Wagner enters because he heard Faust screaming. He assumes Faust was reciting something from a play. Wagner goes on to say how he is trying to become a better speaker/actor because it will help him appear smarter/people will listen to him. He wishes to inspire others. Faust advises him “and idle what you plan unless your art/ springs from the soul with elemental force/ to hold its sway in every listening heart (49).” He tells Wagner to speak honestly to be a leader, style/tricks which will only get him attention, not inspire others. Wagner goes on to say “…long indeed is art;/our life is very short (50)” to describe his fear of working hard to master his art only to be killed before he reaches “the fountain-head” (fountain of youth?). Wagner likes to look back on history to see how far mankind has come. Faust agrees somewhat and goes on to say “and what you call the spirit of ages/is but the spirit of your learned sages/ whose mirror is a pitiful affair/ shunned by mankind after a single stare…(50)” he basically says the great spirit all the people in the past have talked about isn’t all that special, and it is a disappointment to see. Wagner comments on the human tendency to always understand things/solve the mysteries of nature. Faust says they cant be understood, and those who did understand were punished by society “burnt and crucified (51)”. Wagner leaves because Faust is tired, but enjoyed learning from Faust/wants to keep talking tomorrow on Easter.
Faust reflects on the spirit’s visit. He says it was good Wagner interrupted him because he was overwhelmed by the spirit’s apparition. “The apparition towered to such a height/my soul was dwarfed within me, in dismay. (51)” Faust wonders about how close he came to solving the mysteries of nature “Shall I then rank with gods? Too well I feel/ My kinship with the worn who bores the soil/ who feeds on dust until the wanderer’s heel/ gives sepulture (burial) to all his care and toil (52).” Although he got close he still knows he will never be satisfied or happy “For Nature keeps her veil inviolate (sacred/pure)/ mysterious still in open light of day (53).
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Wagner enters because he heard Faust screaming. He assumes Faust was reciting something from a play. Wagner goes on to say how he is trying to become a better speaker/actor because it will help him appear smarter/people will listen to him. He wishes to inspire others. Faust advises him “and idle what you plan unless your art/ springs from the soul with elemental force/ to hold its sway in every listening heart (49).” He tells Wagner to speak honestly to be a leader, style/tricks which will only get him attention, not inspire others. Wagner goes on to say “…long indeed is art;/our life is very short (50)” to describe his fear of working hard to master his art only to be killed before he reaches “the fountain-head” (fountain of youth?). Wagner likes to look back on history to see how far mankind has come. Faust agrees somewhat and goes on to say “and what you call the spirit of ages/is but the spirit of your learned sages/ whose mirror is a pitiful affair/ shunned by mankind after a single stare…(50)” he basically says the great spirit all the people in the past have talked about isn’t all that special, and it is a disappointment to see. Wagner comments on the human tendency to always understand things/solve the mysteries of nature. Faust says they cant be understood, and those who did understand were punished by society “burnt and crucified (51)”. Wagner leaves because Faust is tired, but enjoyed learning from Faust/wants to keep talking tomorrow on Easter.
Faust reflects on the spirit’s visit. He says it was good Wagner interrupted him because he was overwhelmed by the spirit’s apparition. “The apparition towered to such a height/my soul was dwarfed within me, in dismay. (51)” Faust wonders about how close he came to solving the mysteries of nature “Shall I then rank with gods? Too well I feel/ My kinship with the worn who bores the soil/ who feeds on dust until the wanderer’s heel/ gives sepulture (burial) to all his care and toil (52).” Although he got close he still knows he will never be satisfied or happy “For Nature keeps her veil inviolate (sacred/pure)/ mysterious still in open light of day (53).
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