The name Mephistopheles is a corrupted Greekcompound.[2] The Greek particle of negation (μη, mē) and the Greek word for love or loving (φίλος, philos) are the first and last terms of the compound but the middle term is more doubtful. For the middle term, three meanings have been noticed and three different complete etymologies have been established:
not loving light (φως το, phōs to; the old form of the word being Mephostopheles)
not loving Faust
allied to mephitic, a term which designates the poisonous vapors arising from the earth in certain places—pools, caverns, springs—destructive of human life.[2]
It is likely that the name was invented for the historical alchemist Johann Georg Faust by the anonymous author of the first Faustbuch.[1]
Mephistopheles is associated with the Faust legend of an ambitious scholar, based on the historical Johann Georg Faust. In the legend, Faust makes a deal with the Devil at the price of his soul, Mephistopheles acting as the Devil's agent.
The name appears in the late 16th-century Faust chapbooks – stories concerning the life of Johann Georg Faust, written by an anonymous German author.
In the 1725 version, which Goethe read, Mephostophiles is a devil in the form of a greyfriar summoned by Faust in a wood outside Wittenberg.
From the chapbooks, the name entered Faustian literature. Many authors have used it, from Goethe to Christopher Marlowe. In the 1616 edition of Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, Mephostophiles became Mephistophilis.
Although Mephistopheles appears to Faustus as a demon – a worker for Lucifer – critics claim that he does not search for men to corrupt, but comes to serve and ultimately collect the souls of those who are already damned. Farnham explains, "Nor does Mephistophiles first appear to Faustus as a devil who walks up and down on earth to tempt and corrupt any man encountered. He appears because he senses in Faustus' magical summons that Faustus is already corrupt, that indeed he is already 'in danger to be damned'."[4]
Mephistopheles is already trapped in his own Hell by serving the Devil. He warns Faustus of the choice he is making by "selling his soul" to the devil: "Mephistophilis, an agent of Lucifer, appears and at first advises Faust not to forego the promise of heaven to pursue his goals".[5] Farnham adds to his theory, "...[Faustus] enters an ever-present private hell like that of Mephistophiles".[6]
^ abSnider, Denton Jaques (1886). Goethe's Faust: A Commentary. Sigma. pp. 132–133.
^"The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1891)".
^Farnham, Willard (1969). Twentieth Century Interpretations of Doctor Faustus. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN978-0132163095.
^Krstovic, Jelena; Lazzardi, Marie, eds. (1999). "Plot and Major Themes". Literature Criticism from 1400 to 1800. Detroit, Michigan: The Gale Group. 47: 202.
Russell, Jeffrey Burton (1986). Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern World (1990 reprint ed.). Ithaca, New York: Cornell. ISBN978-0-8014-9718-6.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von (2001). Hamlin, Cyrus (ed.). Faust: A Tragedy; Interpretive Notes, Contexts, Modern Criticism (Norton Critical ed.). New York, New York: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN978-0-393-97282-5.
The dictionary definition of Mephistophelean at Wiktionary
April 29, 2023
mephistopheles, other, uses, disambiguation, german, pronunciation, mefɪˈstoːfɛlɛs, also, known, mephisto, demon, featured, german, folklore, originally, appeared, literature, demon, faust, legend, since, become, stock, character, appearing, other, works, arts. For other uses see Mephistopheles disambiguation Mephistopheles a ˌ m ɛ f ɪ ˈ s t ɒ f ɪ ˌ l iː z German pronunciation mefɪˈstoːfɛlɛs also known as Mephisto 1 is a demon featured in German folklore He originally appeared in literature as the demon in the Faust legend and has since become a stock character appearing in other works of arts and popular culture Mephistopheles flying over Wittenberg in a lithograph by Eugene Delacroix Contents 1 Etymology and name meaning 2 Inside the Faust legend 3 Interpretations 4 Outside the Faust legend 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External linksEtymology and name meaning EditThe name Mephistopheles is a corrupted Greek compound 2 The Greek particle of negation mh me and the Greek word for love or loving filos philos are the first and last terms of the compound but the middle term is more doubtful For the middle term three meanings have been noticed and three different complete etymologies have been established not loving light fws to phōs to the old form of the word being Mephostopheles not loving Faust allied to mephitic a term which designates the poisonous vapors arising from the earth in certain places pools caverns springs destructive of human life 2 It is likely that the name was invented for the historical alchemist Johann Georg Faust by the anonymous author of the first Faustbuch 1 Inside the Faust legend EditFurther information Faust MEPHISTO PHILES in the 1527 Praxis Magia Faustiana attributed to Faust Mephistopheles and Margaretta wooden double sculpture c 1876 Mephistopheles is associated with the Faust legend of an ambitious scholar based on the historical Johann Georg Faust In the legend Faust makes a deal with the Devil at the price of his soul Mephistopheles acting as the Devil s agent The name appears in the late 16th century Faust chapbooks stories concerning the life of Johann Georg Faust written by an anonymous German author In the 1725 version which Goethe read Mephostophiles is a devil in the form of a greyfriar summoned by Faust in a wood outside Wittenberg From the chapbooks the name entered Faustian literature Many authors have used it from Goethe to Christopher Marlowe In the 1616 edition of Marlowe s The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus Mephostophiles became Mephistophilis Mephistopheles in later treatments of the Faust material frequently figures as a title character in Meyer Lutz s Mephistopheles or Faust and Marguerite 1855 Arrigo Boito s Mefistofele 1868 Klaus Mann s Mephisto and Franz Liszt s Mephisto Waltzes There are also many parallels with the character of Mephistopheles and the character Lord Henry Wotton in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 3 Interpretations Edit Mephistopheles by Mark Antokolsky 1884 Although Mephistopheles appears to Faustus as a demon a worker for Lucifer critics claim that he does not search for men to corrupt but comes to serve and ultimately collect the souls of those who are already damned Farnham explains Nor does Mephistophiles first appear to Faustus as a devil who walks up and down on earth to tempt and corrupt any man encountered He appears because he senses in Faustus magical summons that Faustus is already corrupt that indeed he is already in danger to be damned 4 Mephistopheles is already trapped in his own Hell by serving the Devil He warns Faustus of the choice he is making by selling his soul to the devil Mephistophilis an agent of Lucifer appears and at first advises Faust not to forego the promise of heaven to pursue his goals 5 Farnham adds to his theory Faustus enters an ever present private hell like that of Mephistophiles 6 Outside the Faust legend EditMain article Mephistopheles in the arts and popular culture William Shakespeare mentions Mephistophilus in The Merry Wives of Windsor Act I Scene I line 128 and by the 17th century the name became independent of the Faust legend 7 See also EditBeelzebub Devil in Christianity Prince of Darkness Satan Mephiskapheles Ska band whose name is a play on Mephistopheles Mr Mistoffelees a character from the musical Cats ServantNotes Edit Variants of the name include Mephistophilus Mephostopheles Mephistophilis Mephastophilis Mephastophiles and othersReferences Edit a b Mephistopheles Encyclopedia Britannica 20 July 1998 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Snider Denton Jaques 1886 Goethe s Faust A Commentary Sigma pp 132 133 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 1891 Farnham Willard 1969 Twentieth Century Interpretations of Doctor Faustus Upper Saddle River New Jersey Prentice Hall ISBN 978 0132163095 Krstovic Jelena Lazzardi Marie eds 1999 Plot and Major Themes Literature Criticism from 1400 to 1800 Detroit Michigan The Gale Group 47 202 Krstovic amp Lazzardi 1999 p 8 Burton Russell 1992 p 61Bibliography EditRussell Jeffrey Burton 1986 Mephistopheles The Devil in the Modern World 1990 reprint ed Ithaca New York Cornell ISBN 978 0 8014 9718 6 Goethe Johann Wolfgang Von 2001 Hamlin Cyrus ed Faust A Tragedy Interpretive Notes Contexts Modern Criticism Norton Critical ed New York New York W W Norton amp Company ISBN 978 0 393 97282 5 Ruickbie Leo 2009 Faustus The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician Stroud UK History Press ISBN 978 0 7509 5090 9 External links Edit Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Mephistopheles Quotations related to Mephistopheles at Wikiquote The dictionary definition of Mephistophelean at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mephistopheles amp oldid 1144430959, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
