Resumo de Faust - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Faust: The Man Who Had Everything and Nothing

Based on narrative aspects from earlier works, including a segment from
the Book of Acts as well as popular legends, Goethe wrote Faust, Parts
I and II, over a period of 60 years. Of the two sections, Part I is
more popular and widely read.

In a scene reminiscent of the Book of Job, God and Satan (called
Mephistopheles) in Goethe's work, discuss the fate of humankind. God
contends that humans can be saved as long as they strive. The scene
then shifts to the dark study of Dr. Faust. By human standards, Faust
has achieved all he can. He is a doctor of medicine, law and
theology. Still, he is miserable. He laments that nothing in life is
capable of bringing him pleasure. On this Easter's eve, Faust
contemplates suicide. He eyes a poisonous liquid on the shelf in his
study, and is about to drink it when he hears the neighboring church's
choir heralding the dawn of Easter. While Faust is not a religious man,
believing in neither heaven nor hell, the singing calms him as he
thinks back upon a simpler time in his life. He resolves to live.

The next day, Faust and his assistant Wagner stroll about on Easter
Sunday. Near the end of their walk, Faust realizes a black Poodle is
following them. The dog later enters Faust's study and growls at him as
he attempts to translate a passage from the Gospel of John. Suddnely a
form manifests itself and Mephistopheles appears. Mephistopheles
promises to give Faust the pleasure he seeks, but he will have to pay
with his soul. Faust does not believe that Mephistopheles can do
anything for him (or to him), so he makes a pact and signs it in blood.

From that point in the narrative, Faust and Mephistopheles travel about
seeking pleasure. Faust meets a young maiden, Gretchen, who soon falls
in love with him. Faust gives Gretchen's mother a potion to make her
sleep (so they can be together), but the potion is too strong and
Gretchen's mother dies. Gretchen becomes pregnant and her brother,
Valentine, dies attempting to defend his sister's honor. Faust abandons
Gretchen. Then, in her distress because of so many deaths,
Gretchen drowns her baby in a pond. She is carried away to prison where
she awaits execution by hanging.

As Walpurgis Eve approaches (the last day in April), Mephistophes
prepares to usher Faust into the highest degree of evil, after which he
will claim his soul. When Faust dances with a witch, however, he is
frightened by a red mouse that comes out of her mouth. Faust decides
not to go through with the ceremony and he begins to long for Gretchen
whose life he realizes he has destroyed.

Faust and Mephistopheles travel to the prison where Gretchen is being
held. They are able to see her and speak with her just before her
execution. Faust wants Gretchen to escape with him, but, determined to
pay her debt, she remains to receive her punishment. At the moment of
her death, Mephistopheles fully expects to claim her soul, but the
voice of God proclaims she is saved.

Faust, Part I, ends at this point. Faust, Part II, continues with
Faust's traveling all over the world to seek pleasure. At his
death, Faust is redeemed. Faust's effort in life has purchased
his salvation, and, once again, Mephistopheles is robbed of his prize.

Resumos Relacionados