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Faust (Latin Faustus) is the protagonist of a popular German tale of a pact with the Devil, assumed to be based on the figure of the German magician and alchemist Dr. Johann Georg Faust (approximately 1480–1540). It has been used as the basis for many different fictional works, most notably by Christopher Marlowe, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Klaus Mann, Thomas Mann, Clive Barker, Charles Gounod, Hector Berlioz, Arrigo Boito, Oscar Wilde, Terry Pratchett, Mikhail Bulgakov, Fernando Pessoa, Anne Rice, Michael Swanwick and Randy Newman.
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General plot
The story concerns the fate of a learned scholar named Faust, who in his quest for the true essence of life ("was die Welt im Innersten zusammenhaelt"), summons the Devil (represented by Mephistopheles, often also referred to as Mephisto), who offers to serve him as long as Faust lives. Mephistopheles may receive Faust's soul, but only when Faust has attained the zenith of human happiness. In the second Part of the Faust tragedy (Faust 2), Faust really does have the pleasure to experience the latter, however, Mephisto, trying to grab Faust's soul when the protagonist dies, is burnt down by the empowering force of love. Faust deserves to go to heaven because of his unquenchable thirst for knowledge and understanding ("man must strive and err") that exceeds the limits set for human beings.
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Origin
While most scholars believe the story of Faust originated in northern Germany, committed to print in 1587 with the publishing of a little chapbook bearing the title Historia von D. Iohan Fausten, other scholars are quick to note that historia is Latin for Geschichte (German word for story or history) and Iohan is Latin for Johann. The choice of languages may imply the existence of an even earlier, independent source in Latin, such as that which Jacob Bidermann used for his treatment of the legend of the Damnation of the Good Doctor of Paris, Cenodoxus.
There are other theories of origin for Faust. In the late fourteenth or early fifteenth century a Dutch play attributed to Anna Bijns appeared which may offer a template for the Faust legend. Mary of Nijmeghen dramatizes the story of a young woman convinced by a demon, One-Eyed Moenen, to sell her soul to learn the seven liberal arts. She lives a dissolute life for some time until, moved by a morality play, she regrets her bargain and seeks forgiveness. Unlike Faustus, Mary repents and, after a long penitence, receives her reward in heaven.
In either case, the little chapbook, already in circulation in Northern Germany, found its way to England where it was translated into English by a certain "P. F., Gentleman" in 1592 as The Historie of the Damnable Life, and Deserved Death of Doctor Iohn Faustus (unpreserved). It was this work that Christopher Marlowe used for his somewhat more ambitious play, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (published c. 1600). Additionally, Marlowe borrowed from Acts and Monuments by John Foxe, on the exchanges between Pope Adrian and a rival pope. Another possible inspiration of Marlowe's version is John Dee (1527-1609), who practised forms of alchemy and science and developed Enochian magic.
Along with Jacob Bidermann's Cenodoxus (published c. 1602), Marlowe's version served to inspire Goethe's later Faust, which may be considered the more definitive classic work.
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History
The Faust tale is a variation of the story about a negotiated pact between man and the devil, involving human hubris and diabolic cunning; the oldest extant version is the tale of Theophilus of Adana.
The origin of the protagonist's name and persona remains unclear. It is widely assumed to be based on the figure of the German magician and alchemist Dr. Johann Georg Faust (approximately 1480–1540), a dubious magician and alchemist probably from Knittlingen, Württemberg, who obtained a degree in divinity from Heidelberg University in 1509. According to one account Faust's poor reputation became legendary while he was in prison, where in exchange for wine he "offered to show a chaplain how to remove hair from his face without a razor; the chaplain provided the wine and Faustus provided the chaplain with a salve of arsenic, which removed not only the hair but the flesh." (Barnett) Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon are said to have alleged Faust's companionship with the devil.
However, it is also possible that the name "Faust" (German for "fist") is related to Italian "fausto". Fausto is possibly derived from the Latin adjective "faustus", meaning "auspicious" or "lucky". There may also be a connection with the fustum (Latin for "doctor's staff") of Aesculapius and other doctors of the time, an item likely to have figured prominently in the Legend of the Damnation of the Good Doctor of Paris, Cenodoxus, which also was an influence on Goethe's version.
The name of "Faust" has since become attached to any number of legendary tales about a charlatan alchemist (some claim "astrologer and necromancer"), whose pride, vanity, and vile hucksterism would inevitably lead to his doom. Similarly, the adjective "faustian" has come to denote any acts or constellations that involve human hubris leading to doom.
In Polish folklore there exists a tale with a Pan Twardowski in a role similar to Faust's, which seems to have originated roughly at the same time. It is unclear if and to what extent the two tales have a common origin or influenced each other. The figure of Pan Twardowski is supposedly based on a 16th century German emigrant to Kraków, then the Polish capital, possibly John Dee or Edward Kelley. According to Melanchthon, the historic Johann Faust had studied in Kraków, as well.
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Origin of Mephistopheles in Faust
It may be a mere coincidence, but the parts of speech found in the word Mephistopheles bear an uncanny resemblance to the Greek phrase "me Fisto philos" (μη Φιστω φιλος), translating to "not friendly to Fistus" (where Fistus is homophonous to Faustus).
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Drama
Gotthold Lessing's play, Doktor Faustus, mentioned in a contribution to a magazine (1759), but otherwise left unfinished and collected and published posthumously (1784) in its original, incomplete form
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Opera
Henri Pousseur (music) and Michel Butor (libretto), Votre Faust (1961-68), opera for five actors, four singers, thirteen instruments, and electronic music, in which the audience decides by vote the course of the action at several points. Pousseur has also composed several "satellite" works related to this opera: Miroir de Votre Faust (Caractères II) for solo piano and (optional) soprano (1964-65), Jeu de Miroirs de Votre Faust for piano, soprano and tape (1964-65) Echos de Votre Faust for mezzo-soprano, flute, cello, and piano (1961-69), Les Ruines de Jéruzona for mixed choir and "rhythm section" (1978), La Passion selon Guignol for amplified vocal quartet and orchestra (1981), Parade de Votre Faust for orchestra (1974), and Aiguillages au carrefour des immortels for 16 or 17 instruments (2002)
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Classical Music
Sarasate's "Faust Fantasy" is a showpiece for violin and piano based on the Faust story.
Charles Gounod's Ballet music from his opera Faust (1859). The ballet occurs as an interlude in the Fourth Act during the Walpurgisnacht scene familiar from Goethe's Faust Part 1. The ballet or ballet music is often performed independently from the opera.
Franz Liszt was fascinated by the Faust legend, particularly with the character of Mephistopheles. He wrote several musical works on this idea, including:
Modest Mussorgsky: "Mephistopheles' song of the flea", is just that: a version of the song that Mephistopheles sings in the tavern scene of Goethe's Faust, pt. 1.
In 2006 the German composer Ernst Heckel and the English writer Richard Bunting published a modern rock musical titled "Faust".
The texts of the Dutch composer Alexander Comitas' Walpurgisnacht, a piece for fanfare band and choir, come from Goethe's Faust.
In their 2006 show, Phantom Regiment, a Drum and Bugle Corps, played original music to depict the story of Faust.
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Popular Music
Frank Zappa's "Titties & Beer", from the album "Zappa in New York" and others, has the Devil stealing the protagonist's large-breasted girlfriend and their beer, and demands he make a deal to get them back. This so perturbs the Devil that the opposite of Faust's gamble happens.
The Fall's song Dktr Faustus (1986), also known as Faust Banana.
British Rock band Muse's song 'The Small Print', from the album Absolution, describes the plight of Faust from the viewpoint of the Devil. The song's working title was "Action Faust".
Popular British metal band 'Cradle of Filth' have a song entitled 'Absinthe With Faust' on their 2004 'Nymphetamine' album.
Racebannon, a heavy/experimental band from Indiana, released an album entitled Satan's Kickin Yr Dick In. It describes a man who desires success as a pop star selling his soul to the Devil and the consequences of his actions.
Brazilian death metal band Mystifier released a song on their album Wicca/Göetia entitled "The True Story about Doctor Faust's Pact with Mephistopheles".
Norwegian Black Metal act "Emperor" briefly contained a member who used the pseudonym Faust, he was imprisoned for murder in 1993 and has since been released.
German kraut-rock band Faust, a founder of industrial and electronic rock.
The Phantom Regiment drum & bugle corps' 2006 program was named "Faust", and is an abstract telling of the story.
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Musical "Faustian pacts"
Blues legend Robert Johnson was said to have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his skills with the guitar.
Like Robert Johnson, violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini was also said to have sold his soul in exchange for his musical skills.
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Poetry
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Prose fiction
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Film
Richard Burton and Nevill Coghill's Doctor Faustus (1967)
Egon Lomack's Faust and Furious (2003)
Silent Hill (2006), in which a victimised child makes a pact with Satan in the guise of her former self to reek vengeance on the religious fanatics who wronged her. The demon's side of the bargain is not revealed.
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Musicals
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Anime and manga
Shaman King features a character who raises the dead to bring back his love. This character is a direct descendant of Faust (and thus is known by most as Faust VIII).
Saber Marionette (The antagonistic ruler of the kingdom of Gartlant in Saber Marionette J)
Faust Münchhausen (a villain seen in the Urotsukidoji movies)
Deel Faust (The impish kid Devil General of Wind in "Devil (&) Devil")
Elfen Lied (As a child, the protagonist makes a bargin with a vision of herself, in which she agrees to destroy all humanity so that she may create a home for herself.)
Monster (In episode 59 of the Anime, a character makes a reference to introducing Faust to Mephistopheles)
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Video games
Stauf, the main character in The 7th Guest is an anagram of "Faust".
The 'Big Boss' of the Dead End Gang gang in Vendetta is called Faust. He blows poisonous green fumes from his mouth as a special attack.
Guilty Gear series, "Faust" (Guilty Gear X, Guilty Gear XX)
Max Payne, in which the mob member Jack Lupino is attempting the "Faustian deal".
Dr. Faustus was a character in the cancelled Playstation 1 game, "Thrill Kill."
In the Soul Calibur series, Faust is the name of Siegfried Schtauffen's first sword. Additionally the character Nightmare is what Siegfried becomes after laying hands on the demon blade and losing his soul.
Faust is a notorious monster (in this case, a giant arcane "doll" (robot) creature) in Final Fantasy XI.
Faust: The Seven Games of the Soul (PC Game - very loosely based on Goethe's Faust).
In the opening cutscene of the PlayStation 1 game Xenogears, one of the computer operators reports that Deus has accessed the 'Control System Faust', which it uses to alter the Eldridge's course.
In the computer game FreeSpace 2, the Faust is a class of vessels intended for scientific research.
Mephisto is the boss in Diablo 2, Act III.
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Comic books
The comic book Faust was published in the 80s and 90s by artist Tim Vigil and writer David Quinn. The book follows a story template similar to the opera Faust, but is an updated version. Rebel Studios, an independent label originally published it, but it was later picked up by Avatar Press and a subsequent sequel series was created. Both are extremely sexual and violent series.
In Help!, Volume 2, Number 1, February 1962, Harvey Kurtzman and Will Elder produced "Goodman Goes Playboy." In it, Goodman Beaver sells his soul to Mephistopheles in order to gain the material and sexual benefits that were extolled monthly in Playboy magazine. This comic strip, however, was legally suppressed by the creators of Archie Comics because it disparaged their cartoon character and his companions.
Dr. John Dee, a Renaissance scholar who was a likely inspiration for Marlowe's version of the "Faust" story, is a character in Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. The first time we see William Shakespeare, he is in a tavern talking to Christopher Marlowe, and he mentions the success of his book on Dr. Faustus. Additionally, the character of the Scarecrow quotes Marlowe's play of Faust ('It is a comfort in wretchedness to have companions in woe').
In the anime/manga Shaman King, one of the subcharacters is called Faust VIII and is portrayed as a depressed, secluded person with the skeleton of his dead wife in his coat.
A humour webcomic adaptation of Faust, by Claus Thomsen.
The character Spawn created by Todd McFarlane is very similar to the Faust tale.
"Faust", a graphic novel by David Vandermeulen and Ambre, published in France in 2006, is an adaptation of Goethe's Faust
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Nonfiction
Herman Kahn's book The Year 2000 characterized 20th century Western Man as being faustian. It is debatable whether he was referring to continual striving or to a bargain in which man overcomes physical limitations and loses his "soul."
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Television
In the 2000 Family Guy episode "Running Mates", Brian is reading Stewie to sleep when Stewie interrupts, instructing that when reading Faust, one must read the part of Mephistopheles in a scary voice.
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Pen name
"Minister Faust" is a pen name for Canadian writer, broadcaster and activist Malcolm Azania; as Minister Faust, he wrote the science fiction novel and social satire The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad.
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Drum Corps
The 2006 show of the Drum and Bugle Corps Phantom Regiment is entitled "Faust" and is based on the folktale. It includes such works as, Scythian Suite by Sergei Prokofiev, Ave Maria by Franz Biebl, Piano Concerto by John Corigliano, and Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection") by Gustav Mahler.
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See also
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Sources
Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, Edited and with and introduction by Sylvan Barnett (1969, Signet Classics)
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