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Faust: The Dichotomy Of Gretchen
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Faust: The Dichotomy of Gretchen
Anonymous In the play "Faust" by Johann Goethe, Gretchen's character envelops extreme aspects of Virgin Mary and of Eve. Mary acts as the symbol of the mother of mankind, the pure woman who makes men's salvation possible. She has no evil in her at all. In contrast, Eve is the archetypal figure of the fallen woman, the cause of man's suffering and damnation. She symbolizes death, destruction, and human depravity. Eve is the antithesis of Mary; together the two archetypes correspond to the two sides of Gretchen's character. When Gretchen is first introduced in the play, she appears to be the ideal of innocence and purity. When Faust tries to talk to her on the street, she refuses. "I'm not a lady, am not fair; I can go home without your care." (2607) A properly brought up young woman would never allow herself to be picked up on the street. It is her naiveté that attracts Faust most of all. "I've never seen [Gretchen's] equal anywhere! So virtuous, modest, through and through!" (2610-1) Even Mephistopheles acknowledges her virtue. He calls her an "innocent, sweet dear!" (3007). Goethe further identifies Gretchen as a saint when Gretchen's bedroom becomes a shrine to Faust. Faust uses religious language to describe the room. "Welcome, sweet light, which weaves through this sanctuary. Seize my heart, you sweet pain of love, you that live languishing on the dew of hope! How the feeling of stillness breathes out order and contentment all around....
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