FAUST Explained: Goethe’s eulogy of the Enlightenment & its philosophical influence

[@NeonDungeon]

Thanks. This video helped me be calm and listen to something other than my anxiety for 3 hours

[@Crunkachu]

I know the feeling.....

[@knowsnotwhatitmeans]

a very calming voice I agree. loved listening to this.

[@thomaslodger7675]

I don't know why you showed up in my recommendation, but I'm glad you did.

[@untimelyreflections]

I don't know why you showed up in my comments section, but I'm glad you did.

[@SuperSAIYAN_NumbeR6]

I don’t why I was curious to check the reply ,but I am glad I did.

[@danieljones741]

...nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.

[@graymatita9759]

​@essentialsalts to deteriorate to deteriorate to be the first

[@graymatita9759]

​@essentialsalts to deteriorate to deteriorate to be the first

[@bretta7057]

Before clicking on this video, I only knew that some German guy named Goethe (had no idea how to pronounce it) had written a big book called “Faust,” about a guy who made a deal with the devil, and that it was a big influence on Nietzsche and others. But it was a very clear, interesting, thoughtful, engaging, and highly enjoyable listen. Thank you. It felt like I had asked a knowledgeable friend “hey, can you tell me all about that one book ‘Faust’ that people talk about a lot, written by that ‘Goth’ guy?”

[@Boogie_the_cat]

Wait, Faust was written by Marilyn Manson?

[@TheWhitehiker]

'Gerr-tah'

[@user-bf3yh6ue7p]

@@Boogie_the_catHow did you come to that conclusion

[@chloe-sunshine7]

​@@user-bf3yh6ue7pMarilyn Manson is "That 'goth' guy"

[@melnick1985]

May I recommend Oswald Spengler next...

[@jonashofstetter7774]

Your summary and interpretion of Goethe's Faust was very enjoyable and captivating to listen to. You just provided a 30-year old German with the crucial bit of additional motivation and the necessary first interpretational framework to finally read this masterpiece. I was also surprised by how much of Goethe's poetic appeal is actually maintained in the english translation! Thank you for your great work! I just subscribed to your wonderful channel.

[@untimelyreflections]

Thank you very much for your kind words. And yes, Kaufmann's translation was refreshing compared to some others of Faust that I've read.

[@davehaaww8881]

@@untimelyreflections thanks for recommending a translation!

[@firespacecostarica9303]

Wow you 30 and german and didn't read it yet?! Go, go, go!

[@jimmysanders4813]

We fulfill our Life by failing and making adjustments to get where we desire and when getting there you realize that the failing was of upmost importance.

[@kevinevans8505]

I'm seventy one years old and it was only ten years ago or so of how I treated the first real girl friend started to dawn on me in its full horror. And every year it gets more vivid. I was a callous monster long before I had the consciousness to realise it. Maybe, things are different in Germany and America but I doubt it. This video is a brilliant piece of work and I thank you for it.

[@andrewcopeland8706]

no sir. these things are universal and we're the same creature we've always been.

[@dethkon]

It’s way different in America, everything is better and the people are just higher quality in general. America is magic! 😊

[@andrewcopeland8706]

@@dethkon yeah, there is no pain in america

[@bushwacka5187]

@@andrewcopeland8706 Lol

[@joeybeann]

I'm gay

[@MSNewton-sd4hw]

I am 77 and find German literature and thought the deepest and somehow most revolutionary. This introduction to a work i haven’t read has been an illuminating lesson. Vielen Dank!

[@StephenDix]

I feel similarly in that German is highly "offset" in their (western) base assumptions, yet they produce some of the most challenging and mind-bending insights. The holistic wissenschaft flattening the English hierarchy of sciences and other falsely categorized disciplines is strong evidence of why we need to interrogate our paradigms.

[@theincompleteskeptic8079]

Yes. Question everything.

[@VVeltanschauung187]

In part 2, when Faust was looking into the landscape, seeing people hard at work, and by the very fact that these common folk, no matter what happens, strive & work hard everyday is probably what stirred his heart at that last scene.

[@saw700]

“Civil engineering did it for you?” 😅

[@ilikechineseteaespeciallyj7262]

It's the Vagabond farming arc.

[@Skittenmeow]

I don't know how I started listening, I was tidying up and this started on autoplay. I figured I would put on an audiobook I'd been planning to listen to. Now I'm an hour in, wishing I'd found this prior to an ARG I participated in September/October 23 based around the seven deadly sins. I am woefully undereducated in classical literature. I blame my Catholic upbringing and Catholic school for cornering me into atheism by high school. And an English literature teacher who managed an impossible task; turning thought-provoking texts into bland gibberish through rote learning and repetition. Not that my school would have touched Faust & Mephisto; the idea of students reciting non-biblical texts which dissect deals with an adversary would be considered akin to a seance in the school chapel. Anyway an hour in and wanting to cancel my other commitments. This is so beautifully analysed. I'll be back!

[@hypnaudiostream3574]

Don’t blame the Catholics for your atheism. That’s an age old human tradition. Welcome back home in Christ ❤ (the tradition being atheism … it’s ok to be atheist for a time so long as you eventually come around to loving humanity/life/nature/existence eventually, before you die the final time)

[@Misinformed_lol]

We all have to start somewhere, for some of us it’s Catholic upbringing, for others some other form of Christianity… don’t blame, think about it as a starting point I’m grateful for the exposure, lots of people don’t even have the opportunity to find Christs teachings at all, imagine how hard that is

[@moneyasusual]

This was so beautifully put.

[@markrichter2053]

“God…also blesses the errors as holy.” The ultimate insight that allows us to grow beyond dualism and embrace the full spectrum of our nature, to forgive ourselves without justifying or condoning, to find peace at last within the gracious acceptance of and surrender to what is, to come to terms with reality, to know ourselves and yet let go of all definitions, and so finally be healed through love and be content.

[@laurencedowding1780]

Just finished part one of the lecture and I’m absolutely enthralled. Read Faust a couple years ago and feel like I’m only now understanding it. Brilliant lecture. Thank you for putting this together

[@Brandon-a-writer]

and yet, despite his belief that he would never say such a thing, Faust indeed says "Stay, fair moment" in the end. This is a hell of a work, encyclopedic even. Pt. 2 is mind-bending, would love to see more adaptations of the Faustian bargain set in our own time. pretty good analysis overall!

[@jessieessex]

2:44:54 “the ending changes the meaning of all the various parts that have happened”. This is true and it bends my mind when I think about it deeply.

[@susansmiles2630]

You have the most wonderful voice and such a beautiful way of weaving these complex ideas together. Thank you.

[@gerhard108]

I totally have to agree!! The whole channel is wonderful!! Greetings from Austria!

[@CSee423]

This was exactly what I needed. Took a whole semester on Faust a few years back and wanted a refresher with a good level of depth

[@ad2094]

This got me through almost half my workday, and the fact that I didn't think to change to another video once I started, that is a feat!

[@harryanderson7282]

This is one of the best things I've found so far on the interwebz. Thanks for taking the time to make and post this.

[@untimelyreflections]

Thank you!

[@harryanderson7282]

@@untimelyreflections I would argue that Faust is indeed a tragedy in that it's Mephistopheles who is the work's true tragic figure. He bets against God and loses. He bets against Faust and loses. And at the play's end there he stands eternally thwarted by his own irrevocable nature. It would seem that in Goethe's metaphysics God is the Devil's devil, no? If you want to grant Mephistopheles an independent existence outside of simply being a reoccurring doubt in the mind of God then it would seem that God created him knowing that his eternal existence would, by the divine plan, be pretty much in vain. Although, this does beg the question what of the damned souls glimpsed at the end of the play? Why does God allow Mephistopheles dominion over them?

[@MEGALEHANE]

Such a play and wonderful commentary. I am very interested in Goethe and had read Young Werther and now reading through Wilhelm Meister's. I have read many excerpts of Faust and hoped to find a commentary on it before really diving in as I have hear that it is a dense and complex piece. Your commentary is so very illuminating. And the story is so moving I cannot hold back my tears. I now have renewed passion to dive into Faust. Thank you for your insights.

[@Brandon-a-writer]

without an education in the entire history of philosophy up to Goethe's time, it's hard to pick up on / notice the level of an achievement of synthesis Faust really is. Demanding of the reader is an understatement... This is like Ulysses in its demands, if not more opaque.

[@ElNegringoKreyolito]

The Algorithm Knows!!!! 👁️ I'm only a half hour in but I'm enjoying this so much that I felt compelled to leave a comment. Good stuff man!

[@untimelyreflections]

Thank you!

[@laurencesmith2199]

I have to tell it . Irish guy goes onto a site looking for a start and gets directed to a portacabin . The Subbie (boss) is English and hates Paddies and starts taking the piss , imitating his accent n' stuff and getting laughs from the others in the room . Eventually he says , roit Paddy , can you tell me the difference between a joist and a girder ? Paddy comes back after a think and a scratch of the chin , well , Joist wrote Ulysses and Girder wrote Faust , I'll get a start somewhere else .

[@antonnurwald5700]

As a non english native speaker i literally had to look up every single expression in this joke. But i got it.

[@laurencesmith2199]

@@antonnurwald5700 Well done Anton , it's a good joke . It centres around the correct pronunciation of Goethe and the fact that an illiterate wouldn't even know who he was let alone how to pronounce it .

[@horaceosirian8993]

Gold! Thank you from a German-speaking Irish / Lebanese Kiwi :)

[@Teshub]

This comment wins da InterTubes! Ravenously brilliant punning!

[@jktekkerz8735]

⁠@@horaceosirian8993That is quite a combination!! You should be working at the United Nations!! You might teach them a thing or two about International Relations!!!

[@nancytoulouse6973]

Wow- 😳 As a 60-somerhing year old who's now often looking back on my life, with sometimes feelings of regret and guilt, this story is quite redeeming for me. Thank you 💖🌷❤️

[@jamescollins609]

I love your podcast. I've been reading and re-reading Nietzsche since 2013. It's always a joy to find another soul who finds this German thinker so fascinating. Would you by any chance be willing to do a podcast on both Heidegger's and Deleuze's take on Nietzsche--especially Heidegger? Thank you.

[@untimelyreflections]

Both are coming next season (starts in a couple months). Deleuze will probably be first. Heidegger may take awhile because I only have a passing familiarity with his ideas from my college days, but he’s too important to ignore.

[@thanatos_777]

Speaking of Nietzsche I find that humans like other species of sexual beings are dogmatically hardwired for sex it's in our very id as humans we have I guess the Apollonian and dionysian energies/er.. principles to thank for that feminism says as men we must reject this while women can elope. This is a rejection of science religion says Adam and Eve or whatever creation character or story or G-d you believe in can elope and enjoy but you must ignore and negate your energy wow that makes a LOT of sense.

[@byOwenWatkins]

at 53:53 i actually believe its not the fear of potential loss which torments faust, but rather the crushing weight of holding onto what was and is meaningful in some metaphysical obscurity after the veil of meaning in life has been pulled. ie. what was, still is and all has changed but to what end do i hold? yet i cannot let go

[@gingerbreadzak]

00:01 🤔 Goethe's "Faust" explores the pursuit of happiness, both in short-term emotions and long-term fulfillment. 03:45 🏋‍♀ Happiness often arises from pursuing goals and overcoming challenges rather than passively seeking contentment. 06:41 😈 In Goethe's "Faust," the protagonist makes a pact with the devil, believing that lasting fulfillment on Earth is impossible. 11:43 📚 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a highly influential figure in German literature and culture, often compared to Shakespeare. 14:03 🌟 Goethe's "Faust" eulogizes the Enlightenment while also critiquing it, emphasizing the pursuit of knowledge and truth. 17:21 🔍 Faust represents the Western psyche's relentless quest for knowledge and truth, even at the cost of morality and convention. 20:06 📜 Faust was a work in progress throughout Goethe's life, and it was completed in his later years. 21:29 🎭 Goethe intended for Faust to be comprehensible to the average person and included comedic elements in the play. 22:30 🤔 Nietzsche criticized Goethe's Faust for not being a true tragedy, as Faust is ultimately saved and not condemned. 23:25 🌟 Faust represents the Enlightenment's pursuit of knowledge and confronts the problem of science, similar to Nietzsche's early philosophy. 25:22 🔄 Goethe's Faust focuses on the pursuit of knowledge rather than the ultimate truth, highlighting the value of the journey. 26:18 📜 In Goethe's Faust, the arrangement between Faust and Mephistopheles is a wager, not an outright sale of Faust's soul. 27:41 📖 Goethe's Faust is framed within a bet between God and Mephistopheles, similar to the biblical story of Job, adding depth to the narrative. 28:41 🕊 The biblical story of Job, with its meeting between God and Satan, serves as an inspiration for the framing of Faust's narrative. 31:54 🤷‍♂ Mephistopheles, like Satan in the Book of Job, takes on the role of an adversary and skeptic, challenging the value of existence. 33:15 🔀 In Faust, Mephistopheles offers Faust pleasures and knowledge as a test, challenging his ability to lead a virtuous life. 35:02 🌟 God believes that Faust will ultimately be redeemed and that his striving, even if leading to errors, will guide him to the right path. 40:44 🤔 Faust contemplates the limits of human knowledge and the pain of realizing that despite all science and art, one can know nothing. 41:12 🧠 Socrates' attitude of knowing his own ignorance resonates with Faust's awareness of his own ignorance, which drives him to seek deeper knowledge. 42:05 😔 Faust's access to all knowledge leaves him desensitized and unfulfilled, leading him to explore mysticism, divination, and magic. 43:32 🔮 Faust delves into magic and mysticism to uncover hidden secrets and the creative force behind the world. 44:03 🌌 Faust's pursuit of knowledge becomes painful as he seeks a solid foundation beyond sensory experiences. 45:25 🌟 Faust contemplates the interconnectedness of all things symbolized by the macrocosm but ultimately rejects it as a mere illusion. 47:00 💪 Faust shifts his focus to earthly pursuits, yearning for all of life's experiences, both good and bad. 48:03 😈 Faust summons the Earth spirit but is rejected, challenging his perception of himself as an ubermensch or superman. 52:34 😟 Faust contemplates the human condition, describing the restlessness and despair that infect the human experience. 56:03 🎶 Easter church bells and music save Faust from suicide, symbolizing the power of sensuous beauty and a foretaste of redemption. 58:00 📚 Faust discusses his internal struggle between earthly and divine desires, seeking both life's pleasures and the source of all life. 01:00:29 📖 Faust criticizes the Bible's description of the universe, highlighting the contrast between his restless pursuit and the simplicity of faith. 01:03:20 🧙 Faust's focus and translation of phrases reflect his evolving pursuit of knowledge and truth, paralleling Nietzsche's concept of the will to power. 01:03:44 🐾 Faust traps a demonic presence, Mephistopheles, with a magical pentagram and tries to gain control over him through spells. 01:06:13 😈 Mephistopheles reveals himself as a spirit that negates and believes everything deserves to perish, a concept influencing Nietzsche and Karl Marx. 01:08:07 🌟 Faust recognizes the futility of Mephistopheles' actions and suggests the devil try something new, highlighting the devil's inherent resentment. 01:09:34 🤝 Faust proposes a deal with Mephistopheles to gain control over him, leading to a negotiation of terms. 01:12:23 🧙 Faust initially holds Mephistopheles captive, but the devil outmaneuvers him, emphasizing the devil's cunning nature. 01:15:06 🕰 Mephistopheles proposes a wager to Faust, offering him worldly pleasures in exchange for his soul, leading to a negotiation and a bet. 01:23:04 📃 Faust and Mephistopheles finalize the bet by accepting the terms of the contract, setting the stage for their pact.

[@garrycraigpowell]

Superb. I read Faust Part One long ago, aloud, and loved it. I'm inspired to re-read it, and read Part Two, which I failed to finish, doubtless because I was engaged in my own Faustian endeavours at the time!

[@franktodd3247]

I really enjoy your lectures. Your subject is worthy. Your insights are deep. The cadence of your speech is calming. Like a collection of clear warm pools to rest and reflect within for a time. Thank you so much!

[@thomashelliger2297]

Most excellent interpretation. I feel your and fausts struggle deeply. Feels good to be understood on such a deep level

[@DegenerateSlime]

"In the beginning was the act" That was worth rewinding a few times. I love the Christopher Marlowe play, and the Richard Burton adaptation. Thanks for making this video! I feel motivated to find a copy of the original now

[@gossedejong9248]

Sir, this is BRILLIANT, fascinating, illuminating, deeply moving, and very helpful. Thank you very much!

[@elizabethgurev546]

Thanks!

[@darillus1]

been listening to all your work over at the Nietzsche podcast, keep up the great work, you do a fantastic job

[@alphamale3141]

A terrific discussion of Faust. I’m about halfway through the play. I hope that you are still doing these KZbin presentations.

[@jimmyjimjimmyjimjimjimjim4437]

I thought I knew the story of Faust until I started listening to this. This is fascinating. Faust seems to embody the American attitude; constantly, and restlessly looking for the next thing. riding the merry-go-round and snatching at the golden ring only to find that the prize is just more riding on the merry-go-round.

[@MrNecryptic]

Life is a highway, and I want off.

[@horaceosirian8993]

Goethe was a Freemason, and a ton of early American Presidents were the same. There's a famous statue of George Washington assuming the Baphomet pose _("as above, so below, or as I like to say it: "as a bruv, so a bro, solve / coagula & all that),"_ with hilariously buff musculature. To be clear, I'm not suggesting that all apron fairies are bent...'cos I mean, it's perfectly normal to get together with your fellow apron & white glove fairies-y'know with names like Knight-Protector of The Bennu Stone, Arch-Rector of the Hermetic Sphinx, Guardian of the East Beacon & so on-turn the lights off, light candles, and lead some poor blindfolded twit around the joint, pretending to stab, strangle, and beat the snot out of him, blah blah blah. Okay I'll be honest: I'm almost certain that every Freemason is a frustrated Dungeon Master at the very least (buy some plolyhedral die FFS, it's NEVER too late), 3.3% are Illuminati / Jesuit infiltrators, 33% are bent cops, and the rest are plain old vanilla boy buggerers. And 100% of you are KABBALAH VICTIMS. At least half of you are Thelamites (93! 93! 93!). Also, rather a lot of assassins seem to have been apron fairies (e.g. John Wilkes Booth, the 33rd degree coward who shot Abraham Lincoln.). Jesuits too, in fact I believe they were booted out of the US and prohibited from returning for a while; sadly they were allowed to re-infest. Same as it ever was. Hey check it out: if you take the two nails as a letter 'T' then the Jesuit logo read backwards (AS ABOVE SO BELOW; AS WITHIN SO WITHOUT reads $HIT! Hahaha. Funny huh? Yeah...funny how the radiating straight and curvy lines look like a buggered cornhole, torn and in agony, hilarious innit! Oh just ignore me, Jesuits never did anything of the sort, Catholics are pure as driven snow (including Knights Templar!), Freemasons aren't apron fairy Goy

[@-RAYZ-]

@@MrNecryptic I, wannnnna ride it. all. night. long.

[@BarquitodeVapor]

You really deserve more subscribers!

[@pr1vada]

This was high quality. Great job!

[@stefans8885]

This was so helpful! I was having trouble digesting all of this on my own.

[@architektura204]

thank you for making my sunrise and coffee more delightful. Your irresistibly captivating storytelling makes messages of the past sages digestible. Now I am neglecting my "duties"; This is all your fault , and it is sooo worth it.

[@its_saam9459]

Just finished the first part of this video. Absolutely incredible. You're commentary is at once insightful, concise, respectful (to the listener and subject matter), and soothing. Keep up the great work! I'll be binging your oeuvre over the coming fortnight and I look forward the what you do next: perhaps Paradise Lost or The Divine Comedy? :)

[@untimelyreflections]

Mostly my content is philosophical rather than having to do with literature, but in that direction, I have a long analysis of Plato’s Symposium also, and lots having to do with Nietzsche (the focus of the channel). Planning to cover more fiction literature soon, and your suggestions are wonderful and taken in advisement.

[@renzo6490]

I did not find the commentary at all concise. I thought it rambled…

[@LAZY_PHILOMATH]

@@renzo6490 Too many Benzo's??

[@shl431]

This is one of the most valuable pieces in the history of literature and delves into ethical dilemmas.

[@Sharkyg1985]

Thank you so much. We are doing a performed reading of this in London and this was incredibly helpful. God bless you.

[@MaggieV724]

This was amazing. I never properly knew the story of Faust. A real story if our time and of course of all times. Thank you.

[@briansilva1274]

Your voice is so soothing. Introduction to your channel was your video on faust. I replayed the whole like 3 times already. Your commentary is entertaining

[@facilitiesmaintenance]

My appreciation of you and this video cannot be overstated. Your influence on my understanding of Faust cannot be OVERSTATED!

[@ColossusEternum]

Man, I had to pause and make this comment, I want this video to have my full attention, youve done an awesome job here. There is one part here that resonates with me on such an amazing level. I am 32 years old, I have spent roughly the last 3 years absolutely obsessed with mathematics, physics, and electronics. I say this humbly, but I have been able to teach myself how to do some pretty incredible things(especially for someone with no formal education) But I find that when I achieve a goal I set, I feel so empty inside. And it seems like the harder the goal was that I reached, the more this effect amplifies. And I had never thought about reaching the absolute pinnacle of knowledge. Its probably impossible for one human to do in a lifetime at this point, regardless of intelligence. But imagine being born in a time when we didnt have access to this knowledge. It would be entirely possible to reach the cutting edge of every single field, and it struck me how absolutely boring that would be.The only way I wouldnt be bored and depressed would be committing myself to seeking to build on this knowledge through experimentation. And also, there's a real sense of loneliness that comes with gaining a large amount of knowledge you're passionate about. As you learn more and more, it becomes more difficult to share a new discovery you're excited about with someone else who would understand and therefore appreciate how beautiful a discovery it is.

[@laffing_hwhitee]

Excelsior!!! Excellent reading & interpretation, scale,depth & brevity,great commentary throughout,lovingly thought out work - with equally communicated appreciation And fervor.Such is a heartfelt tale told in scale, the announcer gave great feel & bredth to details and summary. I cant thank you enough (for this) Ive shared it with everyone & am Pleased to know Of you & your Channel/podcast. Be well . . .

[@justdointhisforthegames]

This channel is so metal.

[@untimelyreflections]

One of our favorite spots to play is Faust Tavern in San Antonio. 🤘

[@daniel-zh4qc]

​@@untimelyreflections I'm going to have to see you guys play next time you come to NYC.... You combine my love of philosophy and metal ....

[@samuelinauen1038]

One year of great commitment and sharing your thoughts with us! 🙌❤️

[@dannyrenehan7875]

Thanks so much for your work mate. Content and delivery is such quality

[@emandc1]

thankyou, this is one of the only 3 hour commentaries I have watched until the end

[@cesarfernandezlopez5063]

LOVELY VOICE, GREAT LECTURE, THANK YOU , KEEP MORE COMING PLEASE

[@richardgalea9884]

Thank you for all your efforts to make such a wonderful video.

[@chutspe]

Thank you very much for this lecture. Also, having read "Faust" and seen it played on stage only in German so far, I'm amazed how well it translates into English, with rhymes no less.

[@EddieLeal]

I feel this story perfectly describes most of man kinds condition. Always wanting, never feeling fulfillment from what we earn/achieve in life. At least not any long term fulfillment. Its a rare breed of person that can say w/ certainty that they feel either fulfillment in what they do and/or are content with their life. We are always found wanting regardless of our accomplishments.

[@gingerbreadzak]

02:24:38 😢 Faust learns about Gretchen's dire situation and her mother's death. 02:25:11 ⚔ Faust encounters trouble from Gretchen's brother, Valentine, resulting in a duel. 02:26:35 🗡 Faust and Mephisto engage in a deadly fight with Valentine, leading to his death. 02:28:01 😨 Valentine publicly denounces Gretchen for her actions, causing her to lose her self-respect. 02:28:49 😈 Gretchen is haunted by an evil spirit in church, intensifying her guilt and anxiety. 02:30:41 🧙‍♀ Faust and Mephisto attend Walpurgis Night, a surreal witch's Sabbath filled with magical beings. 02:32:34 🎉 Faust's thoughts turn to Gretchen, causing him to leave the festivities and worry about her. 02:34:03 🤯 Faust confronts Mephistopheles about Gretchen's situation, leading to a heated exchange. 02:37:28 💔 Faust finds Gretchen in a cell, but she has descended into madness. 02:41:22 🙏 Gretchen pleads for Faust to stay with her, even though she's resigned to her fate. 02:43:41 😇 As Faust is rushed away by Mephisto, Gretchen prays and is judged but ultimately saved. 02:44:17 📜 Faust Part 1 ends with Gretchen's voice fading away as Faust and Mephisto flee, leaving her behind in her cell. 02:45:18 🎭 Faust Part One can be seen as a tragedy, even without considering Part Two, and Nietzsche criticized it for its lack of true tragic depth. 02:46:17 🇩🇪 Nietzsche believed there was a significant gap between Greek tragedy and Faust in terms of the affirmation of life, questioning if Faust's story should be considered the greatest German tragic idea. 02:47:14 📜 Faust's story, especially the Gretchen tragedy, was influenced by Goethe's personal experiences and transmuted pain from his own failed love affairs. 02:49:01 😔 Faust's tragic element lies in his inability to control his desires, leading to guilt and remorse over his actions, which is a relatable theme for many. 02:50:33 💰 Faust Part One cannot be a self-contained story, as it lacks closure and offers no redemption for Faust's actions. 02:52:07 📖 Faust Part Two, written by an older Goethe, explores more mature themes and delves into various subjects, making it episodic and complex. 02:54:01 🤖 Faust's tormenting memories of Gretchen are eventually soothed away by nature, signaling his maturity and acceptance of past events. 02:56:02 🔬 Faust's invention of paper money symbolizes the unrestrained scientific pursuit of power over the natural world. 02:57:23 🧪 The creation of a homunculus by Wagner reflects the scientific drive to discard human limitations and embrace unrestrained knowledge-seeking. 03:00:32 🏛 The Classical Walpurgis Night blurs the boundaries of time and culture, reflecting Faust's evolving desires and drives. 03:02:17 🌊 Galatea's role in shattering the homunculus symbolizes the conflict between Faust's longing for the eternal feminine and the rationalistic quest to dominate nature. 03:05:07 📜 Faust's striving in Part Two becomes more spiritual and less physical, reflecting a quest to revive the spirit of a past age, symbolized by his relationship with Helen of Troy. 03:06:01 🏛 Faust's civil engineering projects symbolize his focus on improving society, creating fertile farmlands, and providing self-sufficiency and equity for the people. 03:08:36 🌍 Faust's striving evolves to improve the environment and the well-being of the people around him, emphasizing the flourishing of all. 03:11:06 🕊 Faust's final moments reflect his desire to hold onto a fleeting moment of happiness, highlighting the human need for cherishing the present. 03:16:22 🔥 Mephisto laments the meaninglessness of life after death, while angels redeem Faust's soul and refute Mephisto's claims. 03:23:17 👼 Faust is reborn in eternity, free from earthly ties, and joins the heavenly host, symbolizing redemption and transformation. 03:24:10 🤔 Reflecting on Faust, his striving, and the eternal feminine as an artistic metaphor invites individual interpretation and contemplation. 03:25:09 👩‍🦰 The "eternal feminine" in Goethe's work represents the confluence of the good, the beautiful, and the true. It symbolizes a spiritualized pursuit of desire beyond physical pleasures. 03:26:03 💖 Faust's journey involves learning to love life, embracing the act of striving, and dedicating himself to a greater project, leading to a state of happiness and acceptance. 03:27:01 ⏳ Nietzsche's concept of the eternal return echoes Faust's desire to make moments last, emphasizing the importance of saying "yes" to joys and sorrows as a justification for life.

[@JamesO512]

This was a really wonderful listen! Top notch content. You have a really wonderful voice too. Thank you! Glad I discovered your channel.

[@giantessmaria]

thanks for all the wonderful content my friend. The dreams i had to this one was something from another universe! i have no idea how you don't have a million followers!

[@jontymellmann9233]

Came here after watching Jan Švankmajer’s film rendition of Faust. Fantastic stuff! Both the film and your analysis. What a timeless story… Very engaging as I do my work today. Interesting how the rhythmic poetry is maintained in the translation too. I had read the Christopher Marlowe version at school once before, but after this it looks like I’ll be having to seek out Goethe’s to read too, now :) Thank you :)

[@leticiacsan]

Bookmark: 15:53 16:32 18:12 26:09 29:31 38:03 39:54

[@emZee1994]

What an amazing podcast, KZbin just recommended you and I'm definitely subscribing and I'm going to binge your videos now

[@thescaleofnature5775]

Thank you for this video. It kept suggested to me. This video got to me actually read Faust, and I was shocked how much I relate to the character. Your analysis and references helped me tie together a lot of other ideas I’ve been philosophizing over, and has sent me down some other rabbit holes! Thank you!

[@gingerbreadzak]

01:23:33 📜 Faust and Mephisto formalize their contract, making Mephisto Faust's servant, and Faust seeks extremes in life, both agony and bliss. 01:25:05 🤔 Faust's pursuit is about experiencing the totality of human emotions, from tragedy to bliss, as he immerses himself in the restless activity of life. 01:26:53 🔮 Mephisto admires Faust's determination but doubts he can resist getting lost in moments of bliss, leading to their bet against each other. 01:27:22 🌍 Faust and Mephisto embark on their journey to take on the world, leaving behind the pursuit of knowledge for the pursuit of experiences. 01:29:55 📚 Faust's character is introduced as a scholar who seeks meaning and knowledge, while Mephisto represents the dark side of intellectual pursuits. 01:31:44 💔 Gretchen's character is introduced, symbolizing the transformative and redemptive power of the eternal feminine in the story. 01:33:13 🔄 Faust's character evolves from a pessimistic scholar to a more complex, flawed, and relatable figure as he confronts the meaninglessness of life. 01:35:14 🎓 The portrayal of scholars and institutions of scholarship in Faust highlights their questionable nature and contrast with Faust's character. 01:39:02 💊 Faust seeks a quick fix for his aging, but Mephisto suggests that the remedy lies in a simple life of labor, diet, and exercise. 01:42:04 🪞 Faust glimpses the eternal feminine in a mirror while waiting in the witch's kitchen, foreshadowing its significance in the story. 01:44:29 🤔 Mephisto explains that people often read too much into vague or cryptic statements. 01:45:53 🔥 Faust drinks a magical potion and regains his youth, leading Mephisto to encourage him towards indulging in earthly pleasures. 01:47:45 👫 Faust meets Gretchen (Margaret) on the street but faces initial rejection. 01:49:37 📜 Faust insists on pursuing Gretchen, and Mephisto advises him to be patient in his romantic pursuit. 01:51:27 💍 Faust and Mephisto hide jewels as a gift for Gretchen, and Faust reflects on his changing desires. 01:53:52 💰 Gretchen's family decides to give the jewels to the church, highlighting societal views on wealth and morality. 01:55:23 ⛪ Faust instructs Mephisto to acquire more treasure for Gretchen. 01:58:45 🗝 Mephisto uses Martha as a go-between to facilitate Faust's introduction to Gretchen. 02:00:08 🤹‍♂ Mephisto's plan involves creating a connection between Faust and Gretchen, but it risks Faust's downfall. 02:02:56 🤥 Faust reluctantly agrees to bear false witness as part of Mephisto's plan, highlighting the devil's manipulative logic. 02:04:25 🧙 Faust and Mephisto's actions are not purely supernatural; they often involve clever manipulations and Faust's signature wit. 02:05:18 🌹 Faust's interest in Gretchen lies in her simplicity and humble virtues, which stand in contrast to his pursuit of all the wisdom in the world. 02:08:12 🤔 Faust appreciates innocence and simplicity, valuing them over cleverness and complexity in people. 02:09:08 💔 Gretchen's life has been filled with hardship, yet she finds meaning in family, love, and personal virtue. 02:11:28 🔥 Faust's pursuit of Gretchen awakens jealousy and guilt within him, as he introduces sin into her life and disrupts her peace. 02:15:46 😄 Mephisto satirizes Faust's romantic nature poetry, emphasizing the sensual and sexual nature of Faust's desires. 02:20:47 ✝ Gretchen desires a partner who shares her Christian beliefs, but Faust's unconventional views create a rift in their relationship. 02:23:44 😢 Gretchen's feelings of guilt and her descent into calamity start after she and Faust consummate their relationship, leading to tragic consequences.

[@dyls2702]

I read Faust about 7 years ago and it had the most poetic page I've ever read it's written incredibly beautifully.

[@dietrichluft]

This is one of the best Things i have Seen on KZbin. Thank you so much!❤

[@austinjohnbaker9521]

Very entertaining and insightful discussion! Thank you for this

[@lukehunnable]

"doubt is required for knowledgeable". Brilliant! 👍

[@TheBeautifulOneYT]

Yo I woke up with this autoplaying in my earbud, and decided to wake up early to listen through the whole things, great stuff, memorable morning!

[@mattevarnish7455]

I really enjoyed this. Thanks for doing it!

[@jonathangray7421]

An excellent talk. I'm planning a major re-read of Faust in the coming weeks and listening to this made me especially keen to begin it.

[@lillith77]

I fell asleep listening to KZbin, and this video came up. Wow, it triggered some weird dreams

[@Akasen1226]

In entirely certain this is being recommended to me just cause I'd been binging a lot of "Phantom of the Paradise" stuff and that has some stuff related to Faust in it. But I also like Faustian stories, so I don't mind KZbin throwing this at me.

[@gabrielgarza2294]

Great insight. I’m only now just realizing that my version is missing a huge part of part 2. I can’t believe I’ve been walking around with only part of Goethe’s Faust in my head.

[@mindinversions4487]

I just wanted to pop in and say I’m really enjoying your telling of this. Thank you 😊

[@morpety]

Thanks for the great effort you have made here. You certainly brought this play to life for me.

[@rupafitzgerald3124]

We "miss the mark" through striving. I love that.

[@bobrucker447]

Zhuangzi - " When sadness and joy come, I cannot prevent their approach; when they go, I cannot retain them. How sad it is that men should only be as lodging-houses for things, (and the emotions which they excite)! They know what they meet, but they do not know what they do not meet; they use what power they have, but they cannot be strong where they are powerless. Such ignorance and powerlessness is what men cannot avoid. That they should try to avoid what they cannot avoid, is not this also sad? Perfect speech is to put speech away; perfect action is to put action away; to digest all knowledge that is known is a thing to be despised."

[@nancytoulouse6973]

Now I know what you mean by "restless modernity" (at least better than what I was able to understand before). Thank you for all your efforts. They are appreciated ❤️🌷💖🌿🌞🌻🌹

[@sergioponce9872]

Hey, I had just finished reading this a couple weeks ago. It’s not the easiest thing to find somebody to talk to about it, so finding this video is a good way to tend to that itch.

[@moneyasusual]

This has saved my soul and reenergized it. Thank you. This is phenomenal.

[@joshc6569]

I normally listen on spotify, but I want to say I really appreciate your deep and thoughtful analysis

[@silent1547]

What is the name of the podcast?

[@joshc6569]

@@silent1547 The Nietzsche podcast

[@SmashKingChaos]

​@@silent1547kk ppll

[@skiffer3]

Such a great reading, very well done sir.

[@Crunkachu]

I agree for what I've heard so far.

[@lennyvlaminov9480]

Splendid analysis and recap

[@maxaval1240]

Magnificent, thank you so much for this...which is the podcast?

[@jakemckeown9459]

“The Nietzsche podcast.”

[@untimelyreflections]

Here's the show on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0ZARzVCRfJZDCyeKjvIEfE

[@asura2545]

Great and in-depth analysis. Thank you!

[@truthlove607]

I love your intelligence,it shines through! Just started following you.

[@wadejameskennedy4495]

thank you. so stimulating, interesting and evocative. i think and i have minimal control over my thinking,but,i think you are brilliant.

[@readthestreets]

Love your work man👌

[@untimelyreflections]

Appreciate it!

[@sasishaan]

These are amazing, more please :)

[@thelilliad]

Wonderful! Thank you for this insightful summary ❤

[@benseal3072]

Faust changed my life. Raised catholic. Thank you for this one.

[@zenden6564]

Bravo! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 That was a fantastic presentation. I take my hat off you. Thank-you very much sir, as you may gather I thoroughly enjoyed your content's breadth and depth, vocal skill, pacing and many, many astute observations. May the descending angel's seraphical swishings lift your spirit to heaven (just in the nick time as it were) to when Mephisto with the straight and curved horn teams finally arrive to settle your account.

[@ahobimo732]

Over three hours of rigorous, informed analysis of one of the major works of western culture - this is quite impressive indeed! This is my first encounter with your channel. It seems I've discovered another one of KZbin's hidden gems! Looking forward to more!

[@tellingfoxtales]

You should do more literature content, canonic plays and national epics would really fill a niche.

[@nicolasehrlich4627]

Awesome job man.... keep it up 👊

[@kcosminhz7988]

@51:13min is this about reaching inside ourselves, or looking inside ourselves to search for happiness?

[@saw700]

Thank you for doing this! I enjoyed it very much! This Gen X mom of 4 is inspired ❤

[@jasonh1293]

I came across this video when I was sleeping with the headphones on, and it blew my mind 🤯

[@samuelinauen1038]

Where can I find the episode on halloween you mentioned at 2:30:00 ?

[@untimelyreflections]

It is not yet on youtube. Only on the RSS feed (spotify, apple podcasts, etc). I might put it up on YT this Halloween!

[@samuelinauen1038]

@@untimelyreflections That would be amazing! Here in Europe we don't celebrate it all too much, but we have other tradition that has to do with evil spirits and such things :D

[@silent1547]

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS PODCAST??? I NEED IT.

[@untimelyreflections]

The Nietzsche Podcast open.spotify.com/show/0ZARzVCRfJZDCyeKjvIEfE?si=J1uCqvmuTmaz1EK1Bar59Q

[@willoughby4886]

Thank you for making these videos. I know you probably don’t make no money from this so making this knowledge public is a public service

[@zvi__shalem]

I Really enjoyed this! Where is the source that Marx like the quote from Mephistopheles?