„Den Bösen sind sie los“ Überlegungen zu Mephistopheles und zum Bösen in Goethes Faust

Abstract

What’ s the reason for Mephistopheles in Goethe’s Faust being less malicious than one might expect? Taking its cue from that question, this article discusses the figure of the devil in the European imaginary of the 16th century, especially in Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. Some principal characteristics of Goethe’s secular devil are analysed. Goethe’s Mephistopheles neither is the demon found in Christian mythology nor represents the villain of the piece. Goethe holds the human characters of both parts of his Faust responsible for the evil that occurs.