In Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe’s Faust, the relationship between Faust and Margarete exploits the notion than man (humanity) does not know what is good for him. While Faust may initially desire Margarete for the sake of lust, he learns that love can be even more powerful. Love itself is not a singular sensation, but has many layers to experience. This is where Mephistopheles falters in his attempt to create experiences of base, singular, carnal pleasures for Faust. Faust cannot leave Margarete to die, because his love for her; particularly his love for her innocence, connects on a deeper level. Unfortunately for him, he does not recognize that her “innocent” love is what he needs to experience a higher power. Faust is too far corrupted with
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He is also able to incite Faust’s carnal desire – the desire that eventually overtakes Faust’s reason, and shadows his love until the end. He says: “I had / To undermine her peace and overwhelm her! / … / Help me, Devil, please, to shorten / The anxious time I must go through! / Let happen quick what has to happen! / Let her fate fall on me, too, crushingly, / And both together perish, her and me!” (3183-3190). Faust is too far corrupted to be on the same level as Margarete. While, through her experience with Faust, she does become corrupted – something she must repent to be saved in the …show more content…
Faust says: “We’re equals, I know! I feel so close to you, near,” and the spirit replied: “It’s your idea of me you’re equal to, / Not me” (282-285). Faust blindingly thought that he was worthy enough to ascend to the level of the supernatural. After this experience, he says: “No, I can’t claim we are equals, presumptuously! / Though strong enough to draw you down to me, / Holding on to you was another matter entirely. / In that exalted-humbling moment of pure delight / I felt myself at once both small and great” (399-403). Faust is experiencing a similar situation with Margarete. He was strong enough to “draw” Margarete to him, and because of that, he experienced the “exalted-humbling moment of pure delight” of love. But Faust learned that his place with the supernatural was not a reality. He says: “And then you thrust me remorselessly back / Into uncertainty, which is all of humanity’s fate” (404-405). Faust does exactly this to Margarete. He is unsatisfied - unable to ascend to her level of love after he has had his physical pleasure satiated, so he “thrusts” Margarete “remorselessly back” into the “uncertainty” of “humanity’s fate.” Without him, her fate is to lose her sanity, drown their child, and suffer as a literal prisoner, after suffering as a metaphorical prisoner to
He is also able to incite Faust’s carnal desire – the desire that eventually overtakes Faust’s reason, and shadows his love until the end. He says: “I had / To undermine her peace and overwhelm her! / … / Help me, Devil, please, to shorten / The anxious time I must go through! / Let happen quick what has to happen! / Let her fate fall on me, too, crushingly, / And both together perish, her and me!” (3183-3190). Faust is too far corrupted to be on the same level as Margarete. While, through her experience with Faust, she does become corrupted – something she must repent to be saved in the …show more content…
Faust says: “We’re equals, I know! I feel so close to you, near,” and the spirit replied: “It’s your idea of me you’re equal to, / Not me” (282-285). Faust blindingly thought that he was worthy enough to ascend to the level of the supernatural. After this experience, he says: “No, I can’t claim we are equals, presumptuously! / Though strong enough to draw you down to me, / Holding on to you was another matter entirely. / In that exalted-humbling moment of pure delight / I felt myself at once both small and great” (399-403). Faust is experiencing a similar situation with Margarete. He was strong enough to “draw” Margarete to him, and because of that, he experienced the “exalted-humbling moment of pure delight” of love. But Faust learned that his place with the supernatural was not a reality. He says: “And then you thrust me remorselessly back / Into uncertainty, which is all of humanity’s fate” (404-405). Faust does exactly this to Margarete. He is unsatisfied - unable to ascend to her level of love after he has had his physical pleasure satiated, so he “thrusts” Margarete “remorselessly back” into the “uncertainty” of “humanity’s fate.” Without him, her fate is to lose her sanity, drown their child, and suffer as a literal prisoner, after suffering as a metaphorical prisoner to