I think it is important to keep in mind that Goethe was already older and also really famous when he wrote Faust. He had a smash hit with "The sorrows of young Werther" in his youth. Werther was a phenomenon, including people dressing up as the main characters, fans following Goethe, merch coming out for the book. Older people being like "Why does the youth write such frivolous books! The youth is lost! This book is dangerous!" ... history repeating itself again and again :D
But Goethe was older when he wrote Faust (and he also had a thing for barely legal women, yeeey).
About the takeaway: I too am annoyed at the message of Faust II. He even says the magic words but Mephisto still does not get his soul.
But (and this is all only knowledge from my German courses in high school which I had 15 years ago) this was the time of the Weimarer Klassik. Goethe isnt a rebel anymore. He saw the French Revolution and didnt like the chaos it brought (thats his opinion, at least). He went to Italy for two years and loved the culture. He wanted to go back to "old values", which include "no revolution, just evolution, be a better person, be the master over nature, learn to love old values". Old values = whatever he thought ancient Rome and Greece did. He was also a fan of Napoleon. So from that POV, Fausts life in Faust II is a good life. He helps the "right" emperor to win because there needs to be an emperor. He gets into greek mythology and even marries Helena, the most beautiful woman from that mythology. He controls nature, human knowledge beats the powers of nature. He wants to be productive, but not in a revolutionary way, and he strives to know more and more. So.. this fulfills an ideal which isnt my personal ideal, but it is Goethes ideal. "Look - this will be rewarded by God!"
There isn't a single indication in the actual text that Phorcya is M. :sobAUGH:
I am straight up reading each chapter and then I read what it's supposed to mean on like litchart and I'm like constantly THAT WASN'T WHAT I READ and then have to go over it again.
At first, I thought it must have been because he died so maybe he didn't get to add certain details that would make that more obvious (unless I'm stupid and missed it?), but according to wikipedia he sealed the manuscript for it to be published after his death. Implying it was done.
Part 1 was so much easier and understandable than part 2 and idk if thats just my translation or not.
Also this whole thing of "the greek culture cant survive in our culture so we're making a fantasy land to keep her in"? is.. just confusing. why not just make it time travel. geez.
Super creepy how toward the end Helen and Faust spoke as one..
(also does this mean Euphorion is half human half.. spirit?)
And at the end it is revealed that M was sabotaging the marriage from the start? I don't get it, wasn't the terms of the deal that if Faust said he was happy and could live like this forever, his soul would go to M? Shouldn't M have been trying to make it as happy as possible?
I still think the deal is terrible. I mean, faust's entire legacy is selling your soul to the devil. and then becoming corrupted/evil. Faust is ALREADY an corrupted piece of shit, atleast by modern standards but yknow birthing child out of wedlock was a sin even in the old days I think. Faust hasn't sold his soul, he'll simply loose it in a bet.