Faust, Part IGoethe's Faust reworks the late-medieval myth of Dr Faust, a brilliant scholar so disillusioned he resolves to make a contract or wager with the devil, Mephistopheles. The devil will do all he asks on Earth and seek to grant him a moment in life so glorious that he will wish it to last for ever. But if Faust does bid the moment stay, he falls to Mephisto and must serve him after death. In this first part of Goethe's great work the embittered thinker and Mephistopheles enter into their agreement, and soon Faust is living a life beyond his study and - in rejuvenated form - winning the love of the charming and beautiful Gretchen. But in this compelling tragedy of arrogance, unfulfilled desire and self-delusion, Faust, served by the devil, heads inexorably towards destruction. |
Common terms and phrases
A. S. BYATT already ALTMAYER beautiful blood BRANDER breast Brocken Charlotte von Stein child CHOIR CHORUS Christiane Vulpius classical comes curse dance DAVID CONSTANTINE dead death devil Doctor Faustus drama dream drink earth Elective Affinities evil eyes FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES Faust’s Study feel finished fire flame fool FROSCH German girl give God’s Goethe to Schiller Goethe’s diary Goethe’s Faust Gretchen happiness heart heaven honour human Johann Peter Eckermann leave living look Lord magic MARTHE MEERKAT MEPHISTO MEPHISTO to FAUST MEPHISTOPHELES mind mother never once pact play pleasure poem poets poodle published scene Schiller to Goethe sense SIEBEL singing song soul spirit story striving STUDENT Sturm und Drang sure sweet tell Theatre There’s things thought tragedy translation Urfaust VALENTIN verse voice WAGNER Walpurgis Night Weimar what’s whole WILL-O’-THE-WISP wish WITCH word young