A Deal with the Devil
The article explores the Faustian bargain's allure, focusing on its literary presence, especially in Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus." It discusses the Rose Theatre's historical significance and modern adaptations, reflecting on its enduring impact.
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The article delves into the timeless allure of the Faustian bargain, exploring humanity's transactional relationship with evil through the lens of the Devil's contract. It discusses the legend's prevalence in literature, particularly focusing on Christopher Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus." The piece reflects on the historical significance of the Rose Theatre in London, where Marlowe's play premiered, and its excavation in 1989. It highlights the theatrical and supernatural elements associated with performances of Faustus, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. The author recounts personal experiences attending a modern adaptation of Marlowe's play, emphasizing its ritualistic and immersive nature. The narrative weaves together historical insights, literary analysis, and personal reflections on the enduring impact of the Faustian legend, culminating in a desire to craft a Faustian tale of their own.
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5 commentsIt seems the artist, Moritz Retzsch, painted several versions of this image [1]. The painting(s) have gone by several names, such as "The Chess Players", "The Game of Life", or "Checkmate". More interesting is the story that a grandmaster examined the painting and discovered that the player on the right, looking defeated and forlorn, can still win the game! I have not verified this, but the story goes that the grandmaster demanded the gallery change the name of the painting from "Checkmate" to something else [2].
[1]. https://www.one-more-move-chess-art.com/MoritzRetzsch.html
Google had as part of it's origin myth done a deal with the Devil. The warding spells they had to invoke to channel some of that largesse from advertiser/advertisee exploitation into marginally useful AI. Also, that deal demands that nothing meaningful can come out of GoogleX unless you use a liberal dose of that sociopathic magic dust ("self-driving tech")
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