FAUST
FAUST LEGEND
FAUST was a magician, astrologer and alchemist,
famous for selling his soul to the Devil for youth, pleasure, power and knowledge.
In German legend, Faust was a magician, astrologer
and alchemist, who sold his soul to Satan for youth, pleasure,
power and knowledge. With the devil, Faust became young again
and could
perform amazing feats.
In history, there was an actual doctor named Faust. Dr.
Johann Faust was a 16th
Century German doctor who travelled widely, performed magic and claimed that the Devil was his friend. People
spoke about his evil reputation. He died under mysterious
circumstances.
The first book written about Faust was called "Faustbuch",
written in 1587,
which was a collection of tales told by Dr. Faust about magicians
like Merlin. The most famous book on Faust was the brilliant drama
written by the German writer Johann Goethe (1749-1832),
who also was a good friend of the world's greatest Classical
composer, Ludwig van Beethoven.
This drama by Goethe was called "Faust"
and is a
2-part tragic drama which has Faust, a suicidal scholar and wizard, summoning
the Devil (Mephistopheles) to make a pact.
Faust asks the Devil to give him youth and pleasure in life after
he spent his life studying and
working, The Devil was happy to comply and give Faust youth and pleasure, but he
must give his soul to the Devil when he dies. Faust agrees and
signs a contract with the Devil in BLOOD.
He seduces a woman (Gretchen) and ends up fighting and killing
her brother. God saves Faust and brings Faust
into Heaven.