Commonly referenced in Western Europe and around the world, the story of the Faustian Bargain, in which an extraordinary individual trades soul and salvation for vast power , has appeared throughout history in poems, plays, newspapers, and novels describing characters' dilemmas. In Morel's Invention by Adolfo Bioy Casares, the narrator falls in love with the machine-generated image of a woman named Faustine. He claims to be a fugitive criminal who escaped to live on an island and makes a pact to sacrifice his soul to be with his beloved Faustine forever. Upon further examination of his diary, however, we see that he is actually a coward seeking to redeem his former life and create a new image rather than nobly sacrifice himself for love. Although he himself may not be aware of it, the narrator's diary serves to mask his deepest immoral desire for immortality and power. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The first indications of the narrator's selfish motivations come from his previous background. From his journal we learn that he came to the island as a means to escape his fugitive status and perhaps start a new life. He explains, “I hope to write as a kind of justification for my dark life on this earth” (18). So, before he even has the opportunity to die nobly, he intends to use the diary as justification. Rather than ashamed of his crimes, he is afraid of what others think of his image and is paranoid of being found out. When he discovers what he thinks are visitors on the island, his first reaction is that they are coming for him. He is undoubtedly self-centered and responds to his past actions by escaping them. His search for Faustine serves as a distraction from his fear. When he feels like running away, he says, "but I'm not so worried about the dangers I'm facing, I'm more worried about the mistake I've made, which can deprive me of the woman forever" (23). Just as he fearfully brought himself from his previous life to the island, Faustine provides another quest, or means of escape, psychologically. The narrator's psychological and isolated state on the island suggests that presumably sacrificing his soul to be with Faustine is an act of suicide. . Like Faus, in the German legend, he is immensely bored with his current state. Not only that, he is hopeless and writes: “I had nothing to hope for” (19). Although he believed that risking escape to the island would end his previous problems, or at least result in death, this is the end of his physical journey. Without being able to move anywhere, he also feels trapped emotionally, “but will I ever be allowed to leave” (21). The narrator also feels victimized by the island and is imprisoned. His paranoia also indicates how tormented he is by being captured. His state of desperation and isolation further increases with the time he spends on the island with the images. He writes that he feels like “a dead man among the living” (47). Without the images, there would be no comparison for the narrator, no glimpse of humanity or sanity. Therefore, he is somewhat aware of his psychological condition, but repeated images are constantly reminded of him. He holds on to his perception of love for Faustine, as love is a powerful emotion and the ultimate distraction. As he is dying, he finally feels that he has "the reward of a peaceful eternity" and this peace is what he has sought and ultimately achieved for both his body and his spirit (124). The narrator also tries to be with Faustine win against Morel, thus redeeming her.