Faust: The City Wall
Summary
Gretchen goes to the city wall to humble herself before the image of the Mater Dolorosa, the Virgin Mary. The image shows the Virgin Mary at the foot of Jesus' cross, "grieving for the sufferings of her son" (Study Guide). Gretchen brings flowers from her home to place in the flower pot in front of the image, then cries out to the Virgin Mother. Gretchen begins to come back to reality in regards to her actions with Faust. After hearing of Barbara's sexual encounter and premarital pregnancy, and after hearing of the community attitude towards Barbara, Gretchen realizes the mistake she has made in giving herself to Faust. Gretchen feels she has made the worst of mistakes, commited the worst of all sins, and cries out the the Mother Mary for forgiveness, and begs the Virgin Mary to "pity my wretchedness" (I. 3447).
Notes
Gretchen goes to the Mater Dolorosa begging forgiveness or her sins. Gretchen feels her only means of salvation in to bow down at the Virgin Mother's feet, to humble herself and pay offering. Gretchen brings flowers "from the box outside my window" (I. 3437).
Gretchen seeks redemption after having given herself to Faust. Gretchen regrets her actions, but also has realized more may be to come. She seems to have realized that she has become pregnant. She speaks of a pain "inside my bosom, aching" (I. 3432).
Gretchen knows how this will affect her, the views of others towards her. This scene takes place shortly after Gretchen's conversation with Lieschen, a conversation during which Gretchen learned of another young girl's new premarriage pregnancy. Gretchen learned not only of the pregnancy, but also of the comeplete outcasting that followed. Gretchen knows if she truly is pregnant, there will be no hiding her own "sinfulness" (I. 3406).
Commentary
Gretchen goes to pray at the feet of the Virgin Mary because she feels the Virgin Mary is the only person who can truly understand. Gretchen chooses this image on the city wall over praying at the foot of the cross in the church. She seems to feel the Mater Dolorosa can relate, having suffered so terribly at the death of her own son on the cross. Gretchen seeks forgiveness for her "wretchedness" (I. 3147). Gretchen knows one of the worst sins, in her community's eyes, is premarital sex. In giving herself to Faust, she has broken one of her society's strictest rules. Gretchen has also realized her pregnancy, given hint by the pains in her stomach. She not only realizes that a pregnancy will hinder all hopes of concealing her acts, but she seems to realize that this pregnancy will bring about future consequences. Gretchen prays to the Virgin Mary, who lost her child. Gretchen knows that at some point a decision will have to be made that may result in the loss of her own.
Study Questions
- What is the significance of Gretchen taking flowers from her own pot to place in front of the image?
- Why does Gretchen feel the Virgin Mary would be able to relate to her pain?
External Resources
Works Cited
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. Faust, Part 1. The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. Vol. 2. 8th Ed. Trans. Martin Greenberg. Sarah Lawall, et al, eds. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006.