Undertones In Faust Sparknotes

Analysis of the Undertones in Faust

In this story, the theme of social criticism is best explicated by the interactions between Faust and other individuals during scene 21 because he specifically progresses the plot by mocking the Rationalist’s attempts to reason out the event ― thus suggesting that society is tempted to listen to base temptations and immorality than to understand the situation with logic and morality.

For example, when Mephistopheles and Faust escape into the mountains, in order to hide from the murder that they previously committed, they both get drawn into a wild gathering of witches and other societal members such as a Rationalist was present. As Faust went through, he overheard the rationalist making a comment regarding the witch Faust is dancing with by stating how, “Haven’t [logical men] shown [that]… Spirits can’t exist… yet you dance around, just as we do!” (Faust

At this point, the rationalist is acknowledging the witch’s presence despite his anger; however, is not willing to accept such an occurrence as an explanation for the discrepancy in his reasoning. This action was then used as insult when Faust ridiculed how people like the Rationalist are, “everywhere… [and are] angriest at a forward pattern / but if you turn around in circles / [they]’ll call it excellent,” (182). Faust’s comment was an affront toward the Rationalist movement because he juxtaposed a “forward pattern” of ideas to that of circular logic (182). By stating that the rationalist is most upset over ideas that follow a chain of events, Faust implies that he cannot accept a basic sequence of thought, but rather attempt to concoct some explanation for what those ideas mean in the overall scheme of the situation.