Faust. Der Tragödie erster Teil

Doctor Faust is in doubt, having striven and studied for knowledge and wisdom all his life, but despite all this he does not feel that he has really achieved anything, or even that he knows what is important in life, what “holds the world together at its core”. He curses reason and science and is more than ready to follow up his great words with wild deeds, even to take himself out of life, but then the devilishly attractive Mephistopheles crosses his path and offers to satisfy the doctor’s hunger for knowledge and experience. In return, Faust promises him his soul (not knowing that it has long been the stake of a completely different bet) and allows himself to be dragged through the “wild life”: He becomes enchanted and amused, rejuvenated and in love, but by no means calm of soul or more prudent, and thus entangles many others around him in this destructive, unfortunate game.…