Game Theory and Literature

Abstract

Applications of game theory to novels, short stories, plays, opera librettos, narrative poems, and the Hebrew Bible are surveyed from both an historical and a critical perspective, based in part on responses to a questionnaire. While some analyses shed light on literary issues, such as the role of emotions or the rationality of character choices that culminate in tragedy, others highlight game-theoretic issues, such as problems of coordinating choices or building reputations when information is incomplete. Several models indicate a sophisticated understanding of plots and character motives, but others are quite trivial or misuse game theory. Fiction writers, too, vary in the intuitive understanding of game theory that they bring to their works. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Number: 026.

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