Faust And Gospel Of Valeska Essay, Research Paper
There is a theory that people choose the path their lives take. This proverbial path can be the direct route that leads right to one’s destination. In most cases, however, this path is windy and full of dark spots where no one knows just what lies ahead. Such is the case in the two works of Faust and The Gospel of Valeska. It is an interesting concept to think that people control their own fate. This denies the whole concept of predestination and sheds a whole new light on the power that people possess. Both the works of Faust and The Gospel of Valeska, place the mortal in charge of their own lives. Though a commanding force is present (God and the supernatural respectively) in both these works, the individual becomes empowered in the journey to their destiny.
Faust presents the tale of a scholar who is in a predicament with the devil, Mephistopheles. In order to save his soul from condemnation, he must not let the devil sway his providence. Faust holds his ground throughout the novel to save his own soul. He resists all the temptations Mephistopheles confronts him with to cry out in sheer bliss. Though he is thoroughly enjoying himself in most of his ventures, he refuses to admit this and succumb to Mephistopheles. In his moment just before death, Faust has an epiphany and envisions advances in the world that would serve good for all mankind. So as not to admit that nothing is so fair as that moment, Faust is clever in salvaging his soul from hell. He says, “I could say I now enjoy my highest moment.” This represents a clever and willful way for Faust, a human, to outsmart one of the most powerful beings known to the people of the novel. Ultimately, Faust has willfully dominated his own concluding outcome.
Valeska, of The Gospel of Valeska, manages to manipulate not only her life path but also her gender. This is a woman that is the epitome of what it means to reign one’s own destiny. Fittingly, this story was written during a time when women were first being noticed and going through a sort of revolution. Valeska can be viewed as the ideal model for such a revolution. She has managed not only to captivate the heart of men, but also of women. She has the power to change her body into either male or back into female, as she so desires. Not only can she physically decide her own state, but she also chooses what she will do and when she will do it. She lets no man or woman for that matter decide her future. The thought of being chained down or controlled disgusts Valeska, and she can’t imagine why anyone could let themselves have their fate decided for them. In one instance, she seems to be annoyed and frustrated with a woman colleague, Lena. She can’t understand how Lena could let her husband try and preside over her. Valeska boldly states, “Why don’t you chuck the whole housekeeping business and say, I won’t do it why the hell don’t you start putting on a few airs ” This shows not only her blatant defiance to being told what to do, but also her will to be the controller of her own fate.
Both Faust and The Gospel of Valeska present ways of choosing the path to one’s destiny. Though confusing and sometimes difficult to follow, both characters discussed in the respective novels manage to find their way, unaided, to the opening of their chosen paths.