In "At the Well" we start to realize that things are not going well for Gretchen. Clearly her new-found empathy and sense that she is a hypocrite tell us that Gretchen herself is in a "delicate" situation. In fact, things take a decidedly dark turn after this scene.
For this post, I'd like you to choose one of the following scenes:
By the Ramparts
Night
Cathedral
Walpurgis Night
Gloomy Day-Field
For your selected scene, choose a passage that you think is a "key quote" from the scene.
Discuss, in detail, how this passage and the scene as a whole connect with Faust's development (or degradation?) as a character, the message of the play, and Romantic elements and/or motifs.
Be sure that you as a class collectively cover ALL 5 of the scenes listed above! If you repeat a scene that has already been covered, bring something NEW to the discussion.
:) Don't forget to do your vocab posts!
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NIGHT
ReplyDeleteVALENTINE: "When Disgrace first issues form the womb,/ her birth takes place in secrecy./ A veil of night and furtive shadow/ is quickly drawn about her head and ears,/ and one would like to murder her./ and if she grows and throws her weight about,/ she'll walk stark naked in the sun, but her looks have not improved one bit./ The uglier her face becomes,/ the more she seeks the light of day." (339 3740-3749)
Valentine is Gretchen's older brother that was in the military for quite some time. when he came home he unfortunatly realized that she had given up her innoncence and he claims that she is now tainted. In this passage Valentine is describing the baby that Gretchen could get pregnant with. The baby will be so ugly that someone will want to murder it, due to it being an illegitamate child. This baby will be the downfall of not only Gretchen but it will also bring hate upon her family for she had disgraced her family's name. in the speech he says the word "night" which is conviently the title of the chapter. he claims that once this child is brought into the world that one would want to hide it in the dark. cast a shadow of it and pretend that it isnt there. this baby could also represent Faust. when/if Faust were to return to his regular self, meaning his looks returning to normal, this will bring shame upon him. he has been tricking people into making him believe who he pretends to be. This young girl Gretchen has mistakingly fallen under his spell and this could possably turn around and come back to Faust. the truth is that people seek the light to become and find out who they truely are. faust will enter this light and his face will become uglier dispite the mask that he is trying to wear. this will only lead to unveiling his false identity and showing the ugly, hateful and despirate man inside.
{[Nicole LaBelle]}
GLOOMY DAY-FIELD
ReplyDelete"FAUST. Cur! Loathesome monster!--Transform him, Infinite Spirit! Transform the viper back into a dog, the shape in which he capered before me at night, entangling the feet of the unknowing wanderer and--when he stumbled and fell--hanging upon his shoulder. Change him back into his favorite shape; make him crawl on his belly before me; I want to kick his cursed belly!..." (page 399)
This seems to me the most important line of the scene. Faust is addressing Mephistopheles, but I believe in a way he is really referring to himself, or blaming Meph so he wont have to face his own guilt. Faust transformed--in his physical shape, but also in his character, I think, and he is ashamed. "Change him back into his favorite shape; make him crawl on his belly before me..." He's directly referring to satan in his snake-form, but also, I think, to his own worm-like existence (worms crawl...) The term 'favorite' there is used more to mean true form, so it's kind of a, I don't know who I am anymore, I want to be my old, vulernable and useless self. And I find what he says there somewhat ironic because he is disguising his words so it's not him--he's not guilty, while he's criticizing Meph for disguising himself...and the unknowing wanderer would therefore be Gretchen, instead of Faust. Faust wasn't unknowing. He spent his life learning, but more importantly, he knew what he was dealing with when Meph came along. He knew it was the devil. He knew the devil wasn't a good guy, even though he was disguised--Faust knew, and willingly sold himself to him. Gretchen sold herself to Faust, but unknowingly. She's a kid, she doesn't know her place in the world...she's a wanderer in that way. There's a pattern in Faust struggling to admit his sins...putting them on another, anyone that's not him. Like at the well--"He loves you!" It's the same deal. So this is Faust's way of beating himself up...while protecting himself at the same time (I want to kick his cursed belly!) But he goes to Meph, says it's all your fault; he accuses Meph for what he is ashamed of in himself.
-Annalise
Walpurgis Night
ReplyDeleteFaust-
"How strangely does the dawnlike, murky light/seep through the trees and bushes./How it pries and even penetrates/into ravines and gaping chasms"(353).
At first glance, this quote may not seem very significant. However, I feel this quote represents not only Romantic elements but Faust himself. Clearly, nature is a key Romantic element, and Goethe's diction gives the nature an eerie, almost supernatural feeling. Throughout the play, Faust admires nature, but here he is almost afraid of its unknown qualities.
When Faust first meets Gretchen, he sees no harm in his obsession with her. As the play progresses, Faust realizes that his "love" for Gretchen may actually be an unhealthy lust. While walking with Mephistopheles earlier in the forest, Faust confesses that he is ashamed of himself for violating and corrupting Gretchen. The light imagery in this passage parallels Faust's actions. Faust portrays the light as a violation of the nature around him. This could be considered a reflection of his treatment of Gretchen. As the play nears its conclusion, Faust continues to gain awareness of his own sin, and sees a parallel of this sin in his surroundings.
Shelby
Cathedral
ReplyDelete"It's closing in! The walls and pillars imprision me! The vaulted ceiling crushes me! - air!" 345
This passage spoken by Gretchen is said in the cathedral as she confesses her sin of loosing her virginity to Faust. She is so distraugt and feels so horribly for her wrong doings. Never during this scene does she blame Faust for the sin. She only directs the punishment to herself. The spirit speaks od how she used to be so pure and innocent which is bow put in contast to the Gretchen we see now who is tainted by sin. This reflects on the horribleotivea of Faust and emphasizes the horrible things he has done to what uses to be such a good, young girl. The passage speaks of how Gretchen feels trapped and imprisioned. This could be hinting at the metaphorical imprisionmemt that Faust has put her in. She feels this pressure also from the church who she has betrayed. The passage emphasizes her individual emotions and explores soley her interior which are both very Romantic qualities.
- Sydney
Nicole- very interesting ideas about night and light. Do you think Valentine is an ironic name? Also, Gretchen IS pregnant & Valentine knows. He's being quite harsh, but perhaps she deserves it?
ReplyDeleteAnnalise- Excellent analysis of Faust's projections of guilt and his inability to face the truth in himself. I also find it interesting that this scene is written in prose...why, do you think?
Shelby- Good points about role of nature and light imagery. Could Walpurgis Night be Faust's "darkest" depth? Or another scene? What will it take for him to fully see his own sin (and hence limitations as a human)?
Sydney- Great points about Gretchen...she is trapped as Faust becomes free- or maybe he just thinks he's free and is also trapped? True that she only blames self while in contrast Faust seems to blame all BUT himself.
=LC
Gloomy Day-Field
ReplyDeleteMephistopheles-
"Now once again we've reached the threshold of our wit where the mind of mortals runs amok and snaps. Why do you make common cause with us if you cannot see it through? You wish to fly and yet are prone to vertigo? Did we thrust ourself on you, or you on us?" (399-401).
This passage comes from the part where Faust is yelling at Meph about Gretchen being pregnant and he is calling him all these names. This is another time in the story where Faust is complaining to Meph. Meph has to lay down the law and remind Faust that he asked for all of this. Faust is falling apart and cannot handle the power he has asked for. Meph is getting fed up with Fausts complaining over this great power he has received. Faust is falling down and apart.
Kelsey G
Gloomy Day- Field
ReplyDelete"Don't bare you voracious teeth at me! You make me sick! -O great and glorious spirit, you who deigned to appear to me, who know my heart and soul, why must you weld me into this odious creature that gloats on suffering and welts in destruction?" (401).
My quote falls directly after Kelsey's and together i believe they cover a huge portion of the stories theme. Faust verbally assaults Mephistopheles here for putting him in this horrible predicament, but in reality, he is the one who is solely responsible. Even Now when the only person he has ever loved is suffering, he does not take culpability. He says the spirit "deigned and appeared to him," yet he attempted several times to conjur higher life. He then exclaims that Mephistopheles is "welding him into an odious creature," but he himself signed over his soul to the devils determination. Sydney commented that although Margaret betrayed her faith by sleeping with Faust, she was holy in the fact that she took complete blame. I believe She represents God and light in this book, and Faust represents the proud and sinful side. Overall, this quote is an example of the degradation of Faust's development, and a possible foreshadow to his own and complete downfall.
-Amanda R
wow... I swear I wasn't drunk blog posting. I was in the car on my way to a meeting and wanted to get that scene/passage before someone else took it so, I did it on my mom's iphone. SO many typos. my b.
ReplyDeleteSydney
By the Ramparts
ReplyDelete"Help me! Save me from my shame and death!
Incline,
O Merciful,
Thy grieving countenance to me!" (p.327)
I chose this passage because it exemplifies Margaret and the profound effect Faust, along with the devil, has on her. After spending time at the Water Well gossiping and hearing the hate for young and adulterated youth, Margaret realizes the gravity of her relationship with Faust. This scene, taking place after Margaret is deflowered and impregnated by Faust, is her plea to God for divine guidance out of the hands of Sin from a man empowered by the Devil, unbeknowst to her. The main symbol that drives Margaret to ask God so feverently for help is her fear that Faust will leave her as the hated local flirt's partner did. Margaret begs for the "grieving countenance" of God for strength and composure that is not her own. This scene works to show just how vulnerable and innocent Margaret really is and just how low Faust has sank to deprive her of her life in an incredibly harsh society.
Thy Shamless Blogging lover,
Daniel Thomas McNulty
walpurgis night
ReplyDeletemephistopheles: "It is an old transmitted custom thay little worlds are spawned within the great. I see the younger witches go stark naked and older ones more shrewdly veiled. Be curteous now, if only for my sake; the cost is small, the fun is great!... One hundred fires burning in a row; they dance, they chatm they cook and drink and kiss. Can you tell me where one offers something better?" (365-367, 4044-4059)
This quote is so essential to the chapter "Walpurgis Night." This simple yet detailed sentence explains the entire scene of the witches dancing in the night, worshiping Mephistoph himself. To Meph, this must feel like home. He is being worshiped left and right by a crazed mob, only adding to his ego. Faust on the other hand becomes increasingly hestitant. He is finally out of his element completely and feels the effects immediately. Amidst all the noise and bustle around him, Faust cannot concentrate, except when he sees Lilith. Only then can he focus.
This excerpt describes the scene perfectly in the sense that it sets up a perfect visual beforehand. Goethe describes the devilish mountain as glowing with fire all around and vapors creating shadows of guides to bring them up the mountain's laedge. Using Mephistoph as a muse, Goethe describes the amazing and awe-filled scene of "Walpurgis Night"
-Danielle F.
GLOOMY DAY- FIELD
ReplyDeleteFAUST: "Transform him, infinite Spirit! Transform the viper back into a dog, the shape in which he capered before me at night, entangling the feet of the unknowing wanderer and- when he stumbled and fell- hanging upon his shoulder. Change him back into his shape; make him crawl on his belly before me; I want to kick his cursed belly!" (399)
MEPH (in response): "Now once again we've reached the threshold of our wit where the mind of mortals runs amok and snaps. Why do you make common cause with us if you cannot see it through? You wish to fly and yet are prone to vertigo? Did we thrust ourselves on you, or you on us?" (401)
This excerpt from Goethe's "Gloomy day- Field" is tremendously important to the novel. This is one of the many turning points that create a climax for Faust in the novel. Here, we see that Faust is unbearable towards Meph, cursing him and his every limb. Faust blames everything that has happened to him in the passed events on Meph and will not take any of the blame. Meph attempts to put things into perspective for the crazed Faust, saying he is not at fault because it was not him that FORCED Faust to do anything. Faust did everything on his own accord, by his own decisions. Faust is bringning himself down to an end, possibly like a hero? Although, I use the word lightly. Despite his intentions, Faust creates a hole for himself that he cannot get out of and recover from. Gretchen is pregnant, Meph is evil, and life for our mister Faust is falling apart as we know it. Poor baby. :P (that's a sarcasm face...)
yours truly,
julia lynne
Walpurgis Night
ReplyDelete"Now I see a dead girl's eyes/Which were never closed by loving hands./That is the breast which Gretchen yielded me,/The blessed body I enjoyed" (379).
This quote is spoken by Faust, to Mephistopheles, when he sees the spirit he mistakes to be Gretchen. The two are amongst all the witches and evil spirits at the Walpurgis night festival. Faust describes the girl as having "dead eyes;" as being lifeless, or perhaps unloved. He compares her to being like Gretchen, so much that he thinks she is Gretchen at first. He tells Mephistopheles one of Gretchen's secrets, how she had never felt loved before. Her father had died when she was young, rendering her mother to become distraught and rather crazy; her little sister she had taken care of had also passed away, and her brother was serving in the army. Gretchen felt little affection from others and, being quite young and naive, had never been in love before.
In the second part, when Faust is describing her delicate body, and the feelings it brings him, it shows sort of the more perverted side of Faust. I feel as though this degrades his character. He, although being many years older than her, sees Gretchen as a vulnerable young girl whose "blessed body [he] enjoyed."
Although this may be a stretch, I think Gretchen parallels with nature in many aspects, especially in this excerpt. Like nature, Gretchen is innocent and simple, while remaining beautiful. She is not materialistic, but rather simply yearning for love from someone, anyone. Like in the poem "Nutting" where nature is exploited by a young boy who takes advantage of it, Faust “exploits” Gretchen. Like nature, Gretchen is a refuge, an escape for Faust. In the play, she embodies innocence, chastity, and purity, showing how much of a contrast she is with Faust, who, as the play progresses, can be seen as more perverted and having qualities that almost make him seem as though he is a devil.
-Kelsey F.
Cathedral
ReplyDelete"How different, Gretchen, was it once for you when/ you came to kneel before this alter, / pure and innocent.../ with God in your heart!" (343, 3776-3782).
This excerpt is from the scene where Gretchen is in church and an evil spirit is taunting her and reciting all of her sins to her. He talks of how good she used to be and then tells her how awful she was to throw it away. The spirit emphasizes the terribleness of her sin (sleeping with Faust) and makes her feel even guiltier because she threw away the thing that made her good; her purity and innocence. In those times as well as in Romantic media, women were supposed to be the embodiment of innocence through being virgins. By defying this "law" in a sense, she has destroyed everything that was valuable or important about her. I also noted that the spirit is blaming her for all of this, as if Mephy and Faust were not behind it all and manipulating her to do this all along. By having Gretchen take all the blame, and having her believe that she is the only one to blame, Faust is able to walk free from the situation because no one is accusing him of anything.
-Allison
NIGHT
ReplyDelete"You will hide in dismal nooks corners / among the cripples and the beggars, / and even if our God forgives you in the end, / you'll still be damned on earth until you die!" (341).
These are among the last few lines Valentine speaks before he passes. The anguish and anger he displays toward his beloved sister are a testament to how outrageous her actions are perceived. That he would choose to admonish her with his parting words shows that he truly is disgusted with the decisions she has made. Valentine compares her to cripples and beggars, who are among the lowest of the low when it comes to social status and acceptance. He also mentions that she will be cursed on earth, despite possibly being pardoned by god. Ironically, this is true with Mephistopheles always being around on earth as the devil and anti-god.
Interesting posts, and I'm impressed with the vocabulary!
ReplyDeleteDanielle- It's interesting that you brought us Lilith's appearance in Walpurgis night...why do you think she is there?
Kelsey F- I think the way you compared Gretchen to Nature is excellent!!!
Sydney- Try to lay off the bottle when blogging. :)
=LC
"How different, Gretchen, was it once for you when you came to kneel before this altar, pure and innocent, and you lisped your prayers from the worn and fingered little book, half in childlike paly, with God in your heart!" (343)
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this passage, it immediately popped out to me. Overall, these lines spoken by the Evil Spirit summarize the torment that Mephistopheles had brought to the lives of any person involved with Faust. At one point in her life, Gretchen was an innocent girl that held her worship in god as one of her greatest virtues. When Mephistopholes entered Faust's life, Faust ended up meeting Gretchen which ultimately led to her being impregnated. The appearance of Mephistopholes was a result of Faust wanting to obtain knowledge that was unaccessible by man. This lust for knowledge was the root of all evil that led up to Gretchen's pregnancy.
One reason why this scene was so interesting to me was because Gretchen was attending mass while the spirit spoke to her. This is clearly demonstrating the reconciliation of opposites by having an evil spirit confront her while she is worshipping the holy spirit. It emphasizes the struggle between good and evil that has been subtlety occuring throughout the entire story.
Kyle S.