Greek mythology. Modern technology. The connection may not be immediately apparent, but the "Deus Ex" games carefully introduce imagery that invokes the fall of Icarus to draw parallels between the subjects.
Before delving into these similarities, it will be important to understand the stories involved. For the Greek myth, Daedalus the inventor built himself and his son Icarus a pair of wings so that they could fly out of a labyrinth prison. Unfortunately, the overzealous Icarus flew too close to the sun, which melted the wax in his wings and caused him to plummet to his death in the sea below.
The "Deus Ex" games are set in a time where many humans have augmented their bodies with machinery that makes them stronger. Some lives are saved and improved by these changes, but the new alterations also cause new diseases, give power to those who would abuse it and threaten to divide humanity. This has introduced a worldwide debate over whether or not the merits of this new invention outweigh the risks.
With this in mind, the gap can now be bridged between the tales of Icarus and "Deus Ex." While it is true that the hero of "Deus Ex," (Adam Jensen) uses his augmentations to fight villains in the game, the narrative itself is fashioned as a debate centered on the technology. Central to this debate is the image of Icarus and his fall. Repeatedly, Jensen is depicted with wings.
The augmentation used to break his fall from long heights is referred to as the Icarus Landing System, and it features a pair of electrical wing-like sparks sprouting from his wrists.
These visual allusions cut to the heart of the matter. With such a powerful new tool in humanity's hands, the question must be asked, "Could we be flying too high?" When technology threatens to warp what it means to be human, is it ambitious or simply foolish? In a world where this question has constant relevance due to the approaching possibility of DNA editing and advanced prosthetics, this line of inquiry is not without real world weight.
Perhaps the most brilliant thing about "Deus Ex" is that players are left to decide how close to the metaphorical sun they are willing to risk flying. It is up to the individual gamer to judge what is right based on their personalized responses to the experiences presented to them throughout the game. Appropriate, seeing as in the end, we will have to make similar decisions on our own with real world consequences.
Hopefully, humanity can prolong its own fall.
