Faust: An Overcast Day, a Field: Difference between revisions

This section was the only section that Goethe left in the original prose format. When Faust finds out that Gretchen is being tortured in prision while he and Mephisto are having entertainment, he is outraged. His anger is almost beyond expression (Gray 152). He demands that Mephisto save Gretchen from prison. Mephisto tells Faust that if he wants her out of the prison, he will have to do it own his own, and all Mephisto can do is accomany him. Mephisto tells Faust that in order to save Gretchen, they must return to the town in where Valentine was killed. Mephisto warns Faust that there are spirits waiting in the town for the murderer to return. Faust doesn't care. He demands that Mephisto take him there. Mephisto then says that the only thing that he can do is to "cause the jailer's senses to be befunddled, then you seize the keys and lead her out. Only a human can do it. I'll keep watch" (620).

Goethe leaves the part of an overcast day in this story, perhaps for the effect of a depressing mood for a depressing subject. Nature has "ability to affect us" (Grandy 26). This also goes back to the idea of the romantics (nature). Faust discovers that Gretchen is imprisoned. Faust then calls out to the Lord "O you infinite Spirit, change the worm back into a dog" (621).  Faust blames Mephisto for Gretchen being in prison and wants help. The field and the overcast day is a constant idea of nature talked or acted about throughout the entire story.

Upon Faust's first meeting Gretchen, he is infatuated with her.  Over time, she comes to love him as well.  From previous sections, we know that Gretchen's family does not approve of this, causing many problems and painful emotions for Gretchen.  In "An Overcast Day, a Field," Faust discovers that Gretchen has been imprisoned, though for what, he does not know.  Since he has such strong feelings for her, Faust plans to rush to the prison, save Gretchen, and live happily ever after.  In other words, welcome to the basic outline of ''Romeo and Juliet'', modernized a few centuries (Cooksey).  The similarities are obvious: the offended family, young lovers, the plight.  Valentine's death by Faust's hand even bears a resemblence to Romeo killing Juliet's cousin, Tybalt.  However, instead of Romeo rushing to the cemetery to die beside Juliet, Faust rushes to the prison to save Gretchen from her coming execution.