Faust: An Overcast Day, a Field
Summary
Faust discovers that Gretchen has been imprisoned, and Mephistopheles has known and not said a word. He is very distraught over the news: "A condemned criminal, shut up in a dungeon and suffering horrible torments, the poor unfortunate child!" (619). With indifference, Mephisto states that Gretchen would not be the first person to suffer, sending Faust into an even angrier state. Mephisto basically tells him that everything that happened to Gretchen and thus far in his life is his fault--he signed the contract, he impregnated Gretchen. Faust demands that Mephisto do something to save Gretchen from her fate, and Mephisto tells Faust that he will only be able to assist in the rescue. Faust must physically liberate her from the prison.
Notes
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 being entertained, 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 accompany him. Mephisto tells Faust that in order to save Gretchen, they must return to the town 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 he can do is "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).
Commentary
Overcast Day
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 to help. The field and the overcast day is a constant idea of nature talked or acted about throughout the entire story.
Shakespeare's Influence
Upon Faust's first meeting with 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 resemblance 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.
Study Questions
(1) What does Faust discover at the beginning of this section?
(2) Why does this discovery cause him to turn to Mephisto in anger?
(3) Why did Mephisto not share this information with Faust?
(4) What is Mephisto's callous remark in regards to Gretchen and her plight?
(5) Who is the Spirit that Faust keeps beseeching?
(6) What does he want this spirit to do?
(7) How does Mephisto place the blame for this occurance on Faust?
(8) What does Faust demand that Mephisto do in regards to the information he has discovered?
(9) What reason does Mephisto give that he and Faust should not return to save Gretchen?
(10) Mephisto says he only has the power to assist in rescuing Gretchen. How must she be liberated?
(11) What does Mephisto say that he can do to help Faust once they get to the prison?
(12) What will take Faust and Mephisto to the prison?
External Resources
Works Cited
Cooksey, Thomas L. "'Talk Not of a Wife': The Devil and Daniel Webster, Cabin in the Sky, and Damn Yankees--American Contributions to the Faust Legend." Journal of Popular Film & Television 27 (1999): 18-27. Literature Resource Center. Macon State College, Forsyth. 03 Mar. 2006. Keyword: Faust.
Grandy, David. "Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies." Santa Monica. 17.1/2 (2005).
Gray, Ronald D. Goethe: A Critical Introduction. Cambridge University Press. New York: 1967.