Analysis W6, Faust
"Coming to the End of Oneself"
Although Faust is about a man who is dissatisfied with his mundane human experience, it also speaks about man’s ability to choose a moral path regardless of the errors one may make during their life.
The opening setting resembles the biblical story of Job, where the angels present themselves before the Lord, when Mephistopheles, who represents the devil, is bored and disappointed with humans; he begins to mock their existence. Much the same as with the narrative of Job, God knowing the strength and capability of his creations, utilizes Faust as a representative for humanity to demonstrate to Mephistopheles that regardless of Faust’s weaknesses/shortcomings and dissatisfaction with the life he has been given, will choose the righteous path in the end, “If today his service shows confused, disordered, with my help he’ll see his way clearly forward. When the sapling greens, the gardener can feel certain flower and fruit shall follow in due season”104). Goethe proposes that humans are fallible creatures, but it is through our trial and error that we mature and learn.
Another frailty is one’s voracious hunger for knowledge and power. Faust studied philosophy, law, and medicine. He was an accomplished man holding a Master of Arts degree, on top of that his Ph.D. (105). He invested all his energy and resources to obtain knowledge, yet it presented to him no fulfillment. Although there is nothing wrong with pursuing degrees, many do it to feel complete, happy, and of importance. The author’s message to the reader is to consider there is more to life than self-gratification. Faust was not experiencing life, he was stuck with nothing to show for all his so called scholarly accomplishments, “I’ve got no money or property, worldly honors or celebrity- a dog wouldn’t put up with this life” (106)! It’s ironic that he claims that he is stuck soon after speaking of his desire to experience nature, but never goes outdoors to experience nature, instead he opens yet another book. “Oh misery! Oh, am I still stuck here in this dismal prison” (106). [He opens the book and his eyes encounters the sign of the Macrocosm] (107).
The author uncovers the risk in endeavoring to satisfy one’s own soul. Faust turns to everything, but His creator. He turns to magic, [He seizes the book and pronounces the spirit’s mystic spell] (108). He cowers from the spirit but then tries to equal himself to the spirit. The spirit rejects him “It’s your idea of me you’re equal to. Not Me! [vanishes] (109). Still unsatisfied with life, and now with himself for shrinking back from the spirit, he contemplates suicide; his eyes are drawn to a vial of poison. He believes if he takes the poison that it will redeem him from the weakness he showed in the face of the spirit, but when he is about to drink the poison, he is interrupted by a choir of angels and women” (114). This makes Faust think twice about killing himself. As Christ was resurrected and lives so he will choose to live. One would think that this encounter would have caused him to reason that if there were angels watching over him, then God was also real and present. He never attempted to pray or ask God to guide him. He never sought to find joy in this truth, he never thought to turn to God to answer the questions that he was grappling with, or to give him significance to his life.
Eventually, Mephistopheles presents himself to Faust and finds himself temporarily trapped in his study, “Well..you see.. an obstacle keeps me from dropping out- so sorry” (129). Faust clueless to wickedness and danger of entertaining the devil is delighted. “What a stroke of luck! I’m thinking, how you are my prisoner. Pure chance has put you in my power” (129)! The author implies to his readers, the world, like Faust often compromise their integrity, making a deal with the devil so to speak, for temporary fame, power, and fortune. They do not fully understand the consequences of their actions. Their short-lived happiness usually ends with regret, pain, and confusion. When a person comes to the end of themselves they come to the beginning of God, which is where one can find Grace.
Although Faust is about a man who is dissatisfied with his mundane human experience, it also speaks about man’s ability to choose a moral path regardless of the errors one may make during their life.
The opening setting resembles the biblical story of Job, where the angels present themselves before the Lord, when Mephistopheles, who represents the devil, is bored and disappointed with humans; he begins to mock their existence. Much the same as with the narrative of Job, God knowing the strength and capability of his creations, utilizes Faust as a representative for humanity to demonstrate to Mephistopheles that regardless of Faust’s weaknesses/shortcomings and dissatisfaction with the life he has been given, will choose the righteous path in the end, “If today his service shows confused, disordered, with my help he’ll see his way clearly forward. When the sapling greens, the gardener can feel certain flower and fruit shall follow in due season”104). Goethe proposes that humans are fallible creatures, but it is through our trial and error that we mature and learn.
Another frailty is one’s voracious hunger for knowledge and power. Faust studied philosophy, law, and medicine. He was an accomplished man holding a Master of Arts degree, on top of that his Ph.D. (105). He invested all his energy and resources to obtain knowledge, yet it presented to him no fulfillment. Although there is nothing wrong with pursuing degrees, many do it to feel complete, happy, and of importance. The author’s message to the reader is to consider there is more to life than self-gratification. Faust was not experiencing life, he was stuck with nothing to show for all his so called scholarly accomplishments, “I’ve got no money or property, worldly honors or celebrity- a dog wouldn’t put up with this life” (106)! It’s ironic that he claims that he is stuck soon after speaking of his desire to experience nature, but never goes outdoors to experience nature, instead he opens yet another book. “Oh misery! Oh, am I still stuck here in this dismal prison” (106). [He opens the book and his eyes encounters the sign of the Macrocosm] (107).
The author uncovers the risk in endeavoring to satisfy one’s own soul. Faust turns to everything, but His creator. He turns to magic, [He seizes the book and pronounces the spirit’s mystic spell] (108). He cowers from the spirit but then tries to equal himself to the spirit. The spirit rejects him “It’s your idea of me you’re equal to. Not Me! [vanishes] (109). Still unsatisfied with life, and now with himself for shrinking back from the spirit, he contemplates suicide; his eyes are drawn to a vial of poison. He believes if he takes the poison that it will redeem him from the weakness he showed in the face of the spirit, but when he is about to drink the poison, he is interrupted by a choir of angels and women” (114). This makes Faust think twice about killing himself. As Christ was resurrected and lives so he will choose to live. One would think that this encounter would have caused him to reason that if there were angels watching over him, then God was also real and present. He never attempted to pray or ask God to guide him. He never sought to find joy in this truth, he never thought to turn to God to answer the questions that he was grappling with, or to give him significance to his life.
Eventually, Mephistopheles presents himself to Faust and finds himself temporarily trapped in his study, “Well..you see.. an obstacle keeps me from dropping out- so sorry” (129). Faust clueless to wickedness and danger of entertaining the devil is delighted. “What a stroke of luck! I’m thinking, how you are my prisoner. Pure chance has put you in my power” (129)! The author implies to his readers, the world, like Faust often compromise their integrity, making a deal with the devil so to speak, for temporary fame, power, and fortune. They do not fully understand the consequences of their actions. Their short-lived happiness usually ends with regret, pain, and confusion. When a person comes to the end of themselves they come to the beginning of God, which is where one can find Grace.
Goethe.
“Faust, Part 1” The
Norton Anthology World Literature. Martin Puchner. New York: W.W. Norton
& Company, 2012. 99-125. Book.
Hello Tiffany!
ReplyDeleteInteresting read! I probably should've chose to do an Literary Analysis on Faust! Great analysis as well, this really caught my attention! I agree with what you say about Goethe's opinion on human nature, in which he says that humans mature and learn through trial and error, as well as they may only end up finding God when there is no one else to turn to, which unfortunately is what happens often but better late than never, right? Its also an unfortunate truth in which there are so many people that work very hard in their life but sometimes have nothing much to show for it. Anyways, great analysis and can't wait to read more!
Hi Tiffany, your literary analysis was fantastic. I really liked how you had connected the beginning of Faust to the biblical sense where the angels and the devil show themselves to god. It is true that Mephistopheles represents the devil and his disdain and hate for the humans. I found your statement on the consequences of pursuing self gratification and constant need to satisfy our soul compelling. I agree with you that it can do more harm than good because we do not see the dangers or risks and only focus on that goal. It is sad to think about how humans would quickly make a deal with the devil to obtain temporary gratification instead of working for their dreams. You did an amazing job on the analysis and I enjoyed reading it.
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