Faust II. [antikvár]

INTRODUCTIONThe growth of the Faust-theme in Goethe's mind is described in outline in my Introduction to Part One. There I cited the opinion of G. H. Lewes, that the story of Gretchen provided a passionate human drama for every reader, whereas in Part Two we should find a philosophic activity and discursiveness apt to interrupt the main epic concerning the soul of Faust. I have found no reason to recant from that view; but I confess himibly that years of close work upon the text have brought me to a better understanding not only of Goethe's wish that the two Parts should be read as one, but of the majestic and sometimes wilful energy with which he engaged upon divagations that now afford a mine of diought for the contemplative reader. Though in Part Two we do indeed pass firom the passion of lovers to the search after wisdom, it can still be said that Goethe's pursuit of wisdom, even when accompanied by the sometimes rough humour of his irony, is always passionate.So rich is this Second Part in allusions and allegories that whole libraries of commentary have been written about them by German professors, righdy proud of their European giant, and in any case never so happy as when expounding the scriptures. The aim of a short Introduction must be to offer undismayed some sort of perspective for the general reader. To this end it may be best to consider the great and complex work in separate aspects.IIAs to the growth of Part Two it should be remembered that the whole plan of Faust was fairly complete in Goethe's conception lon^ before the pubUcation of Part One. In June 1797 - as with so many diii^ in Goethe's crowded hfe, we know the very day - he braced himself to overcome the doubts that had beset him during twenty years of interruption in his devotion to what was ncvcrthe'