Goethe’s Faust: The Tragedy of Development

This week's discussion is Goethe’s Faust, an historical tale containing a rather damning and subliminal viewpoint that leads us onto the topic modernism and modernity. The story is divided into three metamorphosis, The Dreamer, The Lover, The Developer. Metamorphosis One: The Dreamer Faust is a humanist visionary striving to create a work that is of benefit to the human condition, so much with his failure to do so he has become trapped in isolation and psychologically troubled with his efforts that he considers to be junk. Tormented by reclusiveness Faust has removed himself from social and environmental relationships which eventually bring him to the brink suicide. Only at the last minute Faust hears the church bells ring and the angelic choir sing for Easter Sunday, a moment of clarity that brings him fond memories of his childhood rejoicing him with moments of love and desire that he had once lost. Now re-connected with the real world Faust seeks to connect himself with the warmth of life, with real people and the everyday. However, in order to realise his synthesis he must embrace a new order of paradoxes. With the help of Mephistopheles he comes to terms with notions of destruction versus creation and that there must be evil before the birth of creation. The architect at his most purest, a struggling individual striving to create a work for the good of society. A consent psychological battle that, through a lack of opportunity, can begin to be a blurred vision of one's life choices. Like Faust my fate awaits to become someone's else's property, for I, like all young aspiring architects before me, must acquire the help of a Mephisto in order to move forward and stand a chance of surviving in what has become a futile profession within the modern age. Metamorphosis Two: The Lover Faust meets Gretchen, his first moments of lust and love. Gretchen is from a small town and has a small town mentality, compared to Faust she lacks the intelligence to allow herself to question and sense of self belief. Faust however is attracted to her innocence and meek personality. As their relationship transpires Gretchen's love and admiration for Faust leads her to mourn her own lack of intelligence and feels it necessary to become smarter and wiser in order to cope with her new found relationship. This would lead to the demise of their relationship and Gretchen herself. No longer does she possess the innocent and naive qualities that once was attractive, thus Faust leaves Gretchen in search for something new and more exciting for he has conquered his first quest of love developing a thirst for more. Metamorphosis Three: The Developer Finally Faust now becomes the destroyer and creator bringing together his personal synthesis with the reality of social, political and economic forces. Through his experiences Faust is a different and less human conscience individual, beginning is crusade of structural and demographical development driving the age towards a modern revolution. With the help of Mephisto, Faust acquires the coastal region through political bargaining and neglects his traditional moral values through the exploitation of labour forcing workers to manifest his modern visions amongst tretious working conditions. Faust's narcissistic obsessions for modernity is encapsulated furthermore by the manner in which he takes ownership of an old couples land, by removing them from their sanctuary and taking their life. Now within a position of power the architect has become disconnected from the moral obligations of his work. More concerned with using their position to mediate government officials and contractors, convincing everyone that a work of beauty and profound social awareness is on the horizon. Now living in world of Zaharism, the work is to become a product serving only for one's personal portfolio and further enrich one’s capitalist enterprise.