Introduction to the text: Faust

1. By
Nick Eimers

2.  May be inspired by Johann George Faust
• Although this may not be his real name
• Lived During the Renaissance
 Magician
 Alchemist
 Astrologer
• Probably a Real Person
 Likely Born 1400~1500 AD
 Picture painted in 1700’s*
 *Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

3.  Dr.Faust, an eminent, virtuous scholar
grows bored with his life
 Makes a deal with a demon for
knowledge/magic/skills in exchange for his
soul
 Now called a “Faustian Bargain”
• Etching of Faust by Rembrandt*
 *Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

4.  Faust uses his powers to seduce an
innocent girl (Gretchen)
 Gretchen is slowly led astray by Faust
• Faust’s actions lead to her death
• She is forgiven for her trespasses by Heaven

5.  After Gretchen’s Death, Faust Wanders
• Dabbles in Politics
• Misuses/Abuses his powers
• Slowly but surely loses his virtuousness

6.  Eventually Faust’s contract expires
• Sometimes a set time period
• Sometimes a condition
 “Finding True Happiness” etc.
 Faust is either Redeemed or Damned
Left,
Gretchen
being saved
while in
prison, right is
Mephistophel
es appearing
before Faust.

7.  Lived 1749-1832
• Came from wealthy family
• Well educated
 Studied Law for a period of time
 Eventually Focused on Literature
• Poet, Novelist, Scientist, Critic,
• Painter, Government Official
 Prodigious Author
• First Work was “The Sorrows of Young Werther”
 Moved many so deeply they committed suicide

8.  Written as a Two Part Play
• Non-continuously wrote it over 60 years
 Considered his Magnum Opus
 Defining Work of German Literature
 Perhaps the most well known all the
interpretation of Faust

9.  Heinrich Faust
• Searching for knowledge
 Desires what reason cannot bring him
 Leads to his pact with Mephistopheles
• At end believes self to be unworthy of Heaven (guilt)
 Is absolved, saved by Gretchen’s pleading on his behalf
 His constant striving for Philosophical perfection is also taken into account
 Mephistopheles
• Similar to Devil in the story of Job
 Makes bet with God over Faust’s soul
• Agrees to serve Faust until he attains the zenith of happiness
 Gretchen
• Pure at beginning, seduced and led astray
• Murders an infant, and is set to be executed
• Rejects Mephistopheles and Faust, is redeemed
• Pleads for Faust’s soul at end

10.  Murnau famous for directing Nosferatu
 Differences from Goethe
• Faust is an elderly Alchemist
 He is frustrated by an inability to stop a plague
 He is tempted by Mephisto
 He is lead farther and farther from his original virtuousness
• Mephisto (the Devil) Makes a Bet with an Archangel
 He bets he can temp Faust
 The stakes are control of all mankind
 Mephisto sends the plague that initially frustrates Faust

11.  Renowned for it’s impressive visuals
Above: Mephisto ominously appears
above the town.
Right: Mephisto Tempts Faust with youth
by showing him what he could look like.

12.  Mephisto grants Faust his youth again
• Faust seduces Gretchen as in Goethe
• Mephisto turns Gretchen’s Family against Faust
 Mephisto Kill’s Gretchen’s Brother and frames Faust
 Gretchen has a child with Faust
• Mephisto tricks her into killing it
• Gretchen is burned for her crime
• Faust throws himself on the pyre, dying as well
• Both are saved, as loved has triumphed

13.  Spawned Countless Adaptations
• Theater, Books, Movies, Television, Comics, etc.
And don’t forget
about music!
The Fall
Streetlight Manifesto
Moonspell

14.  Mocked Occasionally even in Goethe’s Time
• And still referenced today

15. Thanks For Reading!

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2012. Web. 16 Sep 2012. <http://www.gradesaver.com/author/johann-
goethe/>.
2. "Faust F.W. Murnau 1926." ChiaruScuro Film Gremium. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sep 2012.
<http://www.celtoslavica.de/chiaroscuro/films/faust/faust.html>.
3. Gillies, Alexander. "Goethe's Faust: An Interpretation." . N.p., 1957. Web. 16 Sep
2012. <http://wolfenmann.com/gillies/faust-interpretation-1.html
4. http://www.christian-von-kamp.de/Faust-Goethe-14.html
5. Mitchell, Becca. ""Faust" at the Minnesota Opera: Devilishly long." Daily Planet. TC
Daily Planet, 01/26/2009. Web. 16 Sep 2012.
6. Munroe, Michael. Faust 2.0. N.d. WebComic. xkcdWeb. 16 Sep 2012.
<http://xkcd.com/501/>.
7. Pratchett, Terry. Eric. Victor Gollancz/Corgi, 1990. Print.
8. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons - “Faust”, “Mephistopheles”, “Johann Wolfgang
von Goethe” “Works Based on Faust”,”Faust (1926)” Retrieved 16 Sep 2012