Religious Commentary and Social Criticism in Goethe’s 'Faust' Anonymous 11th Grade

“The looking-glass is not to blame if your own face is plain” - Saying, from Nikolai Gogol’s Government Inspector

Orwell, Gogol, Chavchavadze - criticizing society primarily or in a hidden way became popular among classical writers. Highlighting the drawbacks and bad traits of society in ironic or hinting ways is characteristic for a various of great novels. Goethe is among such writers. In his play, Faust, Goethe explores the journey of a well-educated philosopher, who is in the search for knowledge and the meaning of life. This character meets many different kinds of humans and observes a lot of situations. But the environment of the play is not random. Choosing a certain scene is a way for an author to express an opinion. In this way, Goethe includes his own observations about society into the play and uses theater to express his idea about society. The analysis of the characters and irony of situations can lead the reader to identify the problems of the society in Goethe's time, and even find similar problems in the modern world. In his play Faust, Goethe portrays the dismal side of society through satirical situations and characters.

Goethe often highlights the problems in religion, mostly the people who practice faith....