> Which literary character sold his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledgeand power?And the answer: Faust.Photo credit: Bu.edu [https://www.bu.edu/wll/news/goethes-faust/].According to aclassic German legend, the character known as Faust is highly successful butdissatisfied with his life. He makes a pact with the devil, exchanging his soulfor unlimited knowledge and power. Since the Middle Ages, writers have beeninspired by the legend of Faust, leading to many different versions of thestory.As legend follows, Faust is a sorcerer in search of more. Although fictional, heis said to be based on an alchemist living in 15th century Germany. Faust istrained in theology, and turns to the devil to make a deal: knowledge and powerin exchange for his soul. Thus, the essential question is born: can a humanwield the power of a god? While there is no definitive story of Faust, Goethe's Faust is commonlyrecognized as the most prominent telling of his story. The earliest knownpublished sources of the legend are the Wolfenbüttler manuscript dated around1580-1587, as well as a printed chapbook circulated around the same time.Meanwhile, Faust's story has made its way into narratives from The Picture ofDorian Grey to The Phantom of the Opera. At the time of its inception, the Faust narrative was a frightening one inGod-fearing Germany. It warned against the evils of magic, godlessness andworldly ambition. Religious salvation at stake, audiences of ChristopherMarlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus even reported the devil himselfattending a show. Read more about the legend of Faust and its pertinence to the modern day here[https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20170907-what-the-myth-of-faust-can-teach-us].