Faust- Romantic Hero Essay

In the talented hi spirit level of Europe, Johann Wolfgang yon Goethe is central to the development of Romantic thinking, which was contemporaneous in his day. Goethe attempted to learn the world in a impertinently light he reconsiders old questions of good and evil, as well as questions about human nature. The story of Faust allows such considerations. Romantics strive for something beyond their reach, beyond anyones reach. Contentment is not their goal. One place that we see Fausts striving is in his conversation on unrest with Wagner (699-702).Just as Wagner illustrates the normal academic who thinks that books hold all the answers he needs, Faust as a Romantic has come both to realize the limitations of whats in books and to be unwilling to accept those limitations. Wagner thinks Faust should enjoy the reputation he has as a doctor among the peasants, but Faust knows the reputation is a sham. He and his father were in truth helpless against the ravages of the plague (althoug h they obviously at least solace the sick).Fausts aspirations permit him to make a bargain with Mephistopheles, especially since a part of the bet involves Mephistopheles belief that Faust will eventually enjoy contentment. kind of than seeking knowledge, which had been a goal of the Faust of German and English tradition, Goethes Faust seeks mystify and feeling. This also makes his quest apart of the Romantic tradition. The Romantic hero essential approach lifes mysteries by active participation, not by reflection.When Faust and Mephistopheles see the witch for her medicine, what Faust wants is youth, so that he can experience what he may have missed while he was absorbed in his studies. And what he comes to want then is Margaret, the peasant maid who looks like a beauty to the revitalized man. The Romantic has spiritual goals, but theyre ordinarily outside of conventional religions. We see this most directly in the shot between Gretchen and Faust. She wants him to be a Christ ian, but Fausts spirituality cannot be contained by dogma.To follow this Romantic thread, think of Christianity as a revealed religion, embraced by the European and German society of the time. It made many late eighteenths and other(a) nineteenth century people feel safe and secure. You can see how this picture of comfort might fall outside of the Romantics striving, since he seeks a mystery beyond the conventional. The Romantic hero must be willing to break free of bounds, no matter the consequences. another(prenominal) key romantic faceistic is a faith in nature as a creative bloodline, as both a source of comfort and energy.Faust expresses his enthusiasm early when he contrasts the value of experiencing nature with the unresponsiveness of books (685). What impresses him about Easter is the revitalizing force of spring rather than the story of Jesus (695-6). It is the exalted spirit of nature that he credits with allowing him to traverse Gretchens heart, and that he credits w ith giving him the companion Mephistopheles 747-48 -48). Conclusion Besides a faith in nature, romantics idealize childhood and women, seeing in them a purity and honesty of emotions that are difficult to attain in the intellectual and adult worlds.This romanticism can be seen in Goethes plotting, as he has the church bell remind Faust of his childhood so that the character does not commit suicide early in the play. Also, the love office with Gretchen leads to the dramas climax. References Faust Supplemented Study Guide Retrieved from World Wide electronic network http//faculty. southwest. tn. edu/llipinski/ENGL2320T201/content/lesson18_handout. htm Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Faust, Publisher, Oxford University Press, 1998.