Faust: An Overcast Day, a Field: Difference between revisions

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!" (l. 4247-4248).  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.