Faust: Part One
Faust is a play published in 1806 and is the result of decades of writing and revision by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Originally in German and being poetical in nature, translations have sought to capture exactly how Goethe would have written it if it were not in German. As such, there are various translated editions, that while they tell the same story will implement the rhyming scheme in differing ways. It is a story in two parts, and I will only be giving my thoughts on the first part since that is all I had time to read and research this week due to an overabundance of sleeping.
The first part of Faust tells the story of a scholar at the top of the world and favored by God that falls into corruption when given the opportunity. In the beginning, Mephistopheles, a devil, is conversing with God and his angels (an action permitted only by the absolute overconfidence and goodness of God). He makes a bet with God that he can take his favored human, Faust, and wretch him from a righteous path onto one of evil. So sure Faust would never deviate, God partakes in the bet and permits Mephistopheles to go to Earth and do as he wants.
We are then introduced to Faust and we can see that, despite what God might see, he is by himself close to turning from the right path. For such a learned scholar he sees futility in his studies, finding no greater meaning in them. Turning to the occult, he attempts to find meaning in existing on Earth but is unable to. He is close to killing himself by way of drink when the sounds of early morning Easter celebrations stop him. There is a similarity here with Faust trying to die in a similar fashion to Socrates. A clean and “elegant” way of a scholar quietly departing from Earth. With these actions the reader can see that Mephistopheles will not have to put much effort in to winning his bet.
After participating in Easter celebrations, in which a countryfolk reverence for Faust’s father is revealed, a poodle follows Faust home. The reverence for his father is likely part of the fuel for the futility he feels. He in all likelihood knows more than his father ever did but feels no drive to be better. What is the point if the action of his ancestor is the basis for which he is compared, and not his own actions? He already saw the poodle to be something more, and is not all too shocked when it eventually transforms into Mephistopheles. Finding that he has by happenstance trapped Mephistopheles in his home, he feels that he has the upper hand in negotiations with him. This could be what separates him from the past and pushes him in the future with new purpose after-all. Who in history tamed a devil? It could be him.
Despite being trapped, Mephistopheles was not powerless and using similar occult powers that Faust was starting to dip into earlier puts Faust to sleep. He escapes and returns the next day, still seeking to negotiate and make a deal with Faust. Despite no longer having an upper hand, Faust agrees to sell his soul in the afterlife for the subserviance of Mephistopheles in his current one. At this point, I would consider God as having lost his bet. A person who makes a deal with the devil can hardly be considered as walking on the righteous path anymore. However, Mephistopheles does not withdraw after this. He intends to see his deal out, and no divine power pulls him back to Heaven or Hell.
Faust, in a rash and overconfident decision makes a bet with Mephistopheles. He will keep his soul if Mephistopheles fails to give him a higher bliss than he has ever experienced. Otherwise, if Mephistopheles succeeds Faust will die immediately and his soul will be the Devil’s. This is an interesting wager since there is much Faust has not experienced despite his wide knowledge. Numbers are very clearly against him, and it is almost like he wants to lose the wager. While he was clearly depressed, it would not make sense for most people to consider ruining both their life and afterlife for one moment of happiness.
Mephistopheles begins to serve Faust and begins make his life easier. These efforts make the devil more appear more amiable to Faust. In turn, Faust becomes more gullible and open to susception. Using a witch’s brewed potion, Faust is able to find a desire for a woman named Gretchen. Mephistopheles forces a mutual love into reality, giving Faust bliss that books and tomes had never been able to. Interestingly, Faust does not immediately die as his earlier wager should have resulted in. Gaining the love of Gretchen, he has lost the wager with Mephistopheles. However, the tragedy that unfolds because of this love is perhaps part of the reason for this.
In order to not appear as a couple, start rumors, or upset her mother, Faust sees Gretchen in secret. Her love really is one of those cases of admiration being mistaken for attraction. This misunderstanding causes her to fall deeper, as she wants to be more and more involved in the life of such a learned man as Faust. Unfortunately, her mom is a light sleeper. Faust, however, has the solution: a sleeping tonic. This innocuous provision would prove to be the catalyst for disaster.
Her mother was unable to withstand the dose given by Gretchen, and passed away due to the sleeping potion administered by Gretchen in secret. Seen by Gretchen’s brother while sneaking in, Faust and Mephistopheles end up killing him. With his dying breath, he tells how Gretchen is a sinful creature who has led to his demise. While Faust and Mephistopheles dance and exist among witches, Gretchen falls to insanity. She gives birth and drowns her baby and is thrown in jail. Still in love with her, Faust tries to free her from prison but she will not leave - her death is sealed and essentially has already happened. She sees the blood on both their hands and no longer wants to live, but wants Faust to live on, suffer, and handle the affairs of her now-deceased family since she cannot.
Thoughts
tbd
will update this page when I have time in addition to next week’s post