Devil to Pay
Dorothy L. Sayers wrote this verse drama as the second play in her cycle on the legendary figure of Doctor Faustus, following her 1938 work "The Devil to Pay in the Flesh." Commissioned for performance at Canterbury Cathedral Festival, the play emerged from Sayers' conviction that Christian drama could engage seriously with theological questions while maintaining artistic excellence. She aimed to reclaim religious theater from what she saw as sentimental pietism, bringing the intellectual rigor of medieval mystery plays to modern audiences.
The drama follows Faustus in his final hours as his pact with Mephistopheles reaches its conclusion. Rather than focusing on damnation as inevitable punishment, Sayers explores the psychology of despair and the nature of divine mercy. Her Faustus is tormented not merely by fear of hell but by his inability to believe in the possibility of forgiveness. The play's central theological argument unfolds through Faustus's dialogue with various characters who represent different responses to divine grace. Sayers demonstrates how intellectual pride can become a barrier to salvation more formidable than any external temptation, as Faustus's very sophistication prevents him from accepting the simplicity of repentance.
The work has endured as one of the finest examples of twentieth-century Christian drama, praised for its theological sophistication and dramatic power. Sayers's background as a detective novelist and Dante translator brought both narrative skill and doctrinal precision to her treatment of ultimate questions. The play influenced subsequent Christian dramatists and demonstrated that religious theater could engage contemporary audiences without sacrificing intellectual depth.
Who should read this: Readers interested in Christian drama, the Faust legend, or Sayers's broader theological vision will find much to appreciate. Those seeking light entertainment or simple moral instruction should look elsewhere, as the play demands careful attention to its theological arguments and poetic language.