The starting point of The Promise comes directly from Simenon’s Maigret tend un piège. But the story of the piège conceals a notion of sacrifice, already in Simenon, and even more so in Dürrenmatt. The Promise thus appears as a variation on the story of the sacrifice of Isaac as interpreted by Kierkegaard in Fear and Trembling. The heart of the Danish philosopher’s meditation, as also of the Swiss author, is absurdity. But whereas absurdity is salvific in Kierkegaard’s eyes, conferring ultimate meaning to Abraham’s act, in Dürrenmatt it is meaninglessness itself, leaving man to fear and tremble without any hope for peace.