Johann Wolfgang Goethe’s Faust presents the circular problem of mans quest to be both self-determining and self-gratifying. By choosing self gratification over self determination Faust has lost his agency and is unable to reassert it, to the point that he is denied self gratification.
Webster’s dictionary defines self determination as “free choice of one’s own acts or states without external compulsion (Webster.com).” In other wordsself determination is the ability of an agent to use their agency without outside pressure. Comparatively, Webster defines self gratification as “the act of pleasing oneself or of satisfying one’s desires; especially: the satisfying of one’s own sexual urges (Webster.com)” The initial comparison of the two definitions clearly shows how self determination and self gratification can be polarized ideas. If a man is acting in a self determining manner, then he is free to make decisions without pressure to sway his decision for or against an idea or action. As soon as a man acts in a manner that is to serve his self gratification, he losses the autonomy of self determination because he is acting under the pressure of what he desires and his need to posses that object. Faust clearly demonstrates this principle as he gives up his rights of self determination to Mephisto in pursuit of self gratification.
A scene that shows the polarized relationship of self determination and self gratification can be found in Faust Part 1 in “Wald und Höhle”. This scene has been debated as to whether or not Faust is in the act of mental masturbation or physical masturbation. For the purpose of this paper it is read as a physical act of self gratification. The scene begins with Faust’s monologue describing his current condition which is best summarized in the lines “So tauml’ ich von Begierde zu Genuβ, und im Genuβ verschmacht’ ich nach Begierde (3249-3250)”. These lines describe how Faust is caught up in a cycle of self gratification and has lost his ability to control his actions as he “staggers” and “reels” from “desire” and “lust” to “pleasure” and then from pleasure back to desire. The poetic language that Faust describes his current state in shows his lack of control. Faust is not literally staggering as he walks but many of his actions throughout the first part of Faust are sudden and under the influence of Mephisto much like a drunken man staggers under the influence alcohol.
The beginning of Faust’s loss of self determination is rooted in his initial desire for knowledge. Faust becomes frustrated with his lack of knowledge (355-381) and in seeking to satisfy his desire he become Mephisto’s servant stating “bin ich Knecht (1710)”. From this point on Faust no longer has self determination because he is under the influence of Mephisto and his own cycle of desire and pleasure. Another scene that points to Faust’s loss of self determination is the Hexenküche, when Faust desires to be young but does not wish to enter into the witch’s kitchen. Mephisto overrides Faust concern and forces him into the kitchen and to drink a potion that then blurs Faust’s ability to judge the appearance of women (2337-2604). Faust’s actions display his complete loss of self determination, not only does he act under the influence of Mephisto by entering into the witches kitchen but he also has a secondary influence upon him that changes even what he desires. The potion that affects his ability to judge the appearance of a woman makes Faust desire something that did not originate from within him, as the text states “Du siehst, mit diesem Trank im Liebe, bald Helenen in jedem Weibe (2603-2604)”. Not only has Faust lost determination over his actions, he has lost determination over what he desires to gratify himself with. Faust no longer has the choice between pursuing self determination or self gratification; he is now in the control of what others, namely Mephisto, tell him to desire and how to pursue that desire. This can be seen as Mephisto continues to override Faust’s wishes throughout the first half of the play, to the point where he invades into the ultimate act of self gratification: Faust’s masturbation.
In “Wald und Höhle” Mephisto enters and begins to harass Faust for his current actions of self gratification. Mephisto’s invasion into this scene clearly shows his power over Faust because although Faust is clearly upset by Mephisto’s presence he cannot make Mephisto leave. Faust shows his displeasure of Mephisto’s presence by saying, ”Ich wollt’, du hast mehr zu tun, als mich am guten Tag zu plagen (3255-3256)” and again “Das ist so just der rechte Ton! Er will noch Dank, dass er
mich ennuyiert (3265-3266).“ Faust’s displeasure at Mephisto’s intrusion seems to have no effect in making Mephisto leave but rather encourages Mephisto to remind Faust of his power over him. Mephisto says, “Wie hättest du, arme Erdensohn, dein Leben ohne mich geführt (3267-3268)?“ This statement is intended to remind Faust that Mephisto is responsible for fulfilling Faust’s desires. It may also be why Mephisto is invading on Faust’s self gratification because Mephisto does not want Faust to regain control over his own desires.
The pronounced presence of Mephisto shows Faust’s complete loss of self determination, because as Faust has become a servant to his own gratification he has lost his agency even over the most self intimate of actions. Faust’s masturbation is an attempt to reassert his agency in his actions by seeking gratification with himself. Mephisto’s presence during what should be a private and gratifying experience and Faust’s inability to dispel him, shows that Faust no longer has agency over his own body and what he would choose to do with it.
The conclusion over Faust’s loss of agency creates questions surrounding Mephisto’s real intentions with Faust. The bet that Faust and Mephisto made grants Mephisto possession of Faust’s soul if he can make Faust so happy that he does not want the moment to end (1688-1707). However, if Faust has no self determination how can he clearly decide whether he has actually reached what it is he desires? In order for Mephisto to win the bet Faust must decide without the influence of external pressures that he now posses what it is that he desires. This becomes problematic in the current situation because Faust no longer has self determination in order to make that decision. I feel these discussions around self determination and self gratification lend themselves to questioning of Mephisto’s motives and foreshadow issues that will arise in the second half of Faust.
Works Cited
Jess Boctor 