![]() ![]() The historical Johann Georg Faust had studied in Kraków for a time and may have served as the inspiration for the character in the Polish legend. The Polish story seems to have originated at roughly the same time as its German counterpart, yet it is unclear whether the two tales have a common origin or influenced each other. The character in Polish folklore named Pan Twardowski (Sir Twardowski in English) presents similarities with Faust. Scholars such as Frank Baron and Leo Ruickbie contest many of these previous assumptions. 1400–1466), Johann Gutenberg's business partner, which suggests that Fust is one of the multiple origins to the Faust story. 1480–1540), a magician and alchemist probably from Knittlingen, Württemberg, who obtained a degree in divinity from Heidelberg University in 1509, but the legendary Faust has also been connected with Johann Fust (c. The character is ostensibly based on Johann Georg Faust (c. In the Historia Brittonum, Faustus is the offspring of an incestuous marriage between king Vortigern and Vortigern's own daughter. The origin of Faust's name and persona remains unclear. A depiction of the scene in which he subordinates himself to the Devil appears on the north tympanum of the Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris. Here, a saintly figure makes a bargain with the keeper of the infernal world but is rescued from paying his debt to society through the mercy of the Blessed Virgin. The tale of Faust bears many similarities to the Theophilus legend recorded in the 13th century writer Gautier de Coincy's Les Miracles de la Sainte Vierge. The Polish folklore legend bears many similarities to the story of Faust. Sources Pan Twardowski and the devil by Michał Elwiro Andriolli. However, in the early tales, Faust is irrevocably corrupted and believes his sins cannot be forgiven when the term ends, the Devil carries him off to Hell. ![]() In Goethe's rendition, Faust is saved by God via his constant striving-in combination with Gretchen's pleadings with God in the form of the eternal feminine. However, Gretchen's innocence saves her in the end, and she enters Heaven. Realizing this unholy act, she drowns the child and is sentenced to death for murder. In Goethe's drama, and many subsequent versions of the story, Mephistopheles helps Faust seduce a beautiful and innocent young woman, usually named Gretchen, whose life is ultimately destroyed when she gives birth to Faust's illegitimate son. He makes a bargain with Faust: Mephistopheles will serve Faust with his magic powers for a set number of years, but at the end of the term, the Devil will claim Faust's soul, and Faust will be eternally enslaved.ĭuring the term of the bargain, Faust makes use of Mephistopheles in various ways. In response, the Devil's representative, Mephistopheles, appears. After an attempt to take his own life, he calls on the Devil for further knowledge and magic powers with which to indulge all the pleasure and knowledge of the world. ![]() In Goethe's reworking of the story over two hundred years later, Faust becomes a dissatisfied intellectual who yearns for "more than earthly meat and drink" in his life.įaust is unsatisfied with his life as a scholar and becomes depressed. The story was popularised in England by Christopher Marlowe, who gave it a classic treatment in his play The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus ( c. Plays and comic puppet theatre loosely based on this legend were popular throughout Germany in the 16th century, often reducing Faust and Mephistopheles to figures of vulgar fun. The Faust of early books-as well as the ballads, dramas, movies, and puppet-plays which grew out of them-is irrevocably damned because he prefers human knowledge over divine knowledge: "he laid the Holy Scriptures behind the door and under the bench, refused to be called doctor of theology, but preferred to be styled doctor of medicine". ![]() "Faust" and the adjective " Faustian" imply sacrificing spiritual values for power, knowledge, or material gain. The Faust legend has been the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical works that have reinterpreted it through the ages. The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Fausto by Jean-Paul Laurens 1876 'Faust' by Goethe, decorated by Rudolf Seitz, large German edition 51x38cmįaust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust ( c. For other uses, see Faust (disambiguation). This article is about the German legendary character. ![]()
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