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Loosely connected with Part One and the German legend of Faust, Part Two is a dramatic epic rather than a strictly constructed drama. It is conceived as an act of homage to classical Greek culture and inspired above all by the world of story-telling and myth at the heart of the Greek tradition, as well as owing some of its material to the Arabian Nights tales. The restless and ruthless hero, advised by his cynical demon-companion Mephistopheles, visits classical Greece i search of the beautiful Helen of Troy. Returning to modern times, he seeks to crown his career by gaining control of the elements, and at his death is carried up into the unkown regions, still in pursuit of the `Eternal Feminine'. David Luke's translation of Part One won the European Poetry Translation Prize. Here he again imitates the varied verse-forms of the original, and provides a highly readable - and actable - translation, supported by an introduction, full notes, and an index of classical mythology.

In this sequel to Faust, Mephistopheles takes Faust on a journey through ancient Greek mythology, conjuring for him the insurpassably beautiful Helen of Troy, as well as the classical gods. Faust falls in love with and marries Helen, embodying for Goethe his 'imaginative longing to join poetically the Romantic Medievalism of the germanic West to the classical genius of the Greeks'. Further to the themes of redemption and salvation in this great drama, are Goethe's eerie premonitions of modern phenomena such as inflation and the creation of life by scientific synthesis.

The legend of Faust grew up in the sixteenth century, a time of transition between medieval and modern culture in Germany. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) adopted the story of the wandering conjuror who accepts Mephistopheles's offer of a pact, selling his soul for the devil's greater knowledge; over a period of 60 years he produced one of the greatest dramatic and poetic masterpieces of European literature. David Luke's recent translation, specially commissioned for The World's Classics series, has all the virtues of previous classic translations of Faust, and none of their shortcomings. Cast in rhymed verse, following the original, it preserves the essence of Goethe's meaning without sacrifice to archaism or over-modern idiom. It is as near an `equivalent' rendering of the German as has been achieved. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Goethe's Faust reworks the late-medieval myth of Dr Faust, a brilliant scholar so disillusioned he resolves to make a contract or wager with the devil, Mephistopheles. The devil will do all he asks on Earth and seek to grant him a moment in life so glorious that he will wish it to last for ever. But if Faust does bid the moment stay, he falls to Mephisto and must serve him after death. In this first part of Goethe's great work the embittered thinker and Mephistopheles enter into their agreement, and soon Faust is living a life beyond his study and - in rejuvenated form - winning the love of the charming and beautiful Gretchen. But in this compelling tragedy of arrogance, unfulfilled desire and self-delusion, Faust, served by the devil, heads inexorably towards destruction.

I andre del er det "die grosse Welt" som åpner seg for Faust, et hierarkisk føydalsamfunn på vaklende grunn, med sine mer eller mindre tvilsomme spilleregler. Her får Faust stadig nye roller å spille, nye kulisser, med Mefistofeles som regissør og pådriver for handlingen, den slagferdige, selvsikre djevelen som hele tiden tar for gitt at han vil vinne spillet. Bare i møtet med antikkens rene åndeverden er Mefistofeles fremmedgjort og kjenner seg ille til mote. I 5. akt må han kapitulere for det kristne mysterium, kjærlighetens gjenskapermakt. Første gang utgitt i 1832.

I sitt store versedrama tegner Goethe hovedpersonen - sagnskikkelsen Faust - som en gammel vitenskapsmann med en umettelig kunnskapstørst og lengsel etter dypere innsikt og personlig utvikling. Han slutter en overenskomst med djevelen, og Mefistofeles gir ham hans ungdom tilbake. Faust forelsker seg i den unge piken Gretchen og forfører henne. Hun blir med barn, men gripes av panikk og drukner det. Siste scene i dramaets første del utspiller seg i et fangehull. Gretchen skal henrettes, men hun setter sin lit til Gud og vil ikke flykte med Faust. Dermed blir hennes sjel frelst.