Faust, First Part
Goethe turned a German folk legend into the defining myth of modern ambition — the scholar who sells his soul because knowledge alone is not enough.
“Two souls, alas, dwell in my breast, each one desiring to separate from the other.”
Why It Matters
Goethe turned a German folk legend into the defining myth of modern ambition — the scholar who sells his soul because knowledge alone is not enough. Faust's bargain with the devil became the go-to metaphor for trading integrity for power, knowledge, or success. This is Germany's national literary work, and its influence on European culture is almost impossible to overstate.
The 
Take
Personal reviewStep up from Marlowes Faustus, and interesting philosophical/theological premise
Notable Quotes
“I am the spirit that negates! And rightly so, for all that comes to be deserves to perish wretchedly.”
“In the beginning was the deed.”