Brain Pain discussion

This discussion contains Spoilers! Proceed with caution!

Now that we’ve completed the 1587 Faust chapbook and are beginning Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, it is a good time to create some sort of checklist to compare the different versions of the legend. And so here is a “Faust Scorecard” we can use as we progress through the books and movies.

1. How is Faust first presented? What facts about his origins, family, education, and character are presented?

2. How, when, and why does Faust first contact or conjure the devil?

3. What are his first encounters with the devil/Mephistopheles like? Is he in control? Or is he being lead/persuaded by the devil?

4. What are the basic terms of the pact? Duration, specific conditions, loopholes?

5. How do Faust and Mephistopheles interact and “use” each other?

6. What actions or activities or crimes does Faust engage in?

7. Are there any specific love/lust interests in the story?

8. Body count: Who dies, why, and by whose hand?

9. What doubts does Faust have about his bargain? Does he try to back out?

10. How does the story conclude? Does the devil collect on his contract? What happens to Faust?

There are more questions that can be asked, but these should get us started. Pose more questions in this thread as they occur to you.

Don’t worry about spoilers, but one rule to please follow is to wait for the final discussion week for each book before coming to this thread and marking the scorecard. Dankeschön!