Goethe began work on Faust in 1776 and completed the work in two parts in 1802. It is based on an older European legend (which pre-dates Marlowe’s version) of a man who sells his soul to the devil in return for knowledge, wealth and power. Since Goethe’s Faust is considered to be representative of an artistic movement named Romanticism, it would be helpful to consider just what Romanticism is.
Forget the mass-produced romance novels of today (although they do have their origins in the Romantic movement of the 18th and 19th centuries). Romanticism was in many ways a rejection of the Enlightenment ideals of balance, harmony, reasoning, logic and order. Romantic artists, painters and writers instead embraced emotion, mysticism, irrationality, the spiritual…embodying hope, terror, love and other strong feelings. Romantic art was not supposed to be experienced on an intellectual level but instead was produced to invoke strong emotional responses from the audience…you weren’t supposed to think about your reactions to an opera, or a painting, or a novel, you were supposed to enjoy it on a purely sensual and visceral level for the emotions that it invoked inside you. Considering this, it is hard to find any overall theme for Faust…it wasn’t really written for religious or moral purposes.
Incorporate the following questions into an essay. I want to see how far you’ve come as a critical writer. Answer the questions first, THEN write an introduction/conclusion. Good luck.
1. How does Goethe’s Faust differ from Marlowe’s Faust in temperament and personality?
2. Unlike Marlowe’s Faust, Goethe’s Faust is saved in the end. Why do you think it is important for the play to end happily? Why do you think Faust is redeemed in the end? In what way does this reflect the Enlightenment idea of salvation?
3. Why is Gretchen so important to the development of Faust’s character? Even though she does “evil” deeds in the play, she is a sympathetic character. Why does Goethe portray her as such?
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