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Garry Moore
Com 003 (Section 001)
Professor Matheson
2 October 2017
Close Reading on Faust by Goethe
(Give us a playwhat is in his heart. Lines 166-179)

In this passage of the initial scene of Faust, Clown attempts to elate the spirits of his

downtrodden friend, Poet, by employing a monologue of praise that begins with recognizing the

Poets esteem and exceptional ability as a writer; he urges his friend to give us a play with such

emotion, because where [he] seizes [life], it exerts a spell (170-3). There is an enchanting

quality within Clowns diction when he claims that Poet is able to exert a spell through his

words. This peculiar choice of words offers a glimpse into the Poets astounding abilities, those

of which are currently unbeknownst to the audience. Throughout the entirety of this excerpt,

Clown abounds in such allegorical linguistics, encouraging his friend to find inspiration for

writing a play by figuratively reaching into life (167). He then refers to life as this teeming

ocean, a place where all live in it, [though] not many know it well (167-8). While this

imagery of a bustling ocean evokes a sense of shared unity among a world within the same

waters, it also reveals that Clown believes Poet and himself to be distinctly more aware of

societys inner workings, thus promoting himself above the masses. He later refers to his

prospective audiences as the flower of our youth (174) and tender minds [who] will come to

feed upon your work (176-7). By diminishing the status of society and his audiences, Clown is

able to reach out to and inspire his friend, Poet. Clown realizes that placing his friend atop a

pedestal which towers above everyone can be psychologically therapeutic in times of distress.
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This particular passage also serves to construct the pieces of Clowns unique character.

He is often seen sententiously speaking in metaphors that are reflective of his jovial personality.

He refers to Poets plays as brewsthat never fail to edify or please (172-3), as alcoholic

beverages which are consumed in times of celebratory jubilance. Clown is expressing that

audiences are able to figuratively drink Poets plays in the same way they enjoy drinking brews.

Such is reiterated when Clown concludes his monologue by saying, Upon your workone

thrills to this / One finds that in your art, each sees precisely what is in his heart (177-9). His

metaphors constitute the greater portion of his character. Just as clowns are expected to be

foolish for the sake of entertainment, Clown lives up to the stereotype in his own distinctive

ways by figuratively bouncing to and fro among uncanny subjects in an allegorical patois.

However, despite being a comedic performer, he symbolizes not the foolishness of a jester, but

rather exemplifies the intelligence of a sage. He is a clown, but it must also be taken into account

that he is a Romantic. Such is proven through his constant references to aspects of nature: the

teeming ocean (167), and the flower of our youth (174). His disposition is not easily

distinguished by commonplace aspects in literature; rather, Goethe is setting up Clown as a much

more diverse character worthy of in-depth consideration. The two lines, In motley pictures little

clarity / Much error and a spark of verity (170-1), though spoken in regard to Poets plays,

possess a duality in simultaneously serving as a reflective reference to Clowns own character:

despite being a clown of indistinguishable, varietal character, he does remain truthful to the fact

that, at the core of his heart, he is still a playful, amiable clown.

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Works Cited

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, and Walter Arnold. Kaufmann. Prelude in the Theater.

Goethe's Faust, Anchor Books, 1989, pp. 6881.