Faust

In many ways, Faust reflects the ideals of a Renaissance Man. He tried to become the perfect Renaissance Man by learning all the fields or subjects taught at that time. He had also gained the highest level of learning possible. For example, in the text it says, “I’ve studied now Philosophy and Jurisprudence, Medicine, and even, alas! Theology.” Faust started as a Renaissance man but realized that it wasn’t enough for him. He was not satisfied because he wanted to see what held the world together. He had the knowledge but couldn’t use it to help the world and he couldn’t find some greater power, purpose or meaning. Lastly, the lasting value that he learned amounted to nothing. In the text, there is much evidence that items such as papers, books, glasses, and instruments hadn’t been used in a while. “…all this heap of books, their gnawing worms, amid their dust… smoke-stained papers midst them thrust, boxes and glass...