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10th Jan '13 1:44:31 AM LordGro

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The greatest embodiment of the story is probably [[Creator/JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's]] ''Faust: Eine Tragödie'' (begun ''c''. 1770). Published in two parts: the first (1808) tells the story of Faust's pact with Mephistopheles and his affair with the hapless Gretchen; the second (1832) recounts his union with Helen of Troy and the birth of Euphorion, the Spirit of Poetry, from this mating of northern Romanticism and Greek classicism. Despite the work's title, Goethe would seem to have been the first to have given the Faust story itself a happy ending (though earlier DealWithTheDevil stories had sometimes featured [[{{Jesus}} Christ]], the Virgin Mary, or some saint, tricking the devil out of his prey, often in an elaborate trial scene featuring a number of quite far-fetched legalistic quibbles) -- Faust is redeemed from Hell because he uses his magical power to ''serve'' his fellow men, rather than exploit them. Goethe also popularized the image of Mephistopheles as a DeadpanSnarker in red silk doublet and hose (leading to the modern "devil in tights" image); his devil is less an elemental spirit of pure Evil than a sort of universal cynic.

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The greatest embodiment of the story is probably [[Creator/JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's]] ''[[Theatre/{{Faust}} Faust: Eine Tragödie]]'' (begun ''c''. 1770). Published in two parts: the first (1808) tells the story of Faust's pact with Mephistopheles and his affair with the hapless Gretchen; the second (1832) recounts his union with Helen of Troy and the birth of Euphorion, the Spirit of Poetry, from this mating of northern Romanticism and Greek classicism. Despite the work's title, Goethe would seem to have been the first to have given the Faust story itself a happy ending (though earlier DealWithTheDevil stories had sometimes featured [[{{Jesus}} Christ]], the Virgin Mary, or some saint, tricking the devil out of his prey, often in an elaborate trial scene featuring a number of quite far-fetched legalistic quibbles) -- Faust is redeemed from Hell because he uses his magical power to ''serve'' his fellow men, rather than exploit them. Goethe also popularized the image of Mephistopheles as a DeadpanSnarker in red silk doublet and hose (leading to the modern "devil in tights" image); his devil is less an elemental spirit of pure Evil than a sort of universal cynic.

1st Dec '12 11:21:08 AM Sterok

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10th Nov '12 3:45:08 PM DynamicDragon

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1st Sep '12 9:48:30 AM RedFoal

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21st Jul '12 6:40:34 PM stevebat

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Cautiously Editing.

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18th Jun '12 3:34:42 AM FELH2

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Fixing Namespace

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13th Jun '12 2:44:43 PM FELH2

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'''Faust''' is the central character of the archetypical story of a DealWithTheDevil. Though there were earlier stories of individuals bargaining with demons for magical power (such as Simon Magus, Cyprian, and Theophilus), it is the legend of an [[TheRenaissance early 16th century]] [[HolyRomanEmpire German]] scholar that has been the most frequent and profoundest inspiration for works of art on this theme.

The original seems to have been a John or George Sabellicus, born near the end of the 15th century, a ne'er-do-well con-man who passed himself off as a scholar and conjuror. There is some confusion as to whether ''Faust'' was his real surname or a pseudonym, and as to whether it was derived from Latin ''faustus'' (="lucky") or the German ''Faust'' (="fist"); he seems originally to have been described, not as a doctor, but a master of arts; there is even some doubt as to his given names ([[JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Goethe]] calls him neither ''Johannes'' or ''Georg'', but ''Heinrich'') or whether there might not have been more than one Faustus. Be all that as it may, he seems to have made a living by various snake-oil type schemes (one was for a depilatory that took off not only the client's beard, but "the skin and most of the flesh as well"), until he came to a bad end -- his body is said to have been found mutilated, sometime around the year 1540. Various magical manuals ascribed to Faust circulated the first quarter of the 16th century, at least one of which contains the name of a demon, "Mephostophiles" [''sic''].

The legend that he had sold his soul for magical powers, and had been torn to pieces by devils upon the expiration of the contract, seems to have sprung up immediately, spread by Lutheran preachers who used him as an Awful Example. The first surviving fictional account of his adventures was a chapbook that appeared in 1587, ''Historia von D. Johan. Fausten dem weitbeschreyten Zauberer und Schwartzkünstler'' ("History of Dr. Jno. Faust, the far-famed Wizard and Sorcerer").

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The original seems to have been a John or George Sabellicus, born near the end of the 15th century, a ne'er-do-well con-man who passed himself off as a scholar and conjuror. There is some confusion as to whether ''Faust'' was his real surname or a pseudonym, and as to whether it was derived from Latin ''faustus'' (="lucky") or the German ''Faust'' (="fist"); he seems originally to have been described, not as a doctor, but a master of arts; there is even some doubt as to his given names ([[Creator/JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Goethe]] calls him neither ''Johannes'' or ''Georg'', but ''Heinrich'') or whether there might not have been more than one Faustus. Be all that as it may, he seems to have made a living by various snake-oil type schemes (one was for a depilatory that took off not only the client's beard, but "the skin and most of the flesh as well"), until he came to a bad end -- his body is said to have been found mutilated, sometime around the year 1540. Various magical manuals ascribed to Faust circulated the first quarter of the 16th century, at least one of which contains the name of a demon, "Mephostophiles" [''sic''].

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The greatest embodiment of the story is probably [[JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's]] ''Faust: Eine Tragödie'' (begun ''c''. 1770). Published in two parts: the first (1808) tells the story of Faust's pact with Mephistopheles and his affair with the hapless Gretchen; the second (1832) recounts his union with Helen of Troy and the birth of Euphorion, the Spirit of Poetry, from this mating of northern Romanticism and Greek classicism. Despite the work's title, Goethe would seem to have been the first to have given the Faust story itself a happy ending (though earlier DealWithTheDevil stories had sometimes featured [[{{Jesus}} Christ]], the Virgin Mary, or some saint, tricking the devil out of his prey, often in an elaborate trial scene featuring a number of quite far-fetched legalistic quibbles) -- Faust is redeemed from Hell because he uses his magical power to ''serve'' his fellow men, rather than exploit them. Goethe also popularized the image of Mephistopheles as a DeadpanSnarker in red silk doublet and hose (leading to the modern "devil in tights" image); his devil is less an elemental spirit of pure Evil than a sort of universal cynic.

Most subsequent versions of the Faust story either base themselves on one of these two dramas or react against them. The character has been depicted by artists such as Rembrandt and Delacroix; and by composers such as HectorBerlioz, FranzLiszt, CharlesGounod, Boïto and RichardWagner. Faust has also appeared in cinematic versions, such as Murnau's ''Faust: Eine deutsche Volkssage'' (1926) and JanSvankmajer's ''Faust'' (1994); while Goethe's version of the story inspired a musical adaptation in two linked albums from metal band Kamelot, ''Epica'' (2003) and ''The Black Halo'' (2005).

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24th May '12 11:28:01 AM elimeli

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17th May '12 8:33:12 PM nombretomado

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In this or similar form the legend spread to England, where ChristopherMarlowe would embody it in ''[[Theatre/DoctorFaustus The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus]]'' (first published 1604, probably written ''c''. 1590). Marlowe suggests a more complicated figure than the mere seeker after wealth and pleasure presented in earlier versions; his play establishes Faustus as a great scholar, one who longs for Knowledge as well as Power, who turns to sorcery after he has already reached the limits of human science and philosophy. His Faustus vacillates more between God and the Devil than the simple character of the chapbook (his [[GoodAngelBadAngel Good and Evil Angels]] appearing bodily, though presumably not in miniature form a few inches above his shoulders, given the conditions of the Elizabethan stage); given several opportunities to repent, he nevertheless proves obdurate, and is duly haled off to Hell, leaving the Chorus to point the {{Aesop}} that there are [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow Some Things Man Was Not Meant To Know]].

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In this or similar form the legend spread to England, where Creator/ChristopherMarlowe would embody it in ''[[Theatre/DoctorFaustus The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus]]'' (first published 1604, probably written ''c''. 1590). Marlowe suggests a more complicated figure than the mere seeker after wealth and pleasure presented in earlier versions; his play establishes Faustus as a great scholar, one who longs for Knowledge as well as Power, who turns to sorcery after he has already reached the limits of human science and philosophy. His Faustus vacillates more between God and the Devil than the simple character of the chapbook (his [[GoodAngelBadAngel Good and Evil Angels]] appearing bodily, though presumably not in miniature form a few inches above his shoulders, given the conditions of the Elizabethan stage); given several opportunities to repent, he nevertheless proves obdurate, and is duly haled off to Hell, leaving the Chorus to point the {{Aesop}} that there are [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow Some Things Man Was Not Meant To Know]].

8th May '12 7:14:25 AM animeg3282

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Just moving the YMMV

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