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Selling Your Soul to the Devil

Edward Simon / Melville House Publishing

In Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus,” the titular magician trades his soul to Lucifer for power. We’ve been captivated by such demonic transactions ever since.

For 24 years, Faustus reaps the rewards of his bargain. Then, inevitably, devils come for him. In a new book, the scholar Ed Simon tells the history of the Faustian bargain. It’s not just about literally selling your soul to the devil, like you might see in art; it’s also about why we sacrifice our principles for power — power over other people, over technology, over resources.

GUEST –

  • Ed Simon | Public Humanities Special Faculty in the English Department of Carnegie Mellon University. His book is called “Devil’s Contract: The History of the Faustian Bargain.” [Amazon|Bookshop].

Airdate: Wednesday Sept. 11, 2024 at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.