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juliemichellereads 's review for:
Goethe's Faust
by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I have finally finished this epic poem!
Let me start by saying this was a long time coming. I have heard of the vast amount of influence this book has had on other proses, music expanded across genres and generations (including opera), ballets, and movies etc... as a musician myself I had to understand why this book made such a lasting impression in influencing all kinds of artists.
Thankfully I was not in the least disappointed.
The larger idea comes from the book of Job where God and the Devil make a bet over the soul of a certain human. In this book it is Faust.
Faust is a compelling figure himself. He is highly romantic, idealistic, intelligent, and of course always unsatisfied. The devil plays with these character traits of his endlessly. And ultimately it is Faust’s unsatisfaction that leads him to sell his soul.
The devil (Mephistopheles) is also quite alluring. He is always coming in with a joke and very non - chalant attitude with him throughout this poem.
We are taken through mane scenes where Mephistopheles and Faust go through different worldly pleasures. Faust is skeptical at first saying he’s already tried all these pleasures and is still not satisfied. Until he sees a 14 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO HE ENDS UP LUSTING/LOVING?
Okay this is where things get really weird to me. This girl is the purest and most beautiful person. And Mephistopheles uses Faust to ruin her as well. Omg!! I was livid at this point where he ends up ruining her entire life. Poor Gretchen. Oh my heart. A lot of things happen in between: witch parties, deaths, pregnancies, etc...
By the end of part one. She dies but chooses God over Faust/Mephistopheles.
Part Two was interesting in its own way. We finally get to see the end for Faust. A good ending with a really compelling story and character arch all the way through.
Now read this book!
Let me start by saying this was a long time coming. I have heard of the vast amount of influence this book has had on other proses, music expanded across genres and generations (including opera), ballets, and movies etc... as a musician myself I had to understand why this book made such a lasting impression in influencing all kinds of artists.
Thankfully I was not in the least disappointed.
The larger idea comes from the book of Job where God and the Devil make a bet over the soul of a certain human. In this book it is Faust.
Faust is a compelling figure himself. He is highly romantic, idealistic, intelligent, and of course always unsatisfied. The devil plays with these character traits of his endlessly. And ultimately it is Faust’s unsatisfaction that leads him to sell his soul.
The devil (Mephistopheles) is also quite alluring. He is always coming in with a joke and very non - chalant attitude with him throughout this poem.
We are taken through mane scenes where Mephistopheles and Faust go through different worldly pleasures. Faust is skeptical at first saying he’s already tried all these pleasures and is still not satisfied. Until he sees a 14 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO HE ENDS UP LUSTING/LOVING?
Okay this is where things get really weird to me. This girl is the purest and most beautiful person. And Mephistopheles uses Faust to ruin her as well. Omg!! I was livid at this point where he ends up ruining her entire life. Poor Gretchen. Oh my heart. A lot of things happen in between: witch parties, deaths, pregnancies, etc...
By the end of part one. She dies but chooses God over Faust/Mephistopheles.
Part Two was interesting in its own way. We finally get to see the end for Faust. A good ending with a really compelling story and character arch all the way through.
Now read this book!