Nevertheless, Mephistopheles takes Faust to Gretchen’s room while she is out, and they deliver her a large box of jewelry. He is overcome by her beauty and tells Mephistopheles that he must have her, but Mephistopheles says she is very innocent and religious, and he can’t control her. While there, Faust sees the image of a woman in a mirror, and Mephistopheles promises to get Faust a girl for himself.įaust passes a woman, Gretchen (also referred to by her full name, Margareta, in the text) on the street and offers to escort her home, but she rejects him. They first go to a tavern in Auerbach, where Mephistopheles uses magic to trick the men drinking there, and then to a witch who gives Faust a special potion to drink and performs a ceremony. ![]() After Mephistopheles briefly disguises himself as Faust to speak with a student while Faust packs, the two set off, using their cloaks to fly. Faust tells Mephistopheles that he wants to use Mephistopheles’ powers to experience passion, sin, and a range of emotions from the greatest joys to suffering. Mephistopheles returns the next day and strikes a bargain with Faust: He will lead Faust and devote himself to helping him in his journey for passion and meaning, but if Faust stagnates in his quest and becomes slothful, Mephistopheles and hell will get his immortal soul. The black poodle follows him home and eventually turns into Mephistopheles, who introduces himself to Faust. He goes out on an Easter morning walk with Wagner and sees a black poodle, which he thinks could be a spirit in disguise. Faust’s academic servant, Wagner, visits him, and the two men argue about knowledge, as Wagner believes in the scholarship and value of reading that Faust now detests.įaust, still feeling miserable and unfulfilled, attempts to die by drinking poison but is interrupted by a singing chorus of angels who restore his faith in the world and change his mind. Faust decides to turn to magic to get the answers he wants about the world and summons an Earth Spirit for help, who rejects him and goes away. The action then officially begins in Faust’s study, where he laments having devoted his career to scholarly pursuits he feels unfulfilled and that books cannot give him the meaning he desires. ![]() The Lord and Mephistopheles place a bet on Faust’s soul, with Mephistopheles predicting that he can guide Faust to be like him, while The Lord predicts Faust is too good to go down Mephistopheles’ evil path. In the third prologue, the “Prologue in Heaven,” The Lord and Mephistopheles, the Devil, speak of Faust, a restless doctor who is currently conflicted and confused. Faust, Part One begins with a series of three prologues, starting with a dedication to those Goethe used to know and followed by a “Prelude on the Stage,” in which a Director, Clown, and Poet argue over what the play should be.
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