The last phase of our Hell unit will consist of examining the Faust legend: its German origins and later adaptations, including excerpts from Marlowe, Goethe, and Mann. And maybe we'll watch an SNL skit or two, for the sake of lightening up what can be a very dark topic: the sale of your soul to the devil. Take a look at Rembrandt's depiction of the Faust legend. What do you feel/notice/think when you look at this piece?
13 comments:
honestly, the first thing my eyes were drawn to was the skull in the background. this is probably not what the artist intended, and i couldn't tell you why that's what i saw first.
there seem to be some formless shapes floating about, which could be attributed to the condition of the physical work or an intentional detail.
the man looks startled and his stance implies fear, or he is at least very wary of the glowing "star" in his midst. the form itself possesses no threatening qualities but i think anyone would be shocked to see such i a thing float into their home.
curiosity also seems to strike the man. a bit of confusion as well. i guess i should say he's displaying all the emotions one would expect in such a situation.
my first impression of his expression was that the glowing figure was somehow communicating with him, for it looks like he's listening intently.
i also like his hat. it is a fine hat indeed.
That's funny. I didn't get fear out of the picture at all. The man appears hesitant, yes, but he didn't strike me as fearful in any way. Also, I don't know that I would say he is curious either. His facial expression to me seems to be one of fatigue and weariness, like the floating "star" shape is something he's seen before and is tired of. I feel like he has some sort of "grin and bear it" thing going on... Then again, maybe I have some really messed up eyes.
And yes, that is one sweet hat.
haha well your eyes can't be too messed up since you too admire his headgear.
Seems to me to be more like a willing servant at ready to do the master's bidding. Doesn't seem hesitant at all to me, nor confused. He appears to be more relaxed than anything (Shoulders lowered, shifted weight onto the desk) as if he's thinking of what to do - not in an anxious way, but more along the lines of "How do i go about doing this"
Well, as much as I hate to break the trend of only people with names that start with b posting, I was slightly confused by this picture. Is the star in the center supposed to be the devil? It seems unconventional for The Prince of Darkness to be portrayed as a source of light. Also, the man to me seems to be viewing this star as we would a boss or teacher, with attentiveness, but not fear. Was this the intent? Also, the man looks rather poor and ragged. What caused him to get to this state? Did he spend all of his money on that nifty hat? And whose skull is that in the background anyway? Why does he have it? And what exactly are those faint shapes in the background? Maybe it's my bad eyes or computer screen, but I can't tell what they are. I also feel that the picture as a whole doesn't have the same sense of forboding that we have come to associate with the devil. Honestly, if there was no post to go with this picture, I never would have connected it with the devil at all.
--"It seems unconventional for The Prince of Darkness to be portrayed as a source of light."--
Seems to be the subject of the entire chapter, you think? Throughout almost everything we've read, (With the exception of Dante), we've seen/read the devil portrayed as some kind of "Energy", or even the "hero" of some of these writings, so wouldn't it be along the same lines to show himself to his followers as a light of inspiration? Isn't that what he offers? Pure insight to one's desires? Would seem only natural to have him appear as such.
good point bman.
what i meant by "fear" was less of the horror film blood-curdling scream fear and more of uncertainty. you know, pulse racing "what is that" fear. i felt like the way he was leaning was sort of a "woah there weird star thing. back it up!".
but i do also think that my assumption of his feelings could have been brought on by how i think i would feel if i were to see that.
Sweet! I think the selling your soul to the devil is so interesting because there's so many interpretations of how it all goes down.
In the picture its almost an opposite of what I would think would happen when a "demon" comes into a room to strike a deal with someone. I always think of something like a dark cloud popping up or something like that. But as I was reading the other comments like booradley and how she saw the skull and stuff it almost makes me feel like the old lady in the picture was into some hoodoo stuff and asked the thing there and thats why she doesn't look scared or confused...? Im probably totally wrong but whatever.
Oh and is that a lady or a man??? I swear I thought it was a lady at first and her hairs all up in a bun... once again im probably wrong but whatever!
I googled this picture to see if I could find one with better quality and the only conclusion I can make is that the subject is a gypsy.
And, I think the gypsy man/woman (man with turban? woman with unflattering bun?) looks indifferent but aware. he/she recognizes the light-bomb thing, but doesn't really seem to react much, other than to look up from what they're doing to acknowledge it.
maybe there is a ton of heavey symbolism that we are all missing.
honestly, I think bman nailed it when he said that light was used to potray the devil because that's how he's been referred to as of late. As "energy".
And maybe that form is being used to decieve the gypsy.
In answer to your queries: Rembrandt's painting is called Philosopher in his Study or Dr. Faustus in his Study. Faustus or Faust is the character who sells his soul to the devil for different reasons depending upon whose version you read. Marlowe's Faust falls prey to flattery, and desires knowledge and power. Goethe's Faust is a little more well-meaning, and he doesn't meet as horrible of an end as the others. Thomas Mann's Faust sells his soul to the devil in order to become a great composer and musician. (Incidentally, Mann parallels his Faust with the rise and fall of Nazi Germany).
As for the bun? All I can say is that some guys wear buns now, and they did then, too, I suppose.
My first impression is of the man presumably Faust seemingly drowning in his work. The Star actually seems to faintly resemble a cross with it's goodness further implied by it's seemingly descending from the window, however the smoke adds to it a sense of deception, as if more is hidden behind this gleaming visage. This hidden being seems to rear over the doctor as a bird would when it is about to feast on an animal unsespecting of danger above.
I suppose the idea of the devil appearing as light makes more sense than I once thought. After all,as bman said, the devil is energy and the most common form of energy in the universe is light. Light is many times actually the result of a chemical reaction that gives off energy. So, scientifically it makes sense. Also, Satan's devils are nothing but fallen angels, correct? And angels are usually said to appear in a bright shining light right? So, if the devils are fallen angels, who's to say that they must change the way they appear to people on earth? Suddenly the picture make a lot more sense to me now.
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