About the work
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's tragedy „Faust. Der Tragödie erster Teil" was published in 1808 — the result of nearly thirty years of work, which led Goethe from his Sturm und Drang period (the Urfaust around 1775) into mature age. A preliminary version „Faust. Ein Fragment" had appeared as early as 1790. The stage premiere of Faust I took place in 1829 in Braunschweig — for Goethe's 80th birthday. Faust II was completed in 1831, published posthumously in 1832, and given its first complete production (Faust I and II together) in 1876 in Weimar by Otto Devrient. The work stands as the principal achievement of German literature.
Plot
Prologue in Heaven: Mephistopheles wagers with God that he can lead Faust, the ceaselessly striving scholar, astray. In his study Faust despairs at the limits of human knowledge, summons the Earth Spirit, is about to poison himself — until Easter bells hold him back. Mephistopheles appears as a poodle, then as a young nobleman, and seals the pact with Faust: he will serve Faust on earth, in return Faust's soul belongs to him as soon as Faust says to a moment „Stay yet, thou art so fair". Rejuvenated by a witch's potion, Faust meets the innocent Gretchen on the street. Mephistopheles helps with jewellery to seduce her. Gretchen becomes pregnant; her mother dies of the sleeping draught Faust had her administered. Gretchen's brother Valentin challenges Faust to a duel and dies. On Walpurgis Night Mephisto tries to distract Faust with a witches' orgy — in vain, Faust hurries back to Gretchen. She has drowned her child in madness and is condemned to death. In the dungeon she no longer recognises Faust; she refuses to flee with him — „Heinrich! Heinrich!" A voice from above: „She is saved!"
Cultural significance
Faust I is the most-performed German play and required reading in German-speaking schools. The role of Faust belongs to the supreme challenges of German classical acting — Werner Krauss, Ernst Deutsch, Will Quadflieg, Bruno Ganz, Klaus Maria Brandauer. Gustaf Gründgens's Mephisto became legendary in productions from the 1930s through the 1960s. Peter Stein's 21-hour complete Faust at Expo Hannover 2000 united both parts in a single theatrical evening. The play has inspired operas by Gounod, Berlioz, Boito and Schnittke.