The Treatment of the Devil in Literature and the Faustian Bargain - Essay Example

The treatment of the Devil in Literature and the Faustian bargain Introduction The stories about relationship between the devil and individuals have often been considered by the authors as a favorable soil for creative writing. Starting from the 16th century the writers in Germany wanted to show the dominance of transcendent knowledge. "Historia von D Johann Faustus" the original book about Faust, which was written in that period and the plot of this first book is the background for further development of relations between the Devil and the Human being. Dr. Johann Faustus is introduced to the readers as the well-known magician and then he gets acquainted with Mephistopheles. Faustus is aspired for knowledge and power and he signs his contract with the Devil in his blood. Marlowe and Goethe contributed much to the development of the story about Faust and Devil. Mephistopheles and Faust: the beginning of the legend Mephistopheles prevents Dr. Faustus from his love with a woman-for-life and from God, but just promises to punish him in case of his cooperation with Christian powers. Mephistopheles takes away the life and soul of Dr. Faustus. He has no patience and tears Faustus into small pieces after 24 years. The moral of the story is to be able to resist evil. Therefore, this book is about Mephistopheles and his ability to ruin life of a human being. A destroying power of temptation and finding an easy way to the main goal of one's life is discussed in this first story about Faust. No pains, no gains – these words should have inspired Faustus in his searching for true knowledge, but not easy gains. Another writer, who continued these ideas, is Marlowe. He described Mephistopheles in a different manner. This is kind of a medieval morality play about good and evil. This tragedy contains chorus and the main figure of this story underlines his heroic features. Faustus thinks that his soul costs nothing in comparison with a power of knowledge and his own power he can gain. The essence of knowledge is discussed in this story. In the light of Doctor Faustus the issue of knowledge is considered from a very interesting perspective. Faust does not believe in philosophy anymore, he is much considered about the magic books. He thinks that there is much more power in the books of magic than in the books of philosophy, which he has already mastered. The works of Greek philosophers are considered by Dr. Faustus as the books of divine doctrine. The books of nature and the books of philosophy and science are opposed in this book. Faustus thinks that the source of knowledge can be found in different scholastic books. The issues of the eternity of universe are considered by Faustus. At the same time, the issues of Copernican theory are often introduced in the context of this story. Learnèd Faustus, To find the secrets of astronomy Graven in the book of Jove's high firmament, Did mount him up to scale Olympus' top: Where... He views the clouds, the planets, and the stars, The tropics, zones and quarters of the sky From the bright circle of the hornèd moon even to the height of primum mobile: (Marlowe 3.1-10) We can see that Marlowe introduces the usage of metaphor and Faustus does not often believe in the originality of different scientific ideas. Marlowe provides the audience with the option to find a perfect answer to different issues of astronomy. He even provides Faustus with the option to lecture in the place of the first Copernican theory development. Nevertheless, in the light of a past work Marlowe wants to say one thing, but in reality he wants to tell some different things. Some critics claimed that Faustus was "the first dramatic attempt to touchthe great problem of the relations of man to the unseen world, to paint the power of doubt in a temper leavened with superstition" or Una Ellis Fermor named Doctor Faustus as "perhaps the most notable Satanic play in literature"(Hamlin, p. 257). Marlowe deserved an overall acknowledgement of his book and numerous appraising references were produced by different critics to this version of Dr. Faustus: "monstruous opinions," "vile hereticall conceipts,"and "diabolical atheism" (Hamlin, p. 257).  In another version of Faust by Goethe it is evident that the spirit of evil is the background for the story. The world is positioned as surrounded by evil and if there is no love than only evil would exist and be dominant in the world.  Very often in my mind I restore the plot of Plato's great allegorical creative work "Allegory of the Cave", where he talked about blindness of people, who were unable to resist to their illusions. The same can be said about Dr. Faustus, because he is charmed by the illusive promises of Mephistopheles. Faust does not want to find power by means of knowledge. He is looking forward to transcendent knowledge and in such a way he is right on the way of development. Goethe is more mystical in his book and he is open for changes. His Dr. Faustus is more concerned on self-development in different directions that is why he wants to find access to unknown transcendent knowledge. The story about Faust is very interesting and this legendary plot has inspired numerous writers, film directors, artists and many other people of art to embody a constant struggle between good and evil. Of course, Goethe received his ideas about Faust story development from Marlowe's book. The English writers, Mary Shelley and Lewis tried to translate large parts of the story.  Shelley shed a light on many secrets in the story about Faust in the translation. One can find very many pitfalls in comparison and contrasting of the stories by Marlowe and Goethe. For example, Faust is dissatisfied by his learning and reflects his dislike in the opening monologue in the plays of both writers. Both, Marlowe and Goethe are puzzled by different representations of knowledge reflections in their plays. It is evident that Goethe’s Faust wants to find the answer to the question “that the influence of the spirit might not be separable from people’s agendas of personalities. The insight forces one to wonder about the original recording of the gospel—were those translators, or historians, or storytellers, influenced by personality also or wholly by the spirit?” (Durrani, 61). Faust is mainly led by the spirit, but in the essence he supports his own interests. Faust depends on language and the problem of translation occurs. Faust was puzzled by the option of sacred texts' translation. He did not know how to do it in a right way.  He tries to find the essence of spirit and of logos. Faust cannot find peace between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Faust is more interested in interpretation of different issues and he thinks that he does a right thing, when he makes a deal with the Devil. Marlowe did not make an in-depth exploration of different spiritual issues, but Goethe was very much involved in the process of finding true answers to the existent problems. Opposition of good and evil is an eternal theme, but for Faust to find a perfect balance in these terms is the only right way to his knowledge. Works cited Durrani, Osman. Faust and the Bible: A Study of Goethe’s Use of Scriptural Allusions and Christian Religious Motifs in Faust I and II. Berne: Lang, 1977. Elder, R. Bruce. "Goethe's Faust, Gertrude Stein's Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights, and Stan Brakhage's Faust Series." Canadian Journal of Film Studies 14.1 (2005): 51+. Questia. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. Hamlin, William M. "Casting Doubt in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus." Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 41.2 (2001): 257. Questia. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. Marlowe, Christopher. Doctor Faustus and Other Plays. Ed. David Bevington and Eric Rasmussen. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995. 137-246. Read More