Essay written in 2014 about the themes and motifs of the 1830 story Faust by J.W. Goethe, a monument of literature in the history of written word.
The Themes of Goethe’s Faust (1830)
In Goethe’s Faust, a contemplative scholar is entreated by a devil named Mephistopheles to leave the cramped walls of his study. The two beings proceed to possess a girl into love, partake in a wild festival of the spirits, and visit a mystic witch in her cottage, which is filled with… apes. Through the main character Faust’s language and actions, and through the devil’s persuasion, a prevalent theme emerges: man’s desire to go beyond the boundaries of reason, fact, and tradition.
Click Here for 10 Books to Add to Your Reading List
A Dissatisfied, Unfulfilled Soul
Faust’s language at the start of the tale signifies how the character us rooted in the realm of reason, fact, and tradition. He claims that even if one reads everything there is to read and absorbs all these reasons and facts, there will still be an unfulfillment within the soul. Faust claims that matter the use, he will end up like the skull sitting in his study: dead and unaccomplished:
“Devour thousands of books so as to learn, shall I? Mankind has always been stretched upon the rack. You, empty skull there, smirking so, I know why… What does it tell me if not that your brain, whirling like mine, sought the bright sun of truth, only to wander night, bewildered, in vain” (Goethe).
The character Faust is realizing that this realm of reason and facts is no longer satisfying and therefore can no longer satisfy. He craves something more: "Bright truth of sun,” but fears it cannot be attained through books and reason.
Even at the beginning of the book, he makes similar sentiments, proclaiming his desires to go about other means to attain the desired truth: “A dog wouldn’t put up with this life! Which is why I’ve turned to magic. Seeking to know, by ways Occult, from ghostly mouths…” (Goethe).
In this quote, we also see his dissatisfaction in the life he occupies in his study. Through these sentiments expressed, the reader is shown how the reflects man’s desire to flee to realms beyond reason.
The Desire to Go Beyond the Real World to Fantastical Places
Faust’s actions as well reflect the innate desire of man. There is a moment after Mephisto and Faust make their bet that a student arrives. Mephisto disguises himself as the professor and convinces the student to leave them alone. It is in this scene where Faust makes a significant choice, reflecting the very nature of his character. Mephisto tells him, at the arrival of the student, to “Get ready for our little junket!” (Goethe, line 1635). Here Faust has to decide between listening to the Devil, to prepare for their “Junket,” or plotting some sort of an escape.
There is also the prevalent fact that Faust does not use the student as an excuse to stay grounded in the realm of reason and not join Mephisto. Additionally, after the student is dismissed, Faust returns immediately to inquire of the devil, “And now where to?” (Goethe).
If Faust did not wish to leave the realm of reason, his actions would be more reflective of this. Alternatively, because he neither attempts to escape or use the student as an excuse, it signifies that he has a genuine desire to flee beyond reason with Mephisto to escape to the more romantic world of spirits. Lastly, his apparent anxiousness to go, promptly returning after the student leaves, shows how his actions (and therefore mankind’s) suggest an innate desire to flee into more fantastical places.
Mephisto’s Persuasion over Faust’s Spirit
It is not just Faust’s actions and words, but also Mephisto’s persuasion of Faust that reflects man’s urge to flee beyond reason. In the following quote, Mephisto expresses his detest for the realm of reason and facts that Faust occupies, and claims the only solution for their situation is to get out:
“FAUST: And how do we flee?
MEPHISTO: By clearing out, just leaving. A torture chamber, this pace is, and that’s the truth. You call it living, to be boring yourself and your young men to death?” (Goethe).
Here Mephisto’s diction portrays his criticism of the professor’s “boring” life, represented by reasoning, facts, and tradition. He refers to it as a “torture chamber,” indicating the best course of action to “just leaving.” Through Faust’s language, actions, and Mephisto’s persuasion, it is seen how the literary work Faust depicts man’s desire to go beyond in order to, as Tennyson once put it, “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” to ordinary contentment.
Want more?
Join the Monthly Mailing List Here!
© 2014 BWDerge.com All Rights Reserved
