Is the “Walpurgis Night’s Dream” episode related to the rest of the drama? What, if anything, is its function? Why is the scene that follows it written in prose


The scene is particularly praised by critics for its poignant portrayal of Gretchen’s madness. Gretchen’s restoration to sanity when she sees Faust illustrates the regenerative power of love. He refusal to escape is based on her acknowledgment of responsibility for her acts and her acceptance of God’s law. She has a simple and clear-cut conception of right and wrong which is incomprehensible to the still inwardly doubling Faust.

Gretchen is granted salvation by God’s grace (the voice from Heaven) because her crimes were the result of inexperience and her motives were never sinful or impure. Gretchen was led into sin by following her instincts, but in Goethe’s thought it is part of being human to err. One is redeemed in the end if his conscience learns to know the difference between good and evil, rejects sinfulness, and repents. Gretchen’s final words, “Heinrich! I shudder to look at you,” express her horror at the ungodly, negativistic life Faust has chosen by maintaining his association with Mephisto, rather than any change in her feelings for him.

This is the end of the first part of the tragedy, a portion of a larger work but at the same time complete in itself. So far Mephisto has lost his wager with the Lord and failed to secure Faust’s soul. God’s faith in man has been upheld by Faust’s moral renewal on the Walpurgis Night and his final though misguided effort to do a good deed. Despite his filtration with sensuality and evil, Faust’s love for Gretchen had developed into something more than lust.

Faust, however, has still not found happiness or fulfilment in life, and is not sufficiently purged of sinfulness to terminate his alliance with the devil. Thus, the resolution of Faust’s struggle with his soul is in doubt, but a passionate and moving love story has come to a tragic end. At its close Faust seems at last to be on the right path.

Gretchen’s salvation and her loving concern for him right up to the moment of her death are lessons, which will make a permanent impression on him. Faust knows now that he cannot find himself through uninhibited sensuality, but he must taste all the world has to otter before he learns that only in God lies human fulfilment.
At the end of Part One Gretchen’s refusal to leave the prison prevented Faust from becoming absolutely dependent on Mephisto’s power, and thus made his ultimate salvation possible. At the end of Part Two her sacrifice is rewarded by the joy of guiding Faust to the highest level of Paradise and, with the aid of his Love, herself rising to the highest sphere.

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