| 1. Introduction:This thesis attempts to reexamine Goethe's Faust in the light of thematics and exhibit its unique significance and immortal aesthetic values as well as its producing causes and approaches, through interpretation of archetypal motive of "Flesh and Soul".n. Elaboration on Flesh and Soul:1.General account:Flesh and Soul, the pair of categories most closely related to the essence of man, is the eternal motive in literature, which is also dominant motive in Faust.The connotation of Soul lies in Faust's spiritual demands and their fulfillment. His spiritual demands manifest themselves in two aspects: one is his consideration of metaphysical ultimate values such as beliefs and meaning of life. The other is the pursuit of realistic value such as knowledge and one's social worth.The basic factor in the connotation of Flesh is Faust's fulfillment of his instinct and desire which find its expression on different levels: one is man's animal property on individual level, and the other is man's primitive desire on social level.2. The Interpretation of Soul:The pursuit of Soul, due to different cultural features of the two western literary origins, expresses itself in two ways, sharply contrasted as well as closely related.1) Seeking for spiritual homeland.Man's efforts in seeking for spiritual homeland tend to be in two different but related directions: one is the searching for the meaning of life in the experience of real social life, and the other is the pursuit of spiritual sustenance in the reverence for the infinite and the unknown. The two directions of man's pursuit are supplementary. 2) Exploration of the mysteries of the world.It is the realistic exploration of the concrete world such as the living conditions of this life and this shore.3.The Analysis of Flesh.The factors of Flesh find their expression on two levels: one is human's animal instinct demonstrated on the individual level, and the other is his primitive desire expressed on the social level. Here dual influence of the ancient Greek civilization and the ancient Hebrew civilization can also be felt.l)The Carnival of Life.The poetic drama affirms the significance of the vitality to human beings by expressing the great power of sexual passion and affirming the materiality of human body. The primitive desire is also clearly and strongly represented by Mephisto.2)To be socially successful-the social expression of man's primitive desire. The primitive desire and instinct are fulfilled in the relation with others. Therefore the primitive desire unavoidably carries with social properties, which areembodied most strikingly by the individual's pursuit for the superiority by Adler, Which is best manifested in Faust's political tragedy.4."The Evergreen Golden Tree"-Research of the relation between Flesh and Soul.l)Historical context. From the ancient Greek to the 18th century, Flesh and Soul in Western Literature had always been in split and opposition. Faust unprecedentedly affirms the unity of the Soul and Flesh, which has an initiating significance.2)The developing course of the relationship between Flesh and Soul. During Faust's life, Flesh and Soul undergoes the changes from split to unity in three aspects, that is, intellectual life, life of love (including love tragedy and Helen's tragedy), fulfillment of his own values (including political tragedy and career tragedy).3)The features and cause of formation of the Flesh-Soul Relation.Features:a) The duality of Flesh and Soul takes on a dynamic relation of unity of opposites and mutual promotion.b) Flesh and Soul in Faust are unified in man's action and exploration into life, ie, only the Golden Tree of life is evergreen.The development of Flesh and Soul in Faust in the process of individuation, that is, the conformity of personality, which is the psychological foundation for the tendency of Flesh- Soul relation towards harmony in Faust.5.Good? Or evil? ?critical judgment of Flesh and Soul in terms of ethical and histo... |
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