Faustus Update

My comment about J not looking as he was enjoying the role of horse courser sparked an interesting exchange on the purpose of the horse courser scene in Faustus. Here is an account of that exchange from which I’ve learnt a lot and I hope those who read the original review will find it interesting too.

The exchange started when J asked if my comment was about the way he acted or the horse courser as a character:

ZEO: The whole episode with horse courser was something of a sketch within the play. I am not sure what we’ve learnt about Faustus or others in that sketch other than the fact that he would rise from dead [horse courser kills him – well tries]…that in itself is no small feat of course! But, perhaps the more interesting part about his encounters with the Pope and the German Queen was how they reacted to the temptation of evil and how they were already “bad” to be tempted so and no so much that Faustus was bad in tempting them. Guess it goes back to the moral of the story that no other person (e.g. Faustus here) can corrupt us (e.g. Pope, Queen) but we do it for ourselves. Whereas in the case of the horse courser, he was wronged, he took revenge and he failed and we (or at least I) felt sorry for him. So, I guess my comment was about the play and horse courser’s role in it rather than the way you acted. Does this make sense?

J: Ah! Makes total sense! My interpretation of the Horse Courser scene is that after playing with greatest powers of the world -- pope and empress -- we'd expect Faust to be this great man but in this last scene before his life hits his final days, we see a man who is mean-spirited and petty with the most poor and disadvantaged people in the world. It is a sad comment on what corruption does. Truly, you lose your soul -- your caring -- for others, including the simplest, nicest people (like my cheery horse courser).But that's my perspective as an actor. I have no idea how it reads to the audience. I think most people just saw that scene as comic relief, which is fine too!

J: Another thought on the horse courser moment is this: Faust is getting ready to repent and Mephostophilis finds another distraction for him. Often Meph uses women. This time he knows that Faust can't resist playing mean little tricks on people. Remember that when the horse courser first approaches Faust about buying his horse, Faust says no. Then Meph convinces Faust to go ahead. Then later, when the horse courser comes back mad as hell and looking for Faust, all he sees in Meph. Meph doesn't have to reveal where Faust is but he eventually does because he knows it will be a good distraction for a man thinking about repentance. As you would say, given your interpretation of the final scene, Meph is doing his job and doing it very well.