Faust Essay, Research Paper
This Book has many shady characters, only Gretchen is the one character you can feel sorry for, that is what makes this tragedy so horrifying yet gratifying .Her and Faust running around makes you happy, but you anticipate them to fall desperately into love with one another and finish their lives indulging with Mephisto. But this pure untainted soul is tricked into leaving behind the innocence of her youth and subsiding to the evil one for the promise of riches and a better life. So once again you have no one to root for, because although you understand Faust’s predicament he’s getting what he wanted. Next you really begin to hate Faust because once he has seen and had all that Gretchen has to offer his love becomes an infatuation spurred by his newly found youth. Then who are you left with; Gretchen a now pregnant charlatan desperately hoping her “lover” who has poisoned her mother and slain her brother will come save her from prison, and Mephisto the Devil himself.
The entire Gretchen Tragedy is there to invoke a feeling of temptation. A sort of “What if”, really what would you do if a good looking member of the opposite sex who has more money than anyone you have ever heard of approached you describing their love to you like a cheesy Julia Roberts movie. This proves the point that Mephisto made to God in Prologue in Heaven “If only it were grass he could repose in! There is no trash he will not poke his nose in.”(Prologue In Heaven p. 85). We must keep looking for better things, if Gretchen were to realize what a small price she was paying to sacrifice life on earth for life eternal in heaven. She was without sin until she allowed human nature to take over.
Gretchen upon her entrance into the play is stereotypical of a peasant woman of that time; she works all day, lives with her parents, and hopes to one day marry above her class so her daughter will not have to endure as she has throughout her life. But, she begins a metamorphosis when she meets Faust. First, she finds jewels that she can’t begin to describe, so she gives them to her mother typical of the times. In an ironic gesture Goethe has her mother give them to the Church, which couldn’t be better for Mephisto because she begins to frown upon the Church and upon her mother. He’s got a single and looking to have a stand up double at this point. Soon she begins to think for herself instead of letting society think for her. This seems to be frowned upon by Goethe because it inevitably leads to her ruin; first she poison’s her mother in order to commit the ultimate sin for a woman of her evocation SEX while unmarried, she then becomes pregnant which is also shunned upon “ That girl has at last been made a fool. That comes from having airs.
It stinks! She is feeding two when she eats and drinks.” (At The Well p. 335)
Next, her “lover” causes her brothers death when he comes looking for the man who ruined his sister’s reputation. So this wonderful thing called love has done a lot for Gretchen so far. But, this does lead her to be a modern woman; she’s stubborn and doesn’t listen to anyone but herself (and Faust). Gretchen’s stubbornness is inevitably what saves her. Because she so disliked Mephisto she refused to go with her love to whom she expressed it until the very end. She was crazy but she knew, her sovereignty of herself is what cost her everything, but in the end it also gave her the grace of God. It’s almost as if Goethe’s telling us that nothing is as good as it could have been if you had worked for it.
Nothing sticks in someone’s head like a sad story; it gets its point across more bluntly and concretely than any other way. But that is not the only reason such a story would be so tragic, without pain and discomfort of an encounter with the devil, in which you receive everything that you have ever wanted, who wouldn’t make that deal. I have to believe that because Mephisto is triumphed over in the end (by Faust and Gretchen) that Goethe wishes to show that God is the lesser of two evils. I say two evils because who would believe that God would have the audacity to contrive a bet with his enemy. Also in the way he just stole Faust back from the devil.
In the end Gretchen and God are the only heroes. It is God who saves Faust in the end; it is he that lets everyone make their own decisions and is there for them in the end. It is Gretchen who turns herself to God after her stray off the path. She also accepts her lover after she knows his deceits and all the heartbreak he caused her. She waits for him in heaven and that is a huge testament to how strong her love is; yet we are left to wonder if Faust still agrees. The Gretchen Tragedy is the quintessential element of this play it shows every side of the devil and the true side of God all through Goethe’s eyes. Without this aspect all you have is a lot of conjuring and no real plot to the story. It doesn’t have a moral or even an interesting plot, it’s just a story about this guy who makes a deal with the devil and gets out of it. Gretchen is the best and most important person in the plot that says it all.
Другие работы по теме:
Editha Essay Research Paper DO YOU HAVE
Editha Essay, Research Paper DO YOU HAVE TIME? I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do. I had to hurry and get to work For bills would soon be due. So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
Mafia History Essay Research Paper Book Report
Mafia History Essay, Research Paper Book Report NO. 4 The Freedom Trap A letter to the author, Desmond Bagley Dear Mr. Bagley, I must tell you, that I really enjoyed readind your book. It was full of imagination, sophistication and it ended with a perfect interesting end.
Miss Jane Pittman Essay Research Paper Book
Miss Jane Pittman Essay, Research Paper Book #1 In book 1 it started out by the Secesh and the Yankees having a big war. Then Tracey met this Yankee named Brown and he helped free the slaves. Then Brown gave Tracey the nickname Jane. The slave owner freed Tracey (Jane) and all the other slaves. Once the Proclamation papers were signed the slaves headed up toward Ohio.
Bless Me Ultima Essay Research Paper After
Bless Me Ultima Essay, Research Paper After reading the book Bless Me, Ultima I have realized that magic plays a very important part in this book. It is important in ways that you may not have realized. There are many different types of magic and it seems that the book Bless Me, Ultima touches every single one of those kinds.
Go Ask Essay Research Paper Go ask
Go Ask Essay, Research Paper Go ask Alice is a book about a teenager who tried drugs once and was hooked. After the first time she tried drugs she thought she would never use them again. One thing led to another, and soon enough she was selling drugs to eleven and twelve year olds. Alice tried to get off drugs numerous times, but she always-ended up right back on them.
Untitled Essay Research Paper November 6 1996
Untitled Essay, Research Paper November 6, 1996 Dear Joe, It was nice to hear from you again, I enjoyed hearing about your new business venture and I hope it works out. School is going great and I can’t wait to graduate in two months. The other day I finished reading a book by Michael Crichton called “JURASSIC PARK” you may have heard of the movie.
Faust By Goethe 1749
– 1832) Essay, Research Paper The legend of Faust is older than Goethe’s version, dating back to the early years of Christianity. The English poet Christopher Marlowe wrote his own version of the play several centuries
Implications Of Christian Ideology In Goethe
’s Faust Essay, Research Paper In Faust, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe builds a dramatic poem around the basis of human strengths and weaknesses, two traits exemplified by Goethe through his main character, Johann Faust. Throughout his life, Faust becomes knowledgeable in math, science, and the Holy Scripture, yet desires to find happiness as a result of his persistent struggle for power.
Jurassic Park Essay Research Paper The story
Jurassic Park Essay, Research Paper The story Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton takes place on a small island near Costa Rica, it s about a park full of dinosaurs created by Dr. Hammond. The
Gilgamesh Essay Research Paper Gilgamesh Essay over
Gilgamesh Essay, Research Paper Gilgamesh Essay over The Epic of Gilgamesh The main character in the book The Epic of Gilgamesh is Gilgamesh himself. Throughout the book, many things cause Gilgamesh to change. First, the quest for immortality after the death of Enkidu shows that Gilgamesh has changed. Gilgamesh has gone from arrogant to scared.
A Thousand Acres Essay Research Paper Just
A Thousand Acres Essay, Research Paper Just set back for a moment and think about a thousand acres, that s an area of land of almost mythic proportions. Just as the changes the people had to go through in this book. In this book the author takes material possessions and other tangible entities and identifies the characters through it.
Walt Disney Essay Research Paper This book
Walt Disney Essay, Research Paper This book is about the life of Walt Disney, an American legend. The Arthur begins the tale with a view of the family before Walt Disney’s birth
2001 Space Odyssey Essay Research Paper There
2001: Space Odyssey Essay, Research Paper There are many scenes that take place in a book, some are more important than others. In the book I read over the summer, ?2001: Space Odyssey? by Arthur Clarke. A few of the scenes were very important and without them the book would have been a waste. Here are three examples of importance in scenes from my book.
To Kill A Mockingbird Effects Of Racism
) Essay, Research Paper To Kill a Mockingbird is a wonderfully written book by Harper Lee. It takes place in the 1930?s which was a time that was known for its racism. The following essay will explain how racism effected certain characters in the book.
Legend Of Faust Essay Research Paper The
Legend Of Faust Essay, Research Paper The Legend of Faust In this paper I will be writing about the legend of Faust which gained recognition back in the 16th century by numerous authors.
Faust The Characters That Define Him Essay
, Research Paper Faust: a figure defined by the characters in which he interacts. In Johann Wolfgang von Goethe?s Faust first part, Faust is a famous character of self-inflicted tragedy. The characters such as Mephistopholes, Wagner, and Gretchen imply those feelings, impulses, needs, and wants that many may face during a lifetime.
Goethe Faust Essay Research Paper GoetheJohann Wolfgang
Goethe Faust Essay, Research Paper GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe s work Faust was an elemental romantic work. Faust, the main character of Faust, was similar to Prometheus or Napoleon, one who ventured for power to rule the world. For example in Goethe s Faust, the proud condition of human nature can be seen by the way Faust was willing to sell his soul to better himself.
Faust Essay Research Paper In Faust Johann
Faust Essay, Research Paper In Faust, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe builds a dramatic poem around the strengths and weaknesses of a man who under a personalized definition of a hero fails miserably. A hero is someone that humanity models themselves and their actions after, someone who can be revered by the masses as an individual of great morality and strength, a man or woman that never sacrifices his beliefs under adversity.
Faust Essay Research Paper By Nick CarrollLet
Faust Essay, Research Paper By Nick Carroll Let my work benefit all!! Pryor High School Students: If you plagiarize this, you will most likely get caught, so I don’t advise doing so. Have Fun!!
Jack Kerouac Essay Research Paper The novel
Jack Kerouac Essay, Research Paper The novel On The Road written by Jack Kerouac is a book that can be read as a quest taken by Sal Paradise who sets out to test the American Dream by trying to pin down its promise of unlimited freedom by following the example of Dean Morairty. In the book ? the road? becomes a symbol of freedom or escape for Sal and his friends.
Summary Of The Book Annie John Essay
, Research Paper Summary of the book “Annie John” This book is a book of reality, a book of self-discovery. This is a book that you read and as you are reading it you can identify with the character, what he/she does and how she/he reacts to happenings around her/him.
Book Of Job Essay Research Paper The
Book Of Job Essay, Research Paper The Book of Job, including the epilogue, argues justice is retributive in its nature. Retributive justices states that a just distribution of fairness exists. Throughout the book, Job portrays the idea that good things happen to those who are good, while bad things happen to those who are bad.
The Giver Essay Research Paper In this
The Giver Essay, Research Paper In this book, the Giver, an old man gives all the memories of a world such as ours to a boy named Jonah. In this world there is no
Client Essay Research Paper The Client
Client Essay, Research Paper ?The Client? / John Grisham 1. I enjoyed reading this interesting book. It talks about eleven years old Mark Sway and his younger
Frankenstien The Book Essay Research Paper Journal
Frankenstien The Book Essay, Research Paper Journal Chap. 24-end # 17 The end of the novel was left very open. I felt as though there is no conclusion. Where is the sequel? I think that Walton will not continue Victors quest to see the monster dead. The monster only had one reason to live, and that was to make Victor s life a living hell.
Faust Book Review Essay Research Paper Faust
Faust: Book Review Essay, Research Paper Faust: Book Review Chris Davidson This novel written originally by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and translated by Walter Kaufmann. There are 201 pages in this novel.. This book
Jay Leno Book Review Essay Research Paper
BOOK REVIEW The book I read was “Leading With My Chin”. The author is Bill Zehme. I enjoyed reading this book because of its excellent detail. I would definitely recommend this book to someone that is a Jay Leno fan or like to laugh a lot.