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''Doktor Faust und Mephisto'' is a 2013 novel by German novelist Albrecht Behmel; it is a modernist take on the medieval German drama about a scholar who promised and sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for wisdom, lust and power. The novel picks up some central plot points and elements from Goethe e.g. the feast at Mt. Blocksberg and the Grete character but differs from this 1808 play in that it has a happy ending. ==Plot summary== Doctor Heinrich Faust is a confused and frustrated professor and alchemist at the University of Heidelberg in the year 1508. Mephistopheles, a smart, cynical but bonvivant devil, sent by the Good Lord himself, shows up and offers Faust a wager: happiness, power and love in exchange for his soul. Faust, a bachelor and, in fact, a virgin agrees. Due to an accident caused by Faust's clumsy assistant Famulus Wagner, the contract does not get signed in blood as is customary with devil's pacts but in fresh strawberry jam. For that reason Mephisto's magic cannot work properly. The two set out on a medieval road trip through Germany to Leipzig and famously Auerbachs Keller where Mephisto attempts to instruct Faust on how to consume alcohol like a proper medieval gentleman – all goes well until the local regulars show up. Next day, Faust und Mephisto travel to a mythical forest to consult an old witch about women and love potions. Sceptical Faust, still suffering from a severe hangover swallows the love potion, which was meant for external use only and consequently falls in love with himself – which is the requirement for true love. After that, Faust meets Margarete, aka Grete, the "most beautiful virgin in all the world" who happens to live in the world's dullest village. Before the two can fall in love however, Mephisto's dysfunctional magic causes a major embarrassment for Faust during a hedonistic picnic involving the love potion, torches and Grete's dachshund. Hurting, Faust flees to Mt. Brocken never wanting to return and see Grete again. Yet, during the ensuing orgies Faust realizes that he is actually in love with her. Therefore, he makes Mephisto take him back to Margarete who, because of her association with Faust, has been wrongly accused of witchcraft and got thrown into jail by her self-righteous neighbors and relatives. Now, Faust and Mephisto hasten to the rescue using tremendously speedy horses from hell. Margarete's best friend, a cougar named Frau Marte, also incarcerated, throws an eye on Mephisto and comes up with a surprisingly logical solution for the problem of the soul-contract that sends the devil back to hell – as her own beloved husband and, more importantly, servant. With Mephisto gone, Faust is free to marry beautiful Grete. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Doktor Faust und Mephisto」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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