The story in one page
Faust is a restless scholar bored with conventional academic pursuits. A demon, Mephistopheles, makes a wager with the divine to corrupt him, eventually securing a compact in exchange for earthly wonders. The scholar immediately uses this new access to charm a local girl, Margaret, with expensive trinkets and sorcerous charms. As the relationship progresses, the devil’s meddling forces Margaret into a cycle of disgrace and tragedy. By the final act, Margaret is imprisoned for her actions, while her lover attempts a panicked jailbreak. She refuses his help, choosing to place her fate in the hands of heaven, leaving the scholar to deal with the fallout.
Who's who
- Faust
A disillusioned scholar who sells his soul for forbidden experiences.
- Mephistopheles
A cynical, obstructive devil serving as a destructive fixer.
- Margaret
A pious young woman whose life is ruined by demonic interference.
- Martha
A lonely neighbor who facilitates the scholar's access to Margaret.
What it's really about
- The bargain
- Trading personal salvation for unearned power.
- Divine judgment
- The final authority on human actions.
Why it's memorable
- A dog growing to the size of a hippopotamus.
- A demon complaining that love-struck humans want to blow up the stars.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Margaret rejects an escape attempt and commits her soul to heaven, prompting a voice from above to declare her saved.
For your book club
- Can a lifetime of bad choices be forgiven in an instant?
- How much responsibility does the devil bear for human whims?