Man's development forseen in Goethe's Faust

imagination. Faust becomes quite dissatisfied with magical flourishes and asks where he can encounter a real experience of the spiritual Universe. This is dramatically represented as the search for a meeting with the fabulous Helen, who once caused the fall of Troy.

So long as Faust only felt wishes that could be satisfied in this world, he had a destructive influence on himself and on Gretchen. Once he has grasped an aim that could only be reached by spiritual powers he is a changed person, active, courageous and enthusiastic. Is this the idea which Goethe foresaw as the answer to the modern dilemma? Is it not that spiritual inspirations are the means by which, in the modern world, a history of new creation can come about in the midst of so many tendencies to self-destruction? Goethe has represented the turning point in the career of Faust, the beginning of his resurrection at that moment when he decides to rise into the consciousness of the spiritual. Again in the language of the myth, he must resolve to undertake the dangerous journey to the Mothers. These are the three goddesses known in the Ancient Greek Mysteries as the source of all human existence. Faust has to disappear into the darkness by himself that he may enter their presence. At this point, Mephistopheles cannot go with him. Nevertheless, he provides Faust with the magic key without which he cannot start his quest. Mephistopheles can find the key, he knows the way, but he believes that it leads into the great World-Nothing. Faust is filled with the conviction that it leads to the great World-All. They part, and Faust goes on his way alone. Mephistopheles refuses to leave the ordinary world, but is quite willing to offer his services and his magic to the Emperor’s Court meanwhile.

Faust returns with new experience and power. The vision of Helen is conjured up before the Emperor and his Court, but Faust is filled with a mighty divine dissatisfaction. He is no longer in the grip of Mephistopheles. In their new relationship Faust behaves as the master, and the devil, who cannot leave him to his own devices because of the pact, has often to take orders. The next adventure in their history is decided upon by Faust, and Mephistopheles is almost left behind. Faust is no longer content to have seen Helen in a vision, he determines upon a real en-

Ir