Faust, Part One

A recurring motif in Faust Part I is the discussion of words and their value, particularly their limits in fully depicting the world and conveying true feeling and meaning. This starts from even before the action begins, as the Director in the prologue says, “Come, that’s enough of words! What I/ Want now is deeds” (I.3.214-15). Once the action begins, Faust frequently refers to his disdain for words to suggest his struggle with intellectualism and scholarly pursuits, instead pursuing passion and feelings that go beyond words in his spiritual quest for transcendence and meaning. Faust says that he is “seeking magic’s assistance” to “stop peddling in words that mean nothing to me” (I.4.377-85), and subsequently tells Wagner to “drop the pursuit of words” (I.4.553). Noting that the only thing that’s effective is the “language of the soul,” Faust says: “Give up pursuing eloquence, unless/ You can speak as you feel!” (I.4.535-45).

Wagner, on the other hand, represents the other side of the debate over words; he emphasizes the value that words have to him by speaking of the “powerful persuasion” of Greek tragedy (I.4.524), suggesting that he needs to learn how to “deliver a tirade” (546), and talking of the pleasure of learning about other eras and “reading what they say” (573).