Faust: Auerbach's Cellar in Leipzig: Difference between revisions

In this scene Mephistopheles takes Faust to a local tavern.  The scene opens inside the tavern with four “drinkers carousing” (563).  As these men are drinking, they are also singing a variety of songs and commenting on them.  Mephistopheles and Faust enter the scene, so Faust can learn how to relax and live a little.  Mephistopheles joins the singing by singing a song the men have never heard before; however, Faust says nothing.  After the singing the drinkers offer a toast to “Long live freedom, long live wine!” (567). Mephistopheles says he would toast to that but their wine was not good enough; he then offers them what he’s got if it will not insult there landlord.  Mephistopheles drills holes in front of each man so that their requested wine may poor from it when Mephistopheles says his few magic words.  The men are surprised by this trick and drink cup after cup, until one of the drinkers, Siebel, spills some wine and it catches ablaze.  Mephistopheles puts the fire out with some more magic words and the drinkers become very upset with this witchery.  The drinkers attack Mephistopheles with knives and he makes them think they are in a vineyard, and they grab each other by the nose and then Mephistopheles takes the spell off and they are back in the tavern while Mephistopheles and Faust have disappeared.

Cummings, Michael J. "Faust." Cummings Study Guides. 2003. 25 Feb. 2006 [http://cummingsstudyguides.net/Faust.html Faust].

Montgomery, Paul. Goethe's Faust. New York: Thor Publications, Inc., 1963. 34-36.