Goethe's Faustas a Satire on Christianity
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Department of English
Abstract
Goethe's Faust lacks self-knowledge and understanding of the world. Life as a
whole is full of bitter experiences for him. He runs for sensation to minimize the
frustration and to satisfy his strong sexual urges. Worldly comfort and pleasure
occupies his mind. So, he is in conflict from within. Therefore, his love for God and
spiritual quest is in a question. He is practically a spiritual failure. Dishonesty in love
proves him nothing more than a criminal. Faust is guided by passion and greed in
every step of life. He is an adulterer. He is cruel because he betrays Gretchen. He
behaves like an anti christian. But, Faust's soul gets entry to the heavenly kingdom and
unites him to the God despite his cruelty. Sinners should confess before the God for
salvation but Faust never does so. Goethe, through his protagonist satirizes on
Christianity that is deviating itself in practice from its ideology.