Faust: Faust's Study (1): Difference between revisions

Faust's Study 1 is important to the rest of the story because this is where he invokes Mephisto into his home. Mephisto is disguised as a poodle, a black poodle. The meeting of the dog forshadows the rest of the story when Faust says "I think I see him winding a magic snare, quietly, around our feet, a noose which he'll pull tight in the future, when the time is right" (543 l.935-938).

 

Faust refers to Mephisto as "Lord of the Flies, Destroyer, Liar" after the demon changes from a black poodle into its human form (l.1116).  All of these names are references to the Devil.  However, it is Lord of the Flies that stands out the most.  This refers to the Biblical name for the Devil, Beelzebub.  Perhaps, the name is more easily recognized in conjunction with William Golding's novel, ''The Lord of the Flies'', which took its name from this passage (Rosenfield).  When Simon discovers the fly-ridden pig's head that the children have erected in Golding's novel to pay homage to the outside forces at work around them, he becomes ill and goes through a spell.  This represents an internal journey for the sole purpose of understanding oneself (Rosenfield).  When Faust pressures Mephisto into staying with him, and ultimately signs a contract for his soul in the next section, he is embarking on the same journey that Simon undertakes.  Faust must come to terms with the life that provides no stimulation for him in the course of his journey.  Though the reader at this point does not know if Faust will become involved with Mephisto for certain, Faust's eagerness to have dealings with the demon forshadows this journey.  He says: "So even in Hell there's law and order! I'm glad, for then a man might sign a contract with you gentlemen" (l.1197-1199). We are left with the question: Can Faust find a meaning to life that will satisfy both his life and himself through his dealings with Mephisto?

Faust's Study is the first section in which the personalities of Mephisto and Faust may be compared side to side. It begins to become obvious that each character's personality works off that of the other, much in the same way that a person might witness different sides to the same person.  One might even say that Faust represents the "good" side of a person, while Mephisto represents the "bad" side.  Faust is a representative of mankind "whose history on earth is one of lust and hate and greed" but in death, still goes to Heaven (Willcocks 37). Mephisto is not reedeemable, nor does he care to be.  With that being said, we move into Mephisto and Faust being the two side of a character. By Faust taking the abandoned poodle into his home in the beginning of the section, readers are introduced to his kind side.  Throughout the work so far, Faust has been somewhat of a model human, although he does dip into the occult, which by nature, is a sin against God.  However, with his still favored in the eyes of the Lord, but Mephisto's appearance causes him to fall slightly.  Faust shows signs of greed, at trying to retain the demon's services.  He continues his fall from grace by hinting that he would consider making a pact with Mephisto in lines 1197-1199.  Mephisto, on the other hand, represents the other side to a character.  His is that side that "...we dread and hate above all other creatures..." due to his sarcasm, cynacism, and purely annoying personality (Willcocks 44).  He comes before Faust, completely sarcastic, yet at the same time is very clear-headed.  Where Faust panicked upon the poodle's metamorphosis into Mephisto and began to recite The Spell of the Four Elements frantically, Mephisto retains a level head.  This allows him to dodge Faust's questions to his identity beginning with line 1114.  Later, Mephisto also uses this trait to trick Faust into giving him an outlet to escape.  Mephisto tells Faust to "let me entertain you in my own way." (1217-1218).  He then brings in a group of spirits to entertain Faust, knowing that the spirits will sing Faust to sleep, allowing Mephisto to escape.  Faust could never have come up with such a plan, nor is he capable of keeping such a clear and level head, as we witness in later sections.  So, with their different personalities, readers witness man's struggle to embrace the dark side or the light side.