Faust Dalla Leggenda al Mito edited by Paolo Scarpi

Faust Dalla Leggenda al Mito

edited by Paolo Scarpi is a beautiful book published by Marsilio Editori treating the myth and legendary character of Faust seen under the lenses of famous writers like: Eudocia, Spies, Marlowe, Caldéron de la Barca, Goethe, Heine, Valéry.

I had read the Faust written by Marlowe and Goethe when I was a teenager. Pretty powerfuls, you will discover other scenarios, reading the characterization made by these immense authors on the character of Faust. 

But..Who was Faust? Faust represents the ambition that there is in every man, adding a heavy touch: for having a secure success and knowledge in this life will sign a contract with the devil: the pact is tremendous: the soul of Faust will descend to the hell once dead. 

The scheme more or less is similar in these short tales or theather's play.

 

There is this man called Faust: he loves magic, sometimes he wants more from life, he searches to conquer the woman he loves, or differently he desires wagons of women, or magical powers... 

In a way or in another, he meets along his way  the devil asking him how to have these powers or possibilities: the devil explains with calm: he will have knowledge, success, love, whatever he wants, but, but... The devil will ask for his soul once dead. If at first Faust is thrilled because of the deal reached with the devil, close to the end of his existence he will understand the horrible error and the impossibility to return on own his steps, because too late, because, anyway there was a signed contract between him and the infernal creature that must be "honored" if we want to use this expression.

In some of these tales there are portrayed scenarios of the hell as for example in the tale written by Spices. 

De la Barca changes names of the main protagonist: that one is a funny play thanks to the co-protagonists as well! 

Cipriano is in love for Giustina, would want to conquer her heart, and he ends signing a contract with the devil. The end of this play is more happy. The play written by Goethe is more obscure but what it is impressive in these plays or short tales like the one by Heine is, is the immense poeticity and verbal rich expressions for describing situations, feelings, state of minds: they make the difference:  a precious writing-style. I was thinking that in our modern world, is difficult to find someone writing with such intensity and accurate description. 

Apart these considerations, in some of these tales/play you'll also find a healthy humor close to the obscure one of the story. Faust sometimes understands that he is falling in a situation without escapism but what he wants is too strong for listening to that internal voice that says him: "no, no, it's an error, don't close any pact with the devil." In itself, also this part is plenty of comicity, because you can see a human being petrified, understanding that the chap close to him is not a remarkable one, that he should be diffident, that, after all the devil is telling him that the soul of Giustina has the cost of his soul! Cipriano should just run away but, in love, will sign the contract with the devil! 

It is tremendous the end of Faust portrayed by Spies, like the final speech to his students before his horrible "disappearance." 

After all, it's better not to joke with someone like the devil, tells us Spies between the lines. 

Absolutely beautiful! This book is the perfect Christmas gift for people in love for theater, literature and an immortal character life Faust is.

I thank Marsilio for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori