FAUST-MEPHISTO

Dr. Johann Faust was an actual person in the 1500's. He became a folk legend before the end of the century because he had "traveled widely, performed magical feats, and died under mysterious circumstances. According to legend, he had sold his soul to the devil (personified by Mephistopheles in many literary versions) in exchange for youth, knowledge, and magical power." Beginning at the end of that century, plays, poems, operas, oratorios, stage music, and symphonic works have been written on themes which have become attached to Faust's name. These themes range from Faust as a scoundrel justly punished to Faust as heroic seeker of knowledge worthy of praise (1).

QUESTIONS

1. Applying Arthur C. Clarke's definition that "any science sufficiently advanced seems like magic" to the Faust theme as described so far, isn't striving for new knowledge worth any price? Whatever your response is, give reasons and state feelings.

2. When "innumerable folk tales and invented stories became attached to his name" (1) so quickly, what might that say about applicability of the Faust story to contemporary life problems? Then? Now?

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