Open AccessGoethe’s Faust – a mirror of modernity?
Author(s) -
Johann Goltz
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
proglas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2367-8585
pISSN - 0861-7902
DOI - 10.54664/aevh8336
Subject(s) - faust , narrative , modernity , feeling , relevance (law) , philosophy , product (mathematics) , literature , epistemology , aesthetics , art , law , political science , geometry , mathematics
How do we perceive Goethe today? According to one widespread opinion in Germany, his work is the product of a long-gone era and has no relevance to our times. The paper disputes this claim, offering some observations on “Faust”, Part 2, Act 5. The intrinsic connection between “words and actions”in Goethe‘s works not only determines the dramatical and narrative structures of this world-famous play, but, due to its appealing nature, has been imposing itself forcefully and consistently, long after the end of the author‘s long earthly journey. With its feeling and its ethics, “Faust” continues to motivate generations of Europeans.