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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) is often ranked with Shakespeare and
Dante as one of the three most important poets in history. He spent the most
important part of his life in Weimar and served the duchy in many official capacities.
Although his interests ranged from biology to the theory of color, it is his
literature, with its powerful presentation of human freedom and the search for
meaning in life, that has been of enduring value.
Goethe's most famous work, Faust, presents the story of its title
character, who makes a wager with the devil. Doctor Faust represents all humankind,
and his exploits are arranged to capture the human condition in its entirety,
making Faust a work of epic proportions. The play immediately addresses
the limits of knowledge with a presentation by three of the archangels on this
subject and Mephistopheles' analysis of the unhappiness reason has brought to
humanity. The angels suggest that only God fully understands the universe, although
they have a limited understanding of the universe's timeless aspects, conflicts,
and characteristics. More important, the angels fully understand that even though
they do not comprehend the whole, they can still rejoice in its majesty:
Its aspect gives the angels power,
Since none can solve Thee or Thy ways;
And all Thy works beyond us tower,
Sublime as on the first of days.1
Mephistopheles answers the angels by remarking that he does not know
much about the nature of the planets, but he does know that men are miserable
because of the reason with which they are endowed. The conversation then turns
to Faust, whom the Lord refers to as his servant. It becomes clear that although
Faust is now haunted by reason and knowledge, God has a plan for him and "shall
lead him forth where all is clear."2
The rest of the play depicts the process by which the devil, in his efforts
to win Faust's soul, leads the doctor to a point where he may be saved. It is
the route to salvation taken by the two tragic characters, Gretchen and Faust,
that brings out Goethe's vision about the role of knowledge and the way to salvation.
The salvation of Gretchen and Faust makes it clear that Goethe found the proper
role of knowledge to be limited to dispelling myth. In Goethe's world, humans
are not unlimited in their ability to accomplish things. Even with supernatural
help and the depths of his own knowledge, Faust is unable to bring even his
most basic desires to fruition. Faust admits that:
Well do I know the sphere of earth and men.
The view beyond is barred to mortal ken.3
Through love, however, he is able to achieve an intuitive understanding of
human worth and God's importance. Faust's refusal to be satisfied with what
Mephistopheles has to offer is a sign of his continued search for the meaning
that only God can provide. The Lord notes in the prologue,
A good man, though his striving be obscure,
Remains aware that there is one right way.4
Faust's restless search seems to be a realization of the fact that he has not
yet found that way. Faust's final project, a scheme that will benefit humankind
(and is ultimately unsuccessful), symbolizes his recognition of human worth
and brings a host of angels to save him. The angels recognize Faust's continued
search for meaning as they bear his soul to heaven:
Who e'er aspiring, struggles on,
For him there is salvation.5
Man is saved, it seems, by this insight, not by any earthly achievement.
Gretchen also demonstrates the importance of a simple, intuitive understanding
of human worth. Although she is destroyed by love, she is able to rebuild herself
and achieve moral independence by accepting responsibility for the murders of
her family members rather than fleeing. It is not a great intellectual understanding
of the natural forces that saves her, but simple faith.
Goethe's overall message is difficult to capture. Although he struggled with
the limits of human knowledge, he made important contributions to the natural
sciences. Fundamentally, however, he was concerned with the human condition.
Goethe realized that freedom is essentially limited in this world, and his characters
constantly run into situations that constrain their aspirations. Additionally,
Goethe depicted the danger inherent in zealous idealism. Faust's great projects
cause great suffering, despite his best intentions.
Endnotes
[1] Goethe, Faust, trans.
George M. Priest (New York: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1988), p. 7.
[2] Ibid., p. 8.
[3] Ibid., p. 278.
[4] Ibid., p. 9.
[5] Ibid., p. 290.
Bibliography
Works by the Author
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Goethe's Autobiography, Poetry and Truth from
my own Life. Translated by R. O. Moon. Public Affairs Press, 1949.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Works. 5 vols. Translated by R.D. Boylan,
Anna Swanwick, Sir Walter Scott, John Oxenford, and A.J.W. Morrison. London:
Bell and Daldy, 1864-67.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Works. 7 vols. Translated by John Oxenford,
Thomas Carlyle, R.D. Boylan, A.J.W. Morrison, Anna Swanwick, Sir Walter Scott,
George Henry Lewes, Sir Theodore Martin, and John Stover Cobb. Boston: Dona
Estes, & Company, 1883.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Faust. Translated by George Madison Priest.
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1941.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Marlowe's Faustus and Goethe's Faust, Part
I. Translated by John Anster. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1894.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Goethe's Faust. Translated by Carlyle F.
MacIntyre. Norfolk: New Directions, 1957.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Faustus; The Bride of Corinth; The First Walpurgis
Night. 2 vols. Translated by John Anster. London: Longman, Rees, Orme,
Brown, Green, and Longman, 1835.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and Travels.
Translated by Thomas Carlyle. New York: A. L. Burt.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and Travels.
2 vols. Translated by Thomas Carlyle. Boston: Dona Estes & Company, 1774.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Werther. 1774.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Faust. Translated by Bayard Taylor. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin and Company, 1906.
Schweitzer, Albert. Goethe, Two Addresses. Translated by Charles
R. Joy and R.C. Champion. Boston: Beacon Press, 1948.
Works about the Author
Bergstraesser, Arnold. Goethe's Image of Man and Society. Chicago:
Henry Regnery Company, 1949.
Source
The biographical material about the author originally appeared on The
Goodrich Room: Interactive Tour website.
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