Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow...

I just wanted to thank you for teaching such a great class this semester. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the stories that we read, and I really think that you picked a great selection for us. I am glad to have been exposed to the Asian and Middle Eastern literature. I have never gotten the opportunity to read work from those far reaches, and I really loved reading them.

I really thoroughly enjoyed your class. Thank you for a great semester.

Themes in Faust (Essay 4)

The Christian religion is based on the idea that man was made specifically to have a relationship with God, and that sin is the only aspect that separates them. Because of this ideal, Christians view the world through the outlook of sin. Sin can be seen in two views; the idea of eternal damnation or the idea of salvation. Sin can both mean the road to damnation and a permanent existence in Hell, or it could mean forgiveness through repentance. In Goethe’s Faust, the main character commits the most severe, unpardonable sin in Christian religion. Faust turns away from God and ultimately sells his soul to the Devil. The story’s Christian theme of “good versus evil” emerges through the decision Faust must make between damnation and salvation. Throughout the story he is presented with many situations in which he is faced with the choice of repenting or continuing on his path of sin towards damnation.

In the Prologue of Faust, the reader is first introduced to the story with dialogue between God and the Devil himself, Mephistopheles. The two begin to challenge one another, each convinced in their control over Faust’s fate. God says, "He serves me, these days, in bewilderment. But soon I shall lead him into the light." (Faust, 16) Where then Mephistopheles follows with, "What will you bet? You'll lose him yet, If only you will let me have the chance to usher him discreetly down my street." (Faust, 16) This scene sets the stage for the Faust theme. As the two highest embodiments of good and evil fight over the fate of a human, the reader is reminded of the Christian idea of sin. The imperfection of a human life personifies the “good versus evil” motif and illustrates the conflict created within Faust.

The setting then switches to earth where we first meet the main character, Faust. The reader follows Faust back to his study where he is reading the Bible, referencing the fact that Goethe parallels the Biblical story of Job. It is shown to us at first that Faust is a God-fearing man who is in search of knowledge but is unhappy with his life. As he reads from the Bible In the beginning was the Word (from the Gospel of John, Chapter 1, Verse 1), the black dog following him barks and howls. The dog reveals himself as Mephistopheles who offers Faust knowledge and power in return for his soul. Faust, thirsting for knowledge and not truly believing in Hell, takes Mephistopheles’ offer. Mephistopheles first takes Faust to the Auerbach’s Cellar where he means to influence Faust into sin. Mephistopheles plays tricks on the drunks and tries to encourage Faust to participate. Faust, however, resists this sin and is disgusted. Although Faust chooses not to participate in harassing the drunks, he urges Mephistopheles to show him more. This scene depicts the first time Faust is presented with the choice of repenting or sticking with Mephistopheles, but because his hunger for knowledge is so great, Faust continues on the path with the Devil.

Mephistopheles then tries to shock Faust with something he would consider extremely extraordinary. Mephistopheles takes Faust to see a witch where he will be given back his youth. During his visit with the witch, Faust sees a beautiful woman through the looking-glass. The witch, eager to do Mephistopheles’ bidding, gives Faust an elixir that takes thirty years off of his life. Then as Goethe parallel’s Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Mephistopheles also promises Faust that every woman that he comes in contact with will look like Helen of Troy. Goethe also alludes at the tragedy to take place by mentioning Helen of Troy who was the fabled beautiful woman that is credited with starting the Trojan War. Faust then sees Gretchen (Margaret) on the street and tries to win her over. Gretchen denies him at first, and Faust, consumed by the sin of lust, vows to win her over with any means possible. Faust uses the evil magic of Mephistopheles to create jewels for her and seduce her. Gretchen’s mother, who sees the jewels and donates them to the church, symbolizes the idea of evil and sin surrounding the gifts and Faust. Faust asks for more jewels, and this time, Gretchen hides them from her mother and falls in love with Faust. This shows Gretchen following Faust down the path of sin and damnation. Faust, however, is torn between the sin of lust and love. Mephistopheles ensures that lust wins out over love. Once Faust disappears, Gretchen begins to regret the error of her sins, and unlike Faust, begs to God for forgiveness.

Faust, however, continues down his corrupted path and soon lusts again for Gretchen’s body. Mephistopheles returns with Faust and makes it possible for him to have some alone time with Gretchen. When Valentine, Gretchen’s brother, finds out that Faust stole his sister’s virginity, he challenges him to a sword fight. Faust again commits a sin when he kills Gretchen’s brother. Faust and Mephistopheles flee the city.

Faust is again presented with another situation where he must choose between good and evil one year later. Driven still by his thirst for knowledge, Faust attends Walpurgis-nacht, a nocturnal gathering of sorcerers and evil spirits. Faust becomes so lost and enthralled by his search for knowledge that he forgets about Gretchen. During his time, however, Faust has a realization of Gretchen in a vision and sees that she has been imprisoned. Faust becomes so over-come with guilt that he asks Mephistopheles to help him rescue her. Faust is again struggling between doing what is good and what is evil. Although he does decide to rescue Gretchen, it is only out of guilt and not out of his own love.

The final prison scene is the ultimate representation of the Christian theme of sin and good versus evil. Faust and Mephistopheles ride on black magic horses to the prison to rescue Gretchen from prison. At first Gretchen is so over-come with grief that she does not even recognize Faust. This personifies the idea that Faust is no longer the same person, but was distorted by sin and the devil. Then when Mephistopheles appears, the juxtaposition of good versus evil is illuminated. Gretchen, fearing Mephistopheles, calls out to God for salvation and rescue, “Father, I'm thine! Do thou deliver me. Ye angels! Ye angelic hosts! descend, Encamp around to guard me and defend !-- Henry! I shudder now to look on thee!” (Faust) At this point Gretchen becomes a living representation of the Christian ideal of repentance. Gretchen confesses to her sin and calls out for forgiveness before being welcomed into heaven.

Throughout the story, the characters of Faust and Gretchen come to symbolize the two Christian ideas of sin. Faust, driven so deeply by the thirst for knowledge, sells his soul to the devil in order to get what he wants. Throughout the story Faust listens to Mephistopheles and chooses to go down the path of sin. Gretchen, although she is tricked and seduced into sin, sees the error of her ways at the conclusion of the story. Gretchen begs forgiveness for her sins and is allowed into heaven.

Even as the story concludes, it is still unclear to the reader whether or not Faust is deserving of damnation. Although Faust consciously chooses to sin, the reader is reminded that he is driven by his innocent zeal for knowledge. This conflict within the reader personifies the “good versus evil” theme within Faust and further illustrates the dual idea of sin.

Faust - Interesting Tidbits Courtesy of the Internet

An English Rhyme:

"Dr. Faustus was a good man,
He whipped his scholars now and then,
When he whipped them he made them dance,
Out of Scotland into France,
Out of France into Spain,
And then he whipped them back again"

Henry Bett, Nursery Rhymes and Tales: Their Origin and History, 2nd edition (London: Methuen and Company, 1924), p. 72.

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Franz Liszt. A Faust Symphony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4L8zV5uQAE

Absolutely beautiful music that works great when reading Faust!

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Interesting Quotes:

Dear friend, all theory is gray,

And green the golden tree of life.

Mephistopheles

Youth, my good friend, you certainly require

When foes in battle round you press,

When a fair maid, her heart on fire,

Hangs on your neck with fond caress,

When from afar, the victor's crown,

Allures you in the race to run;

Or when in revelry you drown

Your sense, the whirling dance being done.

Merryman

Now spring's reviving glance has freed

the ice from stream and river.

The valley turns green with joy of hope.

Old winter, growing impotent, crawls back

to the rough mountains; as he flees, he hurls

fitful gusts of icy-kerneled sleet

in streaks on the green meadows.

But the sun allows no whiteness;

growth and creation stir and strive

to cover everything with color.

Faust

O full-orb'd moon, did but thy rays

Their last upon mine anguish gaze!

Beside this desk, at dead of night,

Oft have I watched to hail thy light:

Then, pensive friend! o'er book and scroll,

With soothing power, thy radiance stole!

In thy dear light, ah, might I climb,

Freely, some mountain height sublime,

Round mountain caves with spirits ride,

In thy mild haze o'er meadows glide,

And, purged from knowledge-fumes, renew

My spirit, in thy healing dew!

Faust

When in his study pent the whole year through,

Man views the world, as through an optic glass,

On a chance holiday, and scarcely then,

How by persuasion can he govern men?

Wagner

That which issues from the heart alone,

Will bend the hearts of others to your own.

Faust

Ay! what 'mong men as knowledge doth obtain!

Who on the child its true name dares bestow?

The few who somewhat of these things have known,

Who their full hearts unguardedly reveal'd,

Nor thoughts, nor feelings, from the mob conceal'd,

Have died on crosses, or in flames been thrown!

Faust

What a man knows not, he to use requires,

And what he knows, he cannot use for good.

Faust

E'en hell hath its peculiar laws.

Faust

Methinks, by most, 'twill be confess'd

That Death is never quite a welcome guest.

Mephistopheles

Forbear to trifle longer with thy grief,

Which, vulture-like, consumes thee in this den.

Mephistopheles

What lies beyond doesn't worry me.

Suppose you break this world to bits, another may arise.

My joy springs from this earth,

this sun shines on my sorrows.

When I leave here, let come what must.

What do I care about it now, if hereafter

men hate or love, or if in those other spheres

there be an Above or a Below?

Faust

Happy is he who has the pure truth in him.

He will regret no sacrifice that keeps it.

Faust

In the end, you are exactly--what you are.

Put on a wig with a million curls,

put the highest heeled boots on your feet,

yet you remain in the end just what you are.

Mephistopheles