Book contents
- Goethe in Context
- Goethe in Context
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Notes on Contributors
- Acknowledgements
- Note on Translations and List of Abbreviations
- Chronology
- Introduction
- Part I Life and Times
- Part II Literature
- Part III Art
- Part IV Philosophy and Science
- Part V World Cultures Inspiration and Reception
- Part VI Goethe’s Lasting Significance
- Chapter 32 Faust and Modernity
- Chapter 33 Goethe’s Portrayal of Love
- Chapter 34 Goethe and the Musical World
- Chapter 35 Goethe and Our Endangered Natural World
- Chapter 36 Goethe Out of Context
- Chapter 37 Postscript
- Further Reading
- Index
Chapter 32 - Faust and Modernity
from Part VI - Goethe’s Lasting Significance
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 May 2024
- Goethe in Context
- Goethe in Context
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Notes on Contributors
- Acknowledgements
- Note on Translations and List of Abbreviations
- Chronology
- Introduction
- Part I Life and Times
- Part II Literature
- Part III Art
- Part IV Philosophy and Science
- Part V World Cultures Inspiration and Reception
- Part VI Goethe’s Lasting Significance
- Chapter 32 Faust and Modernity
- Chapter 33 Goethe’s Portrayal of Love
- Chapter 34 Goethe and the Musical World
- Chapter 35 Goethe and Our Endangered Natural World
- Chapter 36 Goethe Out of Context
- Chapter 37 Postscript
- Further Reading
- Index
Summary
Chapter 32 considers the question of modernity as explored in Goethe’s Faust. In his hands, the cast of mind of the restless central character constitutes an analogy of modernity. The chapter argues that the duo of Faust and Mephistopheles epitomises the mood of Goethe’s own time, which paved the way for the modern industrial era. It demonstrates that Part I radicalises the revolt against tradition which is an essential part of the original Faust legend, while Part II thematises incipient capitalist economics and the manipulation of nature through technology.
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- Information
- Goethe in Context , pp. 313 - 322Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024