Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”

Paper Info
Page count 2
Word count 651
Read time 3 min
Subject Literature
Type Essay
Language 🇺🇸 US

Margaret is a typical representative of young and charming but very unhappy girls who, by fate, were brought up in a cruel burgher environment. Faust and Margaret’s love, which began so suddenly and happily, then undergoes many tragic moments. After a series of misfortunes and her lover’s departure, Margaret knew nothing but the pity of those around her. But at this seemingly hopeless moment in her life, heaven’s blessing comes, “She is saved!” (Goethe 186). She was eventually able to resist the temptations and harsh rules of this world, even though she had made many irreparable mistakes in her life.

The angels save Faustus’ soul, as, throughout the poem, the protagonist has a supreme dream, in the realization of which he believes to the last. However, Margaret and Faust are saved in different ways – the heroine repents, and the hero is forgiven by God. The recognition of Margaret saves her from going to hell, and the cause of Faust’s salvation is the influence of external forces, which is the fundamental difference in how the heroes go to heaven.

Goethe’s Faust is one of the most significant works in world literature. This poem is based on the legend of the medieval doctor Faust, known at the time of the poet’s life. Throughout the work, Faustus, the mane hero, walks an amazing path full of disappointment and pain as well as joy and unexpected discoveries. This man sold his soul to the devil in order to learn the basics of the universe. To him, ordinary, everyday knowledge, which is available to almost everyone, is not enough. However, I do not think that the contradictory nature of the hero gives him the right to be considered a villain; he remains a hero, albeit an ambiguous one.

Faust’s image is contradictory, at times elated and at other times tormented by doubts. Later, he even decides to commit suicide, thinking that his life was in vain. Faust is overcome by completely different, even opposite feelings and emotions. These experiences are relevant only to someone who understands that the reality around him is not the limit (Goethe, 239). There are no boundaries, which means that one must search for what is hidden from ordinary people. Faust symbolizes constant movement and labor; through all this, he can know the world around him and himself. Indeed, he makes many mistakes along the way, but that does not make him a villain. On the contrary, it only demonstrates the multifaceted nature of humanity.

Goethe’s hero is willing to pay any price; he suffers experiences ups and downs. He is a powerful and strong-willed man who, no matter what, goes towards what his soul desires. But to achieve anything, inspiration and dreams are not enough because it is necessary to go through a desperate path of trials and hardships. Faust’s life was vivid, and it did not go in vain for the hero himself. Certainly, after all the search, there is a possibility to remain without the desired answers, but better such a life than a world of illusions. However, the hero managed to find what he was looking for. Faust achieved unity with nature and realized that he was an integral part of it.

The work of Faust is the long-life journey of a man who is endowed with a special view of the world, the ability to feel, experience, be disappointed, and hope. The main character makes a deal with the devil only because he wants to understand all the world’s mysteries (Goethe, 41). He wants to find the elusive truth of existence, to find the truth, constantly desperately searching for more and more knowledge. Like all people, it is inherent to the hero to make mistakes and perform ambiguous actions. However, his fate still demonstrates the hero’s ability to recognize his vices and overcome them. Consequently, it would be a grave mistake to consider him a villain.

Work Cited

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. Faust: A Tragedy. J. D. Williams, 1882.

Cite this paper

Reference

EduRaven. (2023, January 14). Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”. Retrieved from https://eduraven.com/goethes-theme-and-romanticism-in-faust/

Reference

EduRaven. (2023, January 14). Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”. https://eduraven.com/goethes-theme-and-romanticism-in-faust/

Work Cited

"Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”." EduRaven, 14 Jan. 2023, eduraven.com/goethes-theme-and-romanticism-in-faust/.

References

EduRaven. (2023) 'Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”'. 14 January.

References

EduRaven. 2023. "Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”." January 14, 2023. https://eduraven.com/goethes-theme-and-romanticism-in-faust/.

1. EduRaven. "Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”." January 14, 2023. https://eduraven.com/goethes-theme-and-romanticism-in-faust/.


Bibliography


EduRaven. "Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”." January 14, 2023. https://eduraven.com/goethes-theme-and-romanticism-in-faust/.

References

EduRaven. 2023. "Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”." January 14, 2023. https://eduraven.com/goethes-theme-and-romanticism-in-faust/.

1. EduRaven. "Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”." January 14, 2023. https://eduraven.com/goethes-theme-and-romanticism-in-faust/.


Bibliography


EduRaven. "Goethe’s Theme and Romanticism in “Faust”." January 14, 2023. https://eduraven.com/goethes-theme-and-romanticism-in-faust/.