The Enlightenment in Goethe's 'Faust'

[jprevprev]

Another conundrum. For anyone that has read Goethe's Faust can someone explain this to me: Mephistopheles is clearly the enemy of reason, often encouraging Faust to concede to his passions and this fits with Goethe's active role in the counter-Enlightenment 'Sturm und Dranger' movement, which was opposed to the French neoclassical rationalism that had occupied German theatre for a long time. So far it makes sense.

However, at the end of Faust: Part II, Faust is saved rather than torn apart (like in Marlowe) for his striving, which would suggest to me a mentality that is very much pro-Enlightenment.

Any suggestions? I feel I'm continuously moving in circles.

[BloodyHand]

Way old dead thread but in the hopes of re-igniting it...I have started on my journey into Faust..having just returned from Paris. My smoldering Enlightenment ideals and passions aflame anew....Both Faust and Mesphito have made me mad....attacking Liberte' Fraternite' Egalite' ...as my friend says I have fallen on the sword Romanticism..here's to getting this thread going.

Happy Reading!
BH