Thanks for the review Cliff. While I do agree that parts of Faust are unnecessarily convoluted I do like the redemptive ending. Mephisto loses the wager because Faust can't have an experience that is able to give him ultimate satisfaction. Paradoxically only Faust's desire in the form of his love for the 'eternal feminine' can make him happy. Hence his ascension on the spiral staircase to heaven in the finale.
Vielleicht ist "Faust" nicht umsonst so verworren? Warum wird das Schaffen von Goethe als Denkmal betrachtet und nicht als Spiegel der Prozesse seiner Zeit? War Goethe selbst durch Eitelkeit oder Ehrgeiz interessiert - seiner Arbeit lag Eitelkeit oder Ehrgeiz zugrunde? Wie könnte der Erfolg von "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers" auf Goethe gewirkt haben? Goethe schrieb zwei Werke über die Legende von Doktor Faust. Das erste, frühere "UhrFaust", entspricht vollständig der Legende inhaltlich und damit auch den Dogmen. Das zweite stimmt nicht mit der Legende überein. Wenn es nur um die Handlung geht, aber das Konzept des Kampfes zwischen Gut und Böse, das auf Dogmen beruht, wird verändert. In der Zeit der Entstehung des neuen "Faust" war Deutschland kein vereintes Land, es war die Zeit Napoleons, der offensichtlich einen Eindruck auf die deutsche Gesellschaft machte. Diese Utopie öffnete den Weg im Bewusstsein der deutschen Gesellschaft zur Imperialismus? Die Geschichte selbst gibt die Antwort - ja. Das Konzept der Aufhebung von Dogmen (Moral, Recht usw.) zugunsten großer Ziele wurde auch in anderen Ländern gefragt. Und das ist auch eine Tatsache. Hier ist also der "Schmetterlingseffekt". Dies ist ein Buch in Form eines Märchens-Mystery über die Mischung von Goethes Zeit und der heutigen Zeit, das Geheimnis von "Faust" erzählt, der keine Tragödie im klassischen Sinne ist, sondern etwas anderes. Es scheint, dass Literaturkritiker und Historiker der deutschen Literatur einen neuen Blick auf "Faust" von Goethe werfen müssen. Meinung basierend auf dem Buch "Faust" von Goethe - Tragödie oder Dystopie? Warum hat Goethe den Sinn der Faust-Legende verändert? Goethe hat den Sinn der Faust-Legende verändert, um die philosophischen und moralischen Aspekte dieser Geschichte hervorzuheben. In seiner Interpretation wird Faust nicht nur als ein Mensch dargestellt, der nach Wissen und Macht strebt, sondern auch als Symbol für den ewigen Kampf der menschlichen Seele mit inneren Widersprüchen, Versuchungen und Ambitionen. Goethe fügte seiner Version von Faust auch ethische Fragen zur freien Willensentscheidung, zur Verantwortung für die eigenen Handlungen und zur Stellung des Menschen in der Welt hinzu. Dadurch wurde die Faust-Legende nicht nur zu einer Geschichte über den teuflischen Pakt und die Erlösung, sondern auch zu einem tiefgründigen philosophischen Werk über den Sinn des Lebens und die spirituelle Entwicklung des Menschen. Das ist die Antwort, wenn es sich um eine Tragödie handelt. Was wäre, wenn dies eine Utopie wäre?
A writer-I think it was the novelist Claire Messud, but don’t quote me-suggested that the literary critic should aspire to be able to say of a novel that “this is a great book even though I didn’t like it.” The implication is that there is much more to what makes a book great and worth reading than merely one’s visceral reaction of liking it or not.
Digging the tache cliff. This also gives me an excuse to use my favourite joke A surly English overseer is standing at the entrance to a construction site in London. It’s a filthy, wet day. He sees approaching him a shabby figure, with clay pipe clenched in mouth and a battered raincoat, and scowlingly thinks, Another effing Mick on the scrounge. The Irishman shambles up to him and asks if there’s any casual job going. “You don’t look to me,” says the supervisor, “as if you know the difference between a girder and a joist.” “I do, too,” says the Irishman indignantly. “The first of them wrote Faust and the second one wrote Ulysses.”
Note to sellouts hating researchers as the world burns. You are self owning fuck Islam Satanists for the money. Nothing personal but I hate you people.
Such a perfect narration you have mate. I have recently came around to your channel for the summary of Faust and it was far more enchanting than just listening to a summary. I hope you make more videos cause a new sense of a new interpretor always gives us motivation to read a book and you definitely nailed it. Thank you A LOT.
Faust is just awesome - the best book i had to read in high school, and dam, your analysis is better than most of the stuff my teacher talked back then. Greetings from Germany :)
I used to read Faust the same way you did. And I read many books the way you do. But I've read it many many times now and I also know a lot about Goethe as a person - as far as one can claim that - and today I appreciate part II much more than part I. Being informed about and considering the historical context and the author makes this book so much richer.
The consistency and excellence which have always characterized your channel provide a nice backdrop for your recent change of mind regarding reviews. Bring it on!
If you're into that sort of German literature, you should definitely read something by E. T. A. Hoffmann (e.g. "Die Elixiere des Teufels" or "Der Sandmann").
You should read the entire Faust 2 man, really, it might help seeing it better. The way it involves Greek myths and characters, their relations with Mephisto and Faust, it's really amazing...the way it talks about Goethe's present through his past is really nice.
Great review as always, Cliff. Although I love discovering new authors from your reviews of lesser-known authors, your reviews of classics like this are definitely my favorite.
In the argument of optimist vs pessimist; I find myself to always think about the worst case scenario in every situation. People would usually call this pessimism, but I always find the worst case scenario almost never happens. I'm always prepared for the worst but never experience it, which leaves me always feeling pleasantly surprised and makes me feel optimistic in general. LOL! I find this an interesting point of reference for most polarizing points of view in general. Great video and I'm glad I just found your channel after reading Faust.
I haven’t read “Faust”, but the dilemma or struggle in life is not to adore the sun’s light or the moon’s light but stay aware of the law that created them both; and controls each of their outcomes in the end. Thank you for the review.
In college I had to take a World Literature class and I thought maybe I would like this class and I turned out to love it! We ended up reading Faust and it really opened my eyes about counterparts and freewill! I always loved the imagery and the craziness that went on while Faust kept getting younger. A classic that I think still holds up but yeah the ending was kinda blah and I really hoped for Satan to take his soul but eh!
Exquisite review! Talking about filters made me think of "Blindness" by José Saramago. An excellent book, I would love to see your take on that one. Greetings from Tunisia!
Since you reviewed Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, I think you would really enjoy Steppenwolf as well. For the late 20’s, it’s a very dreamlike and very surreal novel on par with Philip K Dick and James Joyce, if those are even good comparisons. Love you reviews , Cliff! Keep up the good work!
I totally agree with the feeling that chronic optimism is disrespectful of suffering. I held sacred pessimism for ages. Now in my elder years I take a middle way of equanimity and compassion for sufferers and deniers alike.
My soul has lived in limbo, shackled to irons and chains am I punished to live out Promethian tasks while I fail there quenching. I call my appeal to that above my onlooker from heights untold and unreadable in mortal realms save me relinquish me from my ailing of my souls doing.
When you were talking about books that you hated at first but absolutely loved on a second read perfectly describes my experience with Gravity’s Rainbow
I read this on summer vacation as a teenager and tried it as an audiobook in retirement. Totally apart from the difference in personal experience, the audiobook helps me to appreciate the poetry by sounding it out.
I saw you have uploaded this review which made me pick up the unread copy of Faust from my shelf and start reading. I am now at the second part. It is really hard for me to understand at times however watching your video makes me push myself to continue reading
Am just at the 14:00 mark and was surprised when you said you didn't love the book. I'd recommend that you watch some of your other recent videos and be aware of how animated, lively, and passionate you are in this one compared to those. This book clearly lit a fire in you and I felt that I had to point that out!
On books you don't necessarily like. I read 'The Heron' by Giorgio Bassani last year and I thought it was OK, 3 out of 5, whatever. Then as time passed I kept recalling scenes from the book, especially the restaurant scene at the hotel, but also others. Somehow they had lodged themselves in my head in extraordinary detail and stayed there. I think I got more out of that book as a memory than I did when I was actually reading it. It's strange, I don't think that's ever happened before. I've read books that I didn't initially like and then grew to love as the story progressed but nothing quite like that where there is almost a sort of delayed consciousness of a novel. So you never know, you could read something one day and it won't really make sense until much later. I'm actually a bit scared to re-read it in case I was right the first time!
The black dog is also a reference cornelius agrippa, the man who doctor faust is partially based, who was an Occult philosopher who always had a black dog following him, and when he died, the dog suposedly killed himself jumping into a river
It can be important to read books we don't like because many of the best books don't fully reveal themselves at first. Our pain in reading them is a sign that we're starting to become the reader these books want us to be.
This is the first video of yours that I watch and I really liked it. Thank you for your review. I also wanted to add that we that read a translated version of Faust, unfortunately, may not find it as great as it actually is. Madame De Staël, a french writer and intellectual, has said that Faust is an untranslatable poem. I read the albanian translation and eventho' the translater is one of the best and he did an excellent job, I think the original version must be far more great.
Those of you who know German, read it in the original. The beautiful language alone makes it very enjoyable to read. For those who want to watch a movie adaptation, I recommend the one by Aleksandr Sokurov.
@@silvasilvasilva It helps to just start reading something while accepting that you won't understand everything. Don't try to understand every sentence in it's entirety, just to get the gist of what is being told. You will notice that your understanding gets better, even in the course of one book. Though in this case, Faust is not the best starting option, I think.
Faust is on my TBR pile. I'm reading Master and Margarita by Bulgakov and Sous le soleil de Satan by Georges Bernanos lately. The devil figure in litterature is truely fascinating.
The irony of Mephisto’s words about rulessness and his very very serious problem with himspef being subjected to some like leaving a house and needing blood for a deal
Just finished Faust. So glad I found this video. I love your style, man. Definitely subscribing. Also totally on board with you reviewing books you don’t particularly like! Wholly agree with what you said.
Good job! i guess this Goethe quote is for you: " Das Denken ist der Feind des Handelns " very deep! and there is really genius Russian Faust Movie you should try (in English!) and before i forget, i think the essence of Faust is that we all would make a deal with MEPHISTO - the real question is: How do you define fame and fortune? here is where Mephisto is stepping in...
You should review "Maria Stuart" by Friedrich Schiller and "Emilia Galloti" Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. They are also considered great tragedies in German literature!
So true about learning about why you don’t like something. I did that for my art history class. I hate Picasso’s art and got an A+ in the class because I wrote a 20 page paper on his life and explaining his artwork and why I didn’t care for his style.
I think Nietzsche loved the book because it was so prophetic. It's almost like Nietzsche's "Parabel of the Madman" is a concentrated version of Goethe's Faust (which I read every other year... because I'm an Austrian and weird, and because we Europeans are a "Faustian" sort of people). Faust invited Nihilism "Mephistopheles" into his soul. What's the consequence? His cynical nature becomes heightened, and because of that, he becomes capable of destroying Innocence "Gretchen", as a little slip... Whoops. It is, to quote Nietzsche, the story of the next two hundred years of humanity. It is our story so to speak. Here is his Parable of the Madman, I highly recommend reading this alongside Faust: historyguide.org/europe/madman.html
FAUST 2 is kind of an afterthought, written 1825 - 1831 (and published only posthumously). Goethe finished "FAUST I" in 1806 (he was 57 at the time), after working on it for most of his life. So he began writing the second part *20 years after* he finished part one, and he finished it much faster. Note as well: Part One kind of ends with Faust's soul being taken away by Mephistopheles, so the 'happy ending' is only there, if you take both parts as a whole. Part two is written as an attempt to expand on the themes of part one, by linking them to various figures from classical literature and mythology (plain Gretchen is swapped with Helena of Troy, the most beautiful woman ever) but the core story ist basically already there - and done much better in part one, I think, more condensed, with more humour and, something you can unfortunately not tell by the translated text, an infinitude of quotable lines: During Goethe's times, German poets would quote the Bible or mythology. After Goethe, everybody is quoting Faust.
As a 65 YO university professor, I am Faust (except for the girlfriend, Devil-mate, adventures, and orgies-hell, even the little blue pills don’t help anymore). The only things that seem to help prepare for the dirt nap are to fully live in the paradox of life, do one’s best to help and serve others, and enjoy good coffee frequently. Cliff, this was one of your best reviews. BTW, M. De Bougleron says to say hi and will play a gigue for you anytime.
That book is so original for a classic but especially initial parts i didn’t understand shit. I even dropped it because of my weak psychology back then but i picked up again. Still I believe I have gaps in my mind maybe need to fill it with mythology first i dunno. I certainly feel dumb. But to my analysis itss complicated nature also arises from original language which is German. I think I’ll comprehend it further if i keep reading German authers’ books.
Mephisto is the incarnation of evil: intelligent, polite, a man of world, nihilist, sadist - and one of many. He knows everything about you but cannot love, only wants to destroy you. Goethe wants to show that Satan as the center of evil does not exist, evil is dissipated, evasive, cannot be grasped. "Man is rid of the evil one, but the evil ones are still there" (line 2509). Faust wants to solve the riddle of evil (line 4038-4040), but Mephisto doesn't want him to (line 4041ff.). I've read the manifesto of the columbine killers parallel to "Faust" with my students - exact same message. - Actually Faust gets what he wants, he experiences what holds the world together: according to Empedocles hate (Mephisto) and love (Margarete), but he doesn't realise it. So, you get what you want, but it turns out to be very different from what you've expected and you won't even know! - And when you make a deal with the devil, YOU will survive, but the victims are the one you love and her family. - I am fascinated by one question: Gretchen is "saved", because she regrets etc. etc. - but who the hell knows about this, about what she did to deserve to be forgiven? In Goethes play, nobody but God. But what if God does not exist ... ? Then you are ruined, damned by society, absolutely isolated - and that's it - forever. -- I think Goethe wrote this quasi-happy-ends because he was terrified himself by what he realised while writing this play.
I'm sure somebody already mentioned, but the old german Pudel was better translated to a hound or a sheep-dog not a poodle. Goethe actually means a big dog, different to what that word means today.
You should do a clip roll of all the times you sip your cup through out the video upon first sip of the coffee. This would be a great way get subscribers
Hey Cliff, Are you joining the cast of Peaky Blinders next season? Great review. I may check this book out for the start of the New Year. Have a great week!
Heehee, you should read Part II more carefully. It’s great! Each scene in Faust part II is essentially an almost independent episode like the entirety of Part I. There was a historical Faust btw. He started to amass a bad reputation due to various superstitions so he left his town, and went missing. I believe his supposed death was invented from a different event altogether: there must have been an early chemist in the 15th or 16th c. who was experimenting with explosives and blew up his lab. Even today it’s not uncommon for chemists to accidentally blow things up. Eventually that was interpreted by superstitious folk as the devil killing him and dragging him to hell... as for accusations of witchcraft they were then very uncommon. So the Christian message was very disgusting actually: through and through anti-intellectual. But Goethe is a genius because he redeems that. He expunges christian corruption and decay and replaced it with classical beauty. You can see that in his style as well, it becomes progressively more architectural as the play proceeds in Part II. Interesting that Faust is almost satisfied by imagining a geoengineering project that would extract tidal energy. That is the pint where he dies. I think the redemption is almost cloaked in the Christian doctrine of divine grace, with Gretchen being the virgin Mary and all that, but it is actually more than that - it’s a negation of the doctrine of original sin and an affirmation of humanity. I love it.
I’ve been in the middle of Pt 2 for a while now (over a year). I have a cool Franklin Library hardcover version. Think I’ll pick it up again tonight. Thanks for the review.
I kinda wish I had watched this before watching Madoka. Then again, watching madoka gave me context for this video. Well, thanks for the video, have a nice day.
Would be interested in hearing your thoughts on Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. Both Hesse and Goethe are Germans dealing with the similar topic and yet take two quite different paths in their books
Hi, a new fan here, discovered your channel a few days ago and have been binge-watching your videos and adding books to me reading list ever since. Could you please review something by Paul Auster? I have only read The New York Trilogy so far, but I utterly loved the first and the last part of that trilogy.
So I've been watching you for a long time. I cant really say why, but this review feels better than others you have done. Maybe it's because you discussed things that you didnt like more. I think you sometimes tend to be too positive, ironic given your disposition. If every book feels like a 10/10 when you review them, it makes it difficult to discern what the really good stuff is y'know? Of course taste is subjective, and a great book may seem horrible to others. But I come here to hear about your taste. The good and the bad you have to say. Or maybe you've just gotten better at reviewing books and I just haven't noticed until now because it's been a slow climb. Either way, keep it up man I'm rootin' for ya
You may write plot twists but you'll never get to "Tried to impress the Emperor in a play and use my bargain with the devil to revive Helen of Troy, get dazzled by her beauty and try to hold her only for her to FUCKING BLOW UP and now you need to descend to Tartarus to retrieve her back and talk with the whole of the Greek mythology" kind of plot twist
Great review. From my reading experience, the process and the end result of the pursuit is pretty much aligned with Maslow’s research of the hierarchy of human needs, where self-actualisation is achieved by devoting oneself to something bigger than one’s life. Instead of being holy or devil, Faust is merely being human. I feel like Goethe was reviewing his life and trying to reach peace with himself in writing the book, especially considering his age. Despite the negativity of Faust’s character and morality, I find this book pretty positive and encouraging and it helped me get out my depression.
Yeah, on surface, I can’t see why this would be given such paramount importance to German literature. The storyline is like an opera with tenuous link between acts.
Very early in life I've learned that you should read the classics - one of those mid-school teacher advice everybody hear once in awhile... and, well, I belived. Have been reading "books I don't necessarily love" since then. It's not always pleasant, but I couldn't imagine pursuing literature any other way. Also, I believe it may help us to find deeper means of pleasure - perhaps a way to enforce sophistication to our taste.
I agree! Literature is a bigger phenomenon than our imposed accolades and tastes make it out to be, and that's where its true potency lies. Even Werner Herzog once said his prose will outlive his films.
i'm a big fan of the opera by gounod [and to a lesser extent the murnau movie, even though i love silent films; it's just that it also deals with Part II and thus is... a little confusing haha]. looking forward to having to read it for world lit 2 next semester, since it's been on my to read list for ages.
Goethe’s FAUST. Some impressive passages, but does not fit our current needs. That said, by making use of our editing services at $10 a page, it should be possible to elevate this piece in tone and increase readability to the point where our “junior” 12-18 year old YA division would be interested. Yours sincerely, Chump & Sucker Publications, Inc.
Thanks for the review Cliff. While I do agree that parts of Faust are unnecessarily convoluted I do like the redemptive ending. Mephisto loses the wager because Faust can't have an experience that is able to give him ultimate satisfaction. Paradoxically only Faust's desire in the form of his love for the 'eternal feminine' can make him happy. Hence his ascension on the spiral staircase to heaven in the finale.
instablaster...
Vielleicht ist "Faust" nicht umsonst so verworren?
Warum wird das Schaffen von Goethe als Denkmal betrachtet und nicht als Spiegel der Prozesse seiner Zeit? War Goethe selbst durch Eitelkeit oder Ehrgeiz interessiert - seiner Arbeit lag Eitelkeit oder Ehrgeiz zugrunde? Wie könnte der Erfolg von "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers" auf Goethe gewirkt haben? Goethe schrieb zwei Werke über die Legende von Doktor Faust. Das erste, frühere "UhrFaust", entspricht vollständig der Legende inhaltlich und damit auch den Dogmen. Das zweite stimmt nicht mit der Legende überein. Wenn es nur um die Handlung geht, aber das Konzept des Kampfes zwischen Gut und Böse, das auf Dogmen beruht, wird verändert. In der Zeit der Entstehung des neuen "Faust" war Deutschland kein vereintes Land, es war die Zeit Napoleons, der offensichtlich einen Eindruck auf die deutsche Gesellschaft machte. Diese Utopie öffnete den Weg im Bewusstsein der deutschen Gesellschaft zur Imperialismus? Die Geschichte selbst gibt die Antwort - ja. Das Konzept der Aufhebung von Dogmen (Moral, Recht usw.) zugunsten großer Ziele wurde auch in anderen Ländern gefragt. Und das ist auch eine Tatsache. Hier ist also der "Schmetterlingseffekt". Dies ist ein Buch in Form eines Märchens-Mystery über die Mischung von Goethes Zeit und der heutigen Zeit, das Geheimnis von "Faust" erzählt, der keine Tragödie im klassischen Sinne ist, sondern etwas anderes. Es scheint, dass Literaturkritiker und Historiker der deutschen Literatur einen neuen Blick auf "Faust" von Goethe werfen müssen. Meinung basierend auf dem Buch "Faust" von Goethe - Tragödie oder Dystopie?
Warum hat Goethe den Sinn der Faust-Legende verändert? Goethe hat den Sinn der Faust-Legende verändert, um die philosophischen und moralischen Aspekte dieser Geschichte hervorzuheben. In seiner Interpretation wird Faust nicht nur als ein Mensch dargestellt, der nach Wissen und Macht strebt, sondern auch als Symbol für den ewigen Kampf der menschlichen Seele mit inneren Widersprüchen, Versuchungen und Ambitionen. Goethe fügte seiner Version von Faust auch ethische Fragen zur freien Willensentscheidung, zur Verantwortung für die eigenen Handlungen und zur Stellung des Menschen in der Welt hinzu. Dadurch wurde die Faust-Legende nicht nur zu einer Geschichte über den teuflischen Pakt und die Erlösung, sondern auch zu einem tiefgründigen philosophischen Werk über den Sinn des Lebens und die spirituelle Entwicklung des Menschen.
Das ist die Antwort, wenn es sich um eine Tragödie handelt. Was wäre, wenn dies eine Utopie wäre?
Arthur Shelby reads Faust
True.
A writer-I think it was the novelist Claire Messud, but don’t quote me-suggested that the literary critic should aspire to be able to say of a novel that “this is a great book even though I didn’t like it.” The implication is that there is much more to what makes a book great and worth reading than merely one’s visceral reaction of liking it or not.
That's exactly how I felt about The Stranger by Camus.
@@onfaerystories get out!
You have just made me feel like reading a book I never thought I would feel like reading, thanks!
Digging the tache cliff. This also gives me an excuse to use my favourite joke
A surly English overseer is standing at the entrance to a construction site in London. It’s a filthy, wet day. He sees approaching him a shabby figure, with clay pipe clenched in mouth and a battered raincoat, and scowlingly thinks, Another effing Mick on the scrounge. The Irishman shambles up to him and asks if there’s any casual job going. “You don’t look to me,” says the supervisor, “as if you know the difference between a girder and a joist.” “I do, too,” says the Irishman indignantly. “The first of them wrote Faust and the second one wrote Ulysses.”
I won't forget this one! 😁
Gold, Jerry! Gold!
“I was rooting for Mephistopheles and contemptuous of Faust.” - Hannibal (also, same)
Note to sellouts hating researchers as the world burns. You are self owning fuck Islam Satanists for the money. Nothing personal but I hate you people.
Such a perfect narration you have mate. I have recently came around to your channel for the summary of Faust and it was far more enchanting than just listening to a summary. I hope you make more videos cause a new sense of a new interpretor always gives us motivation to read a book and you definitely nailed it. Thank you A LOT.
That mustache is growing on me. I mean my mustache, based on your mustache.
If you are interested in Goethe, I highly recommend that you read Conversations with Goethe by Eckermann; Nietzsche called it "the best German book".
Faust is just awesome - the best book i had to read in high school, and dam, your analysis is better than most of the stuff my teacher talked back then. Greetings from Germany :)
the music is such a nice touch while reading the curse, great review!
I used to read Faust the same way you did. And I read many books the way you do. But I've read it many many times now and I also know a lot about Goethe as a person - as far as one can claim that - and today I appreciate part II much more than part I. Being informed about and considering the historical context and the author makes this book so much richer.
I agree, this is how I read Dostoevsky! Reading a bio and then reading the works as I get to them in his life.
Since when did Cliff join the peaky blinders?
holy shit now i cant unsee it
It must be the aftermath of reading Ligotti's "Conspiracy against the Human Race".
Arthur Shelby.
I bet he's been listening to IDLES
I can never escape weak references to popular TV
The consistency and excellence which have always characterized your channel provide a nice backdrop for your recent change of mind regarding reviews. Bring it on!
If you're into that sort of German literature, you should definitely read something by E. T. A. Hoffmann (e.g. "Die Elixiere des Teufels" or "Der Sandmann").
Tomcat Murr is one of my favourite novels.
Also one of the most interesting concepts in the history of literature!!
"Love wins in the end" the lesson of Faust. Love even overcomes death.
You should read the entire Faust 2 man, really, it might help seeing it better. The way it involves Greek myths and characters, their relations with Mephisto and Faust, it's really amazing...the way it talks about Goethe's present through his past is really nice.
Great review as always, Cliff. Although I love discovering new authors from your reviews of lesser-known authors, your reviews of classics like this are definitely my favorite.
The best way to describe Mephistopheles is he is Satan's lawyer and head of Hell's legal department.
Heey! Thanks for the review. I just read it for the first time and getting some background on Goethe and his era certainly helps. so thanks for that!
In the argument of optimist vs pessimist; I find myself to always think about the worst case scenario in every situation. People would usually call this pessimism, but I always find the worst case scenario almost never happens. I'm always prepared for the worst but never experience it, which leaves me always feeling pleasantly surprised and makes me feel optimistic in general. LOL! I find this an interesting point of reference for most polarizing points of view in general. Great video and I'm glad I just found your channel after reading Faust.
I haven’t read “Faust”, but the dilemma or struggle in life is not to adore the sun’s light or the moon’s light but stay aware of the law that created them both; and controls each of their outcomes in the end. Thank you for the review.
The greatest literary work of German literature and one of the greatest books in human history
They say it’s based on a true story.
"When you make deals with a crazy man even the devil gets Injured"
-Mephistopheles
In college I had to take a World Literature class and I thought maybe I would like this class and I turned out to love it! We ended up reading Faust and it really opened my eyes about counterparts and freewill! I always loved the imagery and the craziness that went on while Faust kept getting younger. A classic that I think still holds up but yeah the ending was kinda blah and I really hoped for Satan to take his soul but eh!
Exquisite review! Talking about filters made me think of "Blindness" by José Saramago. An excellent book, I would love to see your take on that one. Greetings from Tunisia!
Since you reviewed Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, I think you would really enjoy Steppenwolf as well. For the late 20’s, it’s a very dreamlike and very surreal novel on par with Philip K Dick and James Joyce, if those are even good comparisons. Love you reviews , Cliff! Keep up the good work!
I totally agree with the feeling that chronic optimism is disrespectful of suffering. I held sacred pessimism for ages. Now in my elder years I take a middle way of equanimity and compassion for sufferers and deniers alike.
My soul has lived in limbo, shackled to irons and chains am I punished to live out Promethian tasks while I fail there quenching. I call my appeal to that above my onlooker from heights untold and unreadable in mortal realms save me relinquish me from my ailing of my souls doing.
When you were talking about books that you hated at first but absolutely loved on a second read perfectly describes my experience with Gravity’s Rainbow
I read this on summer vacation as a teenager and tried it as an audiobook in retirement. Totally apart from the difference in personal experience, the audiobook helps me to appreciate the poetry by sounding it out.
I saw you have uploaded this review which made me pick up the unread copy of Faust from my shelf and start reading. I am now at the second part. It is really hard for me to understand at times however watching your video makes me push myself to continue reading
Faust Knows All Outcomes
Am just at the 14:00 mark and was surprised when you said you didn't love the book. I'd recommend that you watch some of your other recent videos and be aware of how animated, lively, and passionate you are in this one compared to those. This book clearly lit a fire in you and I felt that I had to point that out!
On books you don't necessarily like. I read 'The Heron' by Giorgio Bassani last year and I thought it was OK, 3 out of 5, whatever. Then as time passed I kept recalling scenes from the book, especially the restaurant scene at the hotel, but also others. Somehow they had lodged themselves in my head in extraordinary detail and stayed there. I think I got more out of that book as a memory than I did when I was actually reading it. It's strange, I don't think that's ever happened before. I've read books that I didn't initially like and then grew to love as the story progressed but nothing quite like that where there is almost a sort of delayed consciousness of a novel. So you never know, you could read something one day and it won't really make sense until much later. I'm actually a bit scared to re-read it in case I was right the first time!
The black dog is also a reference cornelius agrippa, the man who doctor faust is partially based, who was an Occult philosopher who always had a black dog following him, and when he died, the dog suposedly killed himself jumping into a river
My boy has been one of my favorite RUclipsrs and this is the first video to pop up in my recommendations this year. What the heck RUclips :(
It can be important to read books we don't like because many of the best books don't fully reveal themselves at first. Our pain in reading them is a sign that we're starting to become the reader these books want us to be.
Just finished Faust yesterday. Thank you for your review! Subscribed.
this is the best reading yt-channel there is, ladies and gentlemen
If you enjoyed these, I recommend Epica and The Black Halo by Kamelot. They're a two part album based mostly on Goethe's Faust.
This is the first video of yours that I watch and I really liked it. Thank you for your review. I also wanted to add that we that read a translated version of Faust, unfortunately, may not find it as great as it actually is. Madame De Staël, a french writer and intellectual, has said that Faust is an untranslatable poem. I read the albanian translation and eventho' the translater is one of the best and he did an excellent job, I think the original version must be far more great.
Those of you who know German, read it in the original. The beautiful language alone makes it very enjoyable to read.
For those who want to watch a movie adaptation, I recommend the one by Aleksandr Sokurov.
I've been trying to learn it for a while, but I am not even close to being able to read literature... 🙄
@@silvasilvasilva It helps to just start reading something while accepting that you won't understand everything. Don't try to understand every sentence in it's entirety, just to get the gist of what is being told. You will notice that your understanding gets better, even in the course of one book. Though in this case, Faust is not the best starting option, I think.
@@kursverzeichnis1297 Yes, you're right. I'm trying with less challenging texts before I get to the point of reading Faust.
Faust is on my TBR pile. I'm reading Master and Margarita by Bulgakov and Sous le soleil de Satan by Georges Bernanos lately. The devil figure in litterature is truely fascinating.
The irony of Mephisto’s words about rulessness and his very very serious problem with himspef being subjected to some like leaving a house and needing blood for a deal
Just finished Faust. So glad I found this video. I love your style, man. Definitely subscribing. Also totally on board with you reviewing books you don’t particularly like! Wholly agree with what you said.
Good job! i guess this Goethe quote is for you: " Das Denken ist der Feind des Handelns " very deep! and there is really genius Russian Faust Movie you should try (in English!) and before i forget, i think the essence of Faust is that we all would make a deal with MEPHISTO - the real question is: How do you define fame and fortune? here is where Mephisto is stepping in...
You should review "Maria Stuart" by Friedrich Schiller and "Emilia Galloti" Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. They are also considered great tragedies in German literature!
Cliff doesn't make a new review until he has a new haircut or facial hair!
So true about learning about why you don’t like something. I did that for my art history class. I hate Picasso’s art and got an A+ in the class because I wrote a 20 page paper on his life and explaining his artwork and why I didn’t care for his style.
I think Nietzsche loved the book because it was so prophetic. It's almost like Nietzsche's "Parabel of the Madman" is a concentrated version of Goethe's Faust (which I read every other year... because I'm an Austrian and weird, and because we Europeans are a "Faustian" sort of people). Faust invited Nihilism "Mephistopheles" into his soul. What's the consequence? His cynical nature becomes heightened, and because of that, he becomes capable of destroying Innocence "Gretchen", as a little slip... Whoops. It is, to quote Nietzsche, the story of the next two hundred years of humanity. It is our story so to speak.
Here is his Parable of the Madman, I highly recommend reading this alongside Faust: historyguide.org/europe/madman.html
I just discovered your channel and loving it!
FAUST 2 is kind of an afterthought, written 1825 - 1831 (and published only posthumously). Goethe finished "FAUST I" in 1806 (he was 57 at the time), after working on it for most of his life. So he began writing the second part *20 years after* he finished part one, and he finished it much faster. Note as well: Part One kind of ends with Faust's soul being taken away by Mephistopheles, so the 'happy ending' is only there, if you take both parts as a whole. Part two is written as an attempt to expand on the themes of part one, by linking them to various figures from classical literature and mythology (plain Gretchen is swapped with Helena of Troy, the most beautiful woman ever) but the core story ist basically already there - and done much better in part one, I think, more condensed, with more humour and, something you can unfortunately not tell by the translated text, an infinitude of quotable lines: During Goethe's times, German poets would quote the Bible or mythology. After Goethe, everybody is quoting Faust.
As a 65 YO university professor, I am Faust (except for the girlfriend, Devil-mate, adventures, and orgies-hell, even the little blue pills don’t help anymore). The only things that seem to help prepare for the dirt nap are to fully live in the paradox of life, do one’s best to help and serve others, and enjoy good coffee frequently. Cliff, this was one of your best reviews. BTW, M. De Bougleron says to say hi and will play a gigue for you anytime.
The band Kamelot made two really good concept albums loosely based on Faust called Epica and it’s sequel The Black Halo
That book is so original for a classic but especially initial parts i didn’t understand shit. I even dropped it because of my weak psychology back then but i picked up again. Still I believe I have gaps in my mind maybe need to fill it with mythology first i dunno. I certainly feel dumb. But to my analysis itss complicated nature also arises from original language which is German. I think I’ll comprehend it further if i keep reading German authers’ books.
The distance police siren at the end of your intro is black irony par excellence
When I was in high school I LOVED Faust
Mephisto is the incarnation of evil: intelligent, polite, a man of world, nihilist, sadist - and one of many. He knows everything about you but cannot love, only wants to destroy you. Goethe wants to show that Satan as the center of evil does not exist, evil is dissipated, evasive, cannot be grasped. "Man is rid of the evil one, but the evil ones are still there" (line 2509). Faust wants to solve the riddle of evil (line 4038-4040), but Mephisto doesn't want him to (line 4041ff.). I've read the manifesto of the columbine killers parallel to "Faust" with my students - exact same message. - Actually Faust gets what he wants, he experiences what holds the world together: according to Empedocles hate (Mephisto) and love (Margarete), but he doesn't realise it. So, you get what you want, but it turns out to be very different from what you've expected and you won't even know! - And when you make a deal with the devil, YOU will survive, but the victims are the one you love and her family. - I am fascinated by one question: Gretchen is "saved", because she regrets etc. etc. - but who the hell knows about this, about what she did to deserve to be forgiven? In Goethes play, nobody but God. But what if God does not exist ... ? Then you are ruined, damned by society, absolutely isolated - and that's it - forever. -- I think Goethe wrote this quasi-happy-ends because he was terrified himself by what he realised while writing this play.
I'm sure somebody already mentioned, but the old german Pudel was better translated to a hound or a sheep-dog not a poodle. Goethe actually means a big dog, different to what that word means today.
Kind of obsessed with Faust. Thank you!
im really enjoying the part where Faust talks about dying in the extasy. MAny similarities to Bataille there.
You should do a clip roll of all the times you sip your cup through out the video upon first sip of the coffee. This would be a great way get subscribers
Hey Cliff, Are you joining the cast of Peaky Blinders next season? Great review. I may check this book out for the start of the New Year. Have a great week!
Love your reviews Cliff!
On the mustache issue ; I must suggest a cravat or gorget 🤣🤣🤣 ! Thanks ever so much from old New Orleans 😇
Heehee, you should read Part II more carefully. It’s great! Each scene in Faust part II is essentially an almost independent episode like the entirety of Part I.
There was a historical Faust btw. He started to amass a bad reputation due to various superstitions so he left his town, and went missing. I believe his supposed death was invented from a different event altogether: there must have been an early chemist in the 15th or 16th c. who was experimenting with explosives and blew up his lab. Even today it’s not uncommon for chemists to accidentally blow things up. Eventually that was interpreted by superstitious folk as the devil killing him and dragging him to hell... as for accusations of witchcraft they were then very uncommon. So the Christian message was very disgusting actually: through and through anti-intellectual. But Goethe is a genius because he redeems that. He expunges christian corruption and decay and replaced it with classical beauty. You can see that in his style as well, it becomes progressively more architectural as the play proceeds in Part II.
Interesting that Faust is almost satisfied by imagining a geoengineering project that would extract tidal energy. That is the pint where he dies. I think the redemption is almost cloaked in the Christian doctrine of divine grace, with Gretchen being the virgin Mary and all that, but it is actually more than that - it’s a negation of the doctrine of original sin and an affirmation of humanity. I love it.
Is there any update of your The Story of The Eye-movie-project?
I’ve been in the middle of Pt 2 for a while now (over a year). I have a cool Franklin Library hardcover version. Think I’ll pick it up again tonight. Thanks for the review.
Sounds like an awesome book! I'll be sure to check it out sometime.
That intro... I know that clock tower I’m quite sure. Many days and nights I’ve spent in that library if I have it identified correctly
I wouldn’t want to expose you in a grizzley mannor
Now that's an intro...
I kinda wish I had watched this before watching Madoka. Then again, watching madoka gave me context for this video. Well, thanks for the video, have a nice day.
Some people think that the cup is half full.
Some people think that the cup is half empty.
But really, the cup just has water in it.
Would be interested in hearing your thoughts on Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. Both Hesse and Goethe are Germans dealing with the similar topic and yet take two quite different paths in their books
I don't think they take different paths at all. Why do you think so?
Hi, a new fan here, discovered your channel a few days ago and have been binge-watching your videos and adding books to me reading list ever since. Could you please review something by Paul Auster? I have only read The New York Trilogy so far, but I utterly loved the first and the last part of that trilogy.
So I've been watching you for a long time. I cant really say why, but this review feels better than others you have done. Maybe it's because you discussed things that you didnt like more. I think you sometimes tend to be too positive, ironic given your disposition. If every book feels like a 10/10 when you review them, it makes it difficult to discern what the really good stuff is y'know? Of course taste is subjective, and a great book may seem horrible to others. But I come here to hear about your taste. The good and the bad you have to say. Or maybe you've just gotten better at reviewing books and I just haven't noticed until now because it's been a slow climb. Either way, keep it up man I'm rootin' for ya
Me @ 8:44 "well, ignorance is bliss"
Few seconds later : "ignorance is bliss", free will might just be an illusion.
If at Faust you don't succeed, then you Goethe do what you gotta do. The devils in the details, but that's the bargain.....
Never heard of you till now. Very interesting, intriguing guy.
You may write plot twists but you'll never get to "Tried to impress the Emperor in a play and use my bargain with the devil to revive Helen of Troy, get dazzled by her beauty and try to hold her only for her to FUCKING BLOW UP and now you need to descend to Tartarus to retrieve her back and talk with the whole of the Greek mythology" kind of plot twist
If goethe was from england, he would be bigger than shakespeare
Love all your videos
Amazing how the rhyme can be retained after translation
This is absolutely my next read!
Great review. From my reading experience, the process and the end result of the pursuit is pretty much aligned with Maslow’s research of the hierarchy of human needs, where self-actualisation is achieved by devoting oneself to something bigger than one’s life. Instead of being holy or devil, Faust is merely being human.
I feel like Goethe was reviewing his life and trying to reach peace with himself in writing the book, especially considering his age. Despite the negativity of Faust’s character and morality, I find this book pretty positive and encouraging and it helped me get out my depression.
Yeah, on surface, I can’t see why this would be given such paramount importance to German literature. The storyline is like an opera with tenuous link between acts.
Stupendous review and loved your unscripted thoughts! Many thanks from the good ol South lol
2:55 A gentle little touch.
Very early in life I've learned that you should read the classics - one of those mid-school teacher advice everybody hear once in awhile... and, well, I belived. Have been reading "books I don't necessarily love" since then. It's not always pleasant, but I couldn't imagine pursuing literature any other way. Also, I believe it may help us to find deeper means of pleasure - perhaps a way to enforce sophistication to our taste.
I agree! Literature is a bigger phenomenon than our imposed accolades and tastes make it out to be, and that's where its true potency lies. Even Werner Herzog once said his prose will outlive his films.
Hun, that's interesting - that you feel part 2 was wonky - I felt the same about Steppenwolf.
Next you need to read Thomas Mann's reimagining of the Faust myth.
Modernist shite
i'm a big fan of the opera by gounod [and to a lesser extent the murnau movie, even though i love silent films; it's just that it also deals with Part II and thus is... a little confusing haha]. looking forward to having to read it for world lit 2 next semester, since it's been on my to read list for ages.
Ok... i bought a version with just a few note. I am not a begginer and that book is an impossible to read without a bounch of especialized notes.
It does not make much sense analyzing Faust without reading Part III. To say the least. Other than that, as always, a great video!
God, you need to read Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann now!
How do you pick what translations to read? Do you have a go-to resource or just look up the consensus?
What's that book on Nitsch you got in the background? Amazon link?
amzn.to/2Ey53SU
Thanks! Gonna be a late Christmas present!
Clif please review Child of God by McCarthy . that's an amazing book m8
Goethe’s FAUST. Some impressive passages, but does not fit our current needs. That said, by making use of our editing services at $10 a page, it should be possible to elevate this piece in tone and increase readability to the point where our “junior” 12-18 year old YA division would be interested.
Yours sincerely,
Chump & Sucker Publications, Inc.