Faust: Witch's Kitchen

Summary

The Witch’s Kitchen is a pivotal point of the story because it is the first time that Faust chooses to sin, and therefore, does the Devil’s bidding. His intent is to find “some sort of balm, some potent elixer,” (2139) that will “cancel thirty years, unbow (his) back” (2135). However, he is revolted by “all this crazy witchery” (2130) especially when he realizes that the cure rests in the hands of an ancient hag and asks Mephistopheles if there is another way. Mephisto sarcastically replies that the alternative is to live a simple life and work the fields as God intended. Faust rejects that idea as narrow and opts for the potion.

While it is being prepared and Mephisto is conversing with the Apes, Faust comes upon a mirror. As he peers in, he sees a “vision of beauty” and desperately ask that “Love show (him) the way to the heaven she dwells in!”(2226). He is so spellbound by the beautiful creature and is desperate to see if “such a marvel (can) inhibit down here” (2234) that he doesn’t realize the Devil’s work. This is Mephisto’s first attempt to make Faust truly happy, and he works hard to make his wishes come true in the hopes that Faust will utter the words “Wait, you are so fair” (Montgomery 38). If Faust says the phrase to the moment, he will die and give over his soul to the Devil. The mirror reflects Faust’s dormant desire and consumes him to the point that he says, “I feel as if my insides are on fire! Come, we’ve got to get out of here” (2257-8).

At this outburst, Mephisto just blows him off and continues with his conversation until the Witch, Sibyl, comes riding down the flame. After a brief ruckus, Sibyl recognizes Mephisto and gleefully addresses him as Satan. Immediately Mephisto chastises her and explains that since Satan is connected to mythology and because that has not improved the temper of humanity, he prefers to be addressed as Baron. Once the pleasantries are out of the way, the witch goes through the crazy ritual of serving the potion. After Faust drinks the brew, he asks to be able to look in the mirror one last time. Mephisto says, “No, no, soon enough you’ll behold in the flesh the fairest women that ever drew breath” (2393-4). He then mutters to himself that “old Jack will soon see a Helen in every Jill” (2395-6); meaning that the potion will make any female appear beautiful to Faust.

Notes

Mephisto’s Appearance

The Witch’s Kitchen also gives us another important bit of information regarding Mephisto. Most people commonly picture the Devil with horns, a tail, and hoofed feet. However, Mephisto always appears wearing a different costume and blames his attire on the culture. In his first meeting with Faust, he is dressed as a Franciscan Monk. In another scene, he is dressed as a young nobleman in a “red doublet trimmed in gold, with a stiff silk cloak, a cock’s feather in his hat, wearing at his side a long sword” (Mephistopheles). He states to Sibyl that “Culture is everywhere now and it even extends to the Devil. I have done away with the horns and tail and claw that people used to see in the Devil” so that I may walk the surface of the earth and appear in the world of humanity with my minions from time to time (Montgomery 39).

Holy Trinity

When Mephisto says “Three-in-One and One-in-Three, Lies are sown broadcast, truth may go along” in lines 2354-55, he is mocking the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Among the most controversial aspects of Christian belief is the allusion that God can be both one and three people at the same time. Mephisto enjoys pointing out the paradox that theologians take great pains to explain in logical terms.

It has also said that "Men usually believe, if only they hear words, that there must also be some sort of meaning" (Maas).

Commentary

Reawakening of Sexual Desire

The love potion that Faust takes in “Witches Kitchen” serves the same purpose as does the feast in “Walpurgis Night”-to reawaken sexual desire. Both are closely connected to the Devil and are considered creations of the witches (Dieckman 175).

Mephisto’s Nobility

In the “Witches Kitchen”, Mephisto makes the comment that he “feels like a king” and states that “I am a gentleman of noble background. If you doubt it, have a look at my coat of arms.”, however, he is neither king nor nobility (Montgomery 38). Even though he considers himself to be both these things, he is really just “supernatural by legendary right, being either the devil or some sort of devil and quite without pedigree” (Fairley 88).

What are minions? They are Satan's assistants.

What are the pinions? They are used to restrain somebody.

The deadly phrase “Wait, you are so fair” was originally written in German as "Verweile doch, du bist so schon" (Fletcher).

Study Questions

1) Why does Mephisto bring Faust to this particular Witch's Kitchen?

2) Why didn't the witch recognize Mephisto?

3) What are the "pinions" that Faust refers to?

4) Why is it important that the pot is constantly stirred?

5) Are the apes and she-apes real or apparitions?

External Resources

Study Guide for Goethe's Faust

Mephistopheles

Works Cited

Dieckmann, Liselotte. Johann Wolfgang Goethe. New York: Twayne Publishers, Inc., 1974.

Fairley, Barker. Goethe. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1963. 88.

Fletcher, Richard M.. American Notes & Queries, Mar74, Vol. 12 Issue 7, p102, 1/2p; [1]

Maas, David F.. ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Jul2004, Vol. 61 Issue 2, p219-226, 8p, [2]

Montgomery, Paul. Review Notes and Study Guide to Geothe's Faust. New York: Thor Publications, Inc., 1964. 37-40.

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