Week 6 Analysis, a Literary Analysis

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, “Faust” (99-122)

In “Faust part 1,” the character Faust is a rather arrogant and depressed man. He thinks he is smarter than most people because of broad intelligence of many subjects like Philosophy, law, medicine, recto and verso, and theology. As is said, “Of course I’m cleverer than these stuffed shirts, These Doctors, M.A.S, Scribes and Priests” (105). As in this statement, he claims that he is smarter than others and obviously holds himself to high standards. However he is rather depressed because no matter all the knowledge he has, he still feels that he does not know enough. For example, “Oh God, how hard I’ve slaved away, with what result? Poor foolish old man, I’m no whit wiser than when I began” (105). He feels that he is not entirely complete with knowledge until he fully merges with nature and the universe. This is where the themes of dissatisfaction and human helplessness come in. Throughout these few pages, we see these themes pop up together where Faust is not satisfied by his lack of total knowledge and the fact of how helpless humans are compared to nature and the universe. For example, “So I no longer need to sweat painfully explaining what I don’t know anything about: So I may penetrate the power that holds the universe together, behold the source whence all proceeds and no more torture words, words, words” (106). Faust feels hopeless that he cannot have full power as a human so he seeks higher beings to help him obtain this knowledge. However, it does not work out because he is just human, like according to this spirit: “It’s your idea of me you’re equal to, Not me!” (109). Faust claims he is equal to the spirit but the spirit does not feel the same because of the difference in their capabilities. As a human, Faust cannot even comprehend the true power of this human being, thus, he is not equal to this spirit. As a result, he is left disappointed.

            To create this story and tie it together, Goethe used religious and other elements in the story. He used Christian elements, modern science and philosophy to fully put his story together and convey the spirit and desires of human and modern life. He used Christian elements through the usage of spirits, sin and his view towards the heavens. For example, “A musty goddamned hole in the wall where even the golden light of heaven can only weakly make its way through” (106). In this statement, he expresses that only heaven lights can somewhat make it through. This seems like it’s a hint at the sin in human life. Goethe uses modern science in philosophy in this story through Faust’s desire to merge with nature and the universe to obtain more knowledge and his apparent understandings like: “I understand them finally: The spirit world is not barred shut, it’s your closed mind, your dead heart” (107). Faust combines modern science and philosophy through alchemy and his attempts to reach the other side of the world: the spirits.