Stephen F. Cea

Its a fact: no mans story begins or ends with his birth and eventual death. Thats just the span of a lifetime. A mans story begins with the commingled influences of the past and ends with the effects of his existence on the future. While sitting in his prison cell contemplating life, a man considers the events that led him astray. Those events span a forty-year period, starting with early childhood into the present day. In a way, this mans story is a dark coming of age narrative that may or may not have a happy ending. Fast is a modern interpretation of Faust, except that instead of the hoofed personification of evil, it is modern society itself that beguiles the protagonist. People react to their particular realities in a manner characterized by Sartre as Being-in-Itself because they dont have time to reflect on their decisions, instead of by Being-for-Itself, which requires a conscious evaluation before making those determinations. In other words, it can be a moments hesitation that leads to the decimation of our souls. Which path would you choose: damnation or salvation? What if you unknowingly already made your choice years ago?