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Work #1065 · Mature

Faust I

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
1772-1806 (composed over 35 years; published 1808) · German
Verse drama in two parts (Part I) · German Romanticism / classical-modern European drama

Faust's pact with Mephistopheles — the founding text of the Faust mythos in modern European literature

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Faust I (Mature)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Personal
Observer · Moral Authority Experience
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Faust I

The compressed dramatic time of Faust's pact and Gretchen's tragedy.

Space

Faust I

Faust's study; the German town; the Witch's kitchen.

Matter

Faust I

The embodied Faust, Gretchen, Mephistopheles.

Observer

Faust I

Faust as questing-striving observer.

Energy

Faust I

The energies of striving, desire, demonic temptation.

Information

Faust I

The pact terms; the unfolding tragedy of Gretchen.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Faust I

Goethe's eventual salvation of Faust (in Part II) contradicts the conventional Faustian mythos. Modern readings have variously assessed the gender politics of the Gretchen tragedy.