A review by oelia
Faust: Erster und zweiter Teil by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A genuinely very impressive book. It can hardly be understated how amazing it is that this even exists. You wouldn't think that the rhymes and verses add all that much but they do and they are beautiful. With that said, what happend in the second part? Acts 1-4 are almost entirely lost on me, not because they are abstract or almost surrealist, but because they don't fit in with the first part and with the structure of this play(?, I can't imagine this being actually properly realized in a theater). I guess they are a continuation of Faust's journey through the highest of experiences, but I think Faust shines most when there's just him and Mephisto and few other setpieces and characters. Act 5, however, justifies everything that came before it. It is one of the most beautiful endings for anything, Faust's last words are so touching I actually cried a little.