into gold. The King locks her away in the tower and demands she spin gold for him, or else he will have her beheaded by morning. Rumpelstiltskin offers to spin the straw into gold for the girl at the cost of her necklace. The second night, she gives him her ring in exchange for the straw to be spun to gold for the King. On the third night, she has nothing left to offer the imp. He offers to spin the straw to gold, but at the price of her first born child. When coming to collect the first born, the girl (who has married the King) begs him not to take her baby. Rumpel tells her that she has three days to guess his name, and if she can guess correctly, he will not take the baby. The Queen follows him through the woods and overhears him talking to himself and discovers his name. In a fit of rage, Rumpelstiltskin drives his foot through the ground and tears himself in two. (A bit extreme don't you think?)

 

Once Upon a Time's version of Rumpelstiltskin is (slightly) less self destructive. He certainly doesn't tear himself in two. He does however, make deals with the people of StoryBrooke/Enchanted Forest. Weilding powerful dark magic, it appears he can do almost anything.

 

In the garden of eden, the serpent (aka the devil) tempts Eve to taste the forbidden fruit of knowledge, resulting in them being cast outside, never allowed to return. Is Rumpelstiltskin the Devil? Perhaps. He offers aid only to those that have something of value to him, and never does anything for free. All magic comes at a price. He sneakily tempts people to do bad things, making the darkness spread through their hearts. He even helps Regina learn dark magic and become the Evil Queen. Just like the devil, Rumpels purpose is to spread darkness through the souls of people.