The knight Antonius Block has returned to Sweden after a crusade. Despite having fought for Christianity he doubts the existence of God. Why doesn’t He give a sign? Antonius sees suffering and hardship all around him; the plague is wasting the country and many people try to avoid it by fanatical religious practices. It does not help – Death has no respect for the will of man. When Antonius Block realises this he becomes an even greater doubter; where is God’s compassion and justice?Instead of meeting God, Antonius Block suddenly finds himself face-to-face with Death. Death, with black cowl and white face, has been at the knight’s side for a long time and has now come to fetch him. Antonius succeeds in winning a respite – he challenges Death to a game of chess. As long as they play, Antonius can live and if he manages to checkmate Death he can continue living a little while longer. He aims to use his time to try and to find a concrete sign that the God he prays really exists, that He is not just a figment of his imagination. Antonius Block’s wish is, however, difficult to fulfil. No matter what he does, Death follows his footsteps and it seems that he can only prove the existence of Death. The knight Antonius Block has returned to Sweden after a crusade. Despite having fought for Christianity he doubts the existence of God. Why doesn’t He give a sign? Antonius sees suffering and hardship all around him; the plague is wasting the country and many people try to avoid it by fanatical religious practices. It does not help – Death has no respect for the will of man. When Antonius Block realises this he becomes an even greater doubter; where is God’s compassion and justice?Instead of meeting God, Antonius Block suddenly finds himself face-to-face with Death. Death, with black cowl and white face, has been at the knight’s side for a long time and has now come to fetch him. Antonius succeeds in winning a respite – he challenges Death to a game of chess. As long as they play, Antonius can live and if he manages to checkmate Death he can continue living a little while longer. He aims to use his time to try and to find a concrete sign that the God he prays really exists, that He is not just a figment of his imagination. Antonius Block’s wish is, however, difficult to fulfil. No matter what he does, Death follows his footsteps and it seems that he can only prove the existence of Death.