Literature and Society in Goethe s Faust

1. Literature and Society in Goethe’s Faust David Pan Humanities Core Course Winter 2012, Lecture 1

2. A: literature imitates society B: society imitates literature Society, Divinity, Nature Society: Literature, Rhetoric, History, Law Representation and Reality : Which is original and which is copy?: Survey Several layers of development Origin of Faust myth: Faustbuch, Historical Faust, Galileo, Demonologies Goethe’s Faust as re-interpretation of Faust legend: new invention vs. focus on nature and reality Goethe’s Faust as based on historical events or as model for historical development Society, Divinity, Nature Society: Literature, Rhetoric, History, Law Representation and Reality : Which is original and which is copy?: Survey Several layers of development Origin of Faust myth: Faustbuch, Historical Faust, Galileo, Demonologies Goethe’s Faust as re-interpretation of Faust legend: new invention vs. focus on nature and reality Goethe’s Faust as based on historical events or as model for historical development

3. STRUCTURE OF FAUST Framing of story sets up the concerns of the drama and our interpretation. Framing stories shape the audience’s relation to Faust story and Gretchen story.Framing of story sets up the concerns of the drama and our interpretation. Framing stories shape the audience’s relation to Faust story and Gretchen story.

4. Phantom vs. reality Reality fades while past turns into reality. Dedication establishes a personal frame for the play.Phantom vs. reality Reality fades while past turns into reality. Dedication establishes a personal frame for the play.

5. Goethe spends 60 years writing Faust 1749 Goethe born August 28 in Frankfurt on Main. 1765-68 Studies law in Leipzig. 1768-69 Brief conversion to Christianity. Studies alchemy. 1772 Begins work on Faust. 1772 Practices law in Wetzlar. 1774 Meets Charlotte von Stein. 1774 The Sorrows of Young Werther. 1775 Accepts ducal appointment at the court of Weimar. Works for two decades to reopen a silver mine. Approves the execution of a single mother for infanticide. 1786-88 Leaves Charlotte von Stein and travels to Italy. 1788 Takes Christiane Vulpius as mistress. 1790 Essay in the Elucidation and Metamorphosis of Plants. 1795-96 Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship. 1806 Completes Faust I. 1806 Marries Christiane Vulpius. 1831 Completes Faust II. 1832 Goethe dies March 22 in Weimar. The play’s themes reflect aspects of Goethe’s own experience. Play is written over 60 years as a culmination of his artistic activity. The Faust story reflects Goethe’s pursuit of scientific and adminstrative goals The Gretchen story reflects his romantic involvements and legal judgmentsThe play’s themes reflect aspects of Goethe’s own experience. Play is written over 60 years as a culmination of his artistic activity. The Faust story reflects Goethe’s pursuit of scientific and adminstrative goals The Gretchen story reflects his romantic involvements and legal judgments

6. STRUCTURE OF FAUST After the Dedication’s signaling of personal concerns, Prelude in the Theater emphasizes the dramatic situation And reflects on the role of art.After the Dedication’s signaling of personal concerns, Prelude in the Theater emphasizes the dramatic situation And reflects on the role of art.

7. Plays starts with a manager’s depiction of the play’s practical purpose: - satisfy crowd and bring in money for producers.Plays starts with a manager’s depiction of the play’s practical purpose: - satisfy crowd and bring in money for producers.

8. Faustbuch has a different framing. While Goethe’s play begins with personal concerns and a reflection on theater itself, emphasizing the artifice of what is to come, The title page of Historia von D. Johann Faustus foregrounds the plot of the story but also provides a commentary that condemns Faust from a Christian viewpoint. Emphasis is not on the artifice of the story but on the historical reality. Faustbuch has a different framing. While Goethe’s play begins with personal concerns and a reflection on theater itself, emphasizing the artifice of what is to come, The title page of Historia von D. Johann Faustus foregrounds the plot of the story but also provides a commentary that condemns Faust from a Christian viewpoint. Emphasis is not on the artifice of the story but on the historical reality.

9. By the 18th century, the frame of the Faust story had changed to one that criticizes the very idea of witches and conjurers. The 18th century preface emphasizes artifice as delusion. Emphasis is on the progress of knowledge and learning that overcomes old superstitions. Story of myth to knowledge – the reference to art is a critique of art’s fabrication as a kind of illusion and error. Goethe reacts to both these approaches.By the 18th century, the frame of the Faust story had changed to one that criticizes the very idea of witches and conjurers. The 18th century preface emphasizes artifice as delusion. Emphasis is on the progress of knowledge and learning that overcomes old superstitions. Story of myth to knowledge – the reference to art is a critique of art’s fabrication as a kind of illusion and error. Goethe reacts to both these approaches.

10. Poet does not want to consider the crowds But rather his own thoughts Does not want fragmented variety show for the present But rather the perfected form of art for future generations.Poet does not want to consider the crowds But rather his own thoughts Does not want fragmented variety show for the present But rather the perfected form of art for future generations.

11. The manager emphasizes action, spectacle Then he favors fragmentation and variety over a finished whole.The manager emphasizes action, spectacle Then he favors fragmentation and variety over a finished whole.

12. Comedian combines the interests of the manager and the poet Wants Spectacle, Variety, and Liveliness But also Truth and Depth How to combine the high and the low? Offers the dynamic model of “ein Werdender” Art as both spectacle and truth, life and knowledge.Comedian combines the interests of the manager and the poet Wants Spectacle, Variety, and Liveliness But also Truth and Depth How to combine the high and the low? Offers the dynamic model of “ein Werdender” Art as both spectacle and truth, life and knowledge.

13. Relationship to divinity changes from Faustbuch to Goethe. No attempt to depict God in Faustbuch. Angel only appears as gleaming light.Relationship to divinity changes from Faustbuch to Goethe. No attempt to depict God in Faustbuch. Angel only appears as gleaming light.

14. Angels are human-like and speak. What is their character?Angels are human-like and speak. What is their character?

15. Mephistopheles is similar to the angels in that he sees stasis, thought the stasis is of beastliness in spite of reason.Mephistopheles is similar to the angels in that he sees stasis, thought the stasis is of beastliness in spite of reason.

16. God creates dynamic situation in contrast to stasis of both angels and devil. Depiction of God sets up a new attitude toward the devil in Goethe’s Faust. How does this reinterpret the relation to the devil?God creates dynamic situation in contrast to stasis of both angels and devil. Depiction of God sets up a new attitude toward the devil in Goethe’s Faust. How does this reinterpret the relation to the devil?

17. The Faustbuch emphasizes how the darkness of hell is a perpetual darkness without hope. Serious depiction devil and hell.The Faustbuch emphasizes how the darkness of hell is a perpetual darkness without hope. Serious depiction devil and hell.

18. When the authority of the church declines, the framing commentary of the Faustbuch falls away and the 18th century theatrical versions of Faust become farces.When the authority of the church declines, the framing commentary of the Faustbuch falls away and the 18th century theatrical versions of Faust become farces.

19. Goethe’s Mephistopheles is serious in his negation. Though he opposes creation, he has a complementary relation to it.Goethe’s Mephistopheles is serious in his negation. Though he opposes creation, he has a complementary relation to it.

20. Literature and Society How does Goethe provide a new way to understand the devil? How does this understanding of the devil reflect society? How does this understanding of the devil affect society?

21. A: literature imitates society B: society imitates literature