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Faust: The City Wall: Difference between revisions
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==Notes== | ==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== | ==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== | ==Study Questions== | ||
#What is the significance of Gretchen taking flowers from her own pot to place in front of the image? | #What is the significance of Gretchen taking flowers from her own pot to place in front of the image? | ||