On Opera Devil Mephisto Image Characteristics

Mefistofele is a devil in Goethe's Faust. After the composers transplanted this literature figure into the operas, the characteristics of devil's image changed. This thesis discovers the characteristics of Mefistofele's common image in the three operas by method of vertical comparison.The thesis consists of three chapters. Chapter One is concerned with the adaptation of the relevant drama plots with Mefistofele in the three operas, and point out the most outstanding characteristic of Mefistofele's image in the three opera scripts by contrast with Mefistofele's literature figure in Goethe's Faust. Chapter Two is a conclusion of four general characteristics of Mefistofele' image showed in the three operas through analysis the relevant music, songs with Mefistofele in the three operas, and it is a comprehensive summary of the composers skills used in shaping Mefistofele's image. Chapter Three, on the basis of the conclusion in the preceding chapter, the reasons why Mefistofele shows different characteristics of the image in the three operas can be found out from historical background and religion, and aesthetic meaning of the devil's image will be revealed.