Margaret is a victim of circumstances that are caused by her being naïve and blind to what happens around her. She personally tried al she could to ensure she is out of trouble yet fate finds her. Most probably, the worst thing that ever happened to her was Faust being in love with her. This was the main thing that made her suffer for what happened. However, since she was an innocent receiver of a pact that a man had signed, her deliverance came even as the heavens intervened in her situation. It was clear that she was a helpless victim who did not understand what was happening to her. Margaret was a lady of her words and did not want to engage in what her conscience did not approve off. However, after Faust entered into an agreement with the devil, it made al the difference in her life.
One may argue that Margaret slid on her principles by welcoming a man in her life, something she had dreaded from the very beginning. This happened naturally, where she did not see it as coerce or a trick. As they walked with Faust, she even realized how deeply in love she was with him and vise versa. Even though Faust knew what he had done, it was the only sacrifice he could do to prove to Margaret that he really loved her. Faust has been longing for a chance and opportunity to prove to Margaret that he loved her. When the opportunity came, it came with irresistible conditions, which Faust fell for. However, realizing that it had worked out well for him, he appreciated it and finally thought he had achieved a satisfaction in his life. The magnitude of the trick is however felt when the very person that helped him reach to Margaret separates the two when they are having their most intimate moment (Wolfgang 65). Just when Faust thought that it was time for Mephistopheles to leave the two alone, he came in strongly to separate them.
This finally reminded Faust that the pact he signed with the devil had dire consequences. He was after all never to enjoy life with the love of her life but instead bring her tragedy. Despite the fact that Faust acted a little bit selfish towards Margaret, we realize that he truly loved her. He did that with the hope that he and Margaret will have a good life together. As it turned out to be on the contrary and that it was just a way through which the devil wanted to control their lives and have his way, he decided not to fall again for the trick (Goethe 287). We encounter a man who has realized that he cannot have all that he wishes and that he has to give up on some for the good and better things.
Choices have consequences and this is the hard truth that Faust had to learn. He had to choose between doing the truth, which is what, was his conscience told him and following his heart and that is to pursue Margaret whom he loved. Returning back to Margaret was definitely a trap that would mean death to both of them and even their relatives. Margaret did not understand why Faust made such a ceremonial appearance into her life and just left her without even giving her a concrete reason. Just when Margaret had made the decision to love Faust, he leaves her alone and lonely. After being convinced of her lifetime commitment to Faust and even walking out of her principles, she was wondering why Faust had to leave her and never to return. It did not even hit her innocent mind that the breakthrough that Faust had towards her was not genuine but a pact with he devil.
Determining the person that was used in the story, we can confidently say that it was Faust. This I simply because he ignored his inner voice at first and the principles he held dear in his life. Were it not for the selfish decisions that he was influenced into, Margaret would not have suffered what she went through. Deep with him, he new it was never right to go and tell lies just for the sake of winning a woman. His conscience must have also testified of the fact that getting things out of such selfish motives would never satisfy him. However, Mephistopheles managed to influence and convince him and consequently falling for his trap. Even though he did out of the pure love he had for Margaret, he knew that the decision would haunt him especially realizing that he had to speak lies and cause death to the innocent individuals.
Nevertheless, before we are quick to condemn Faust for his faults, we have to realize that he was caught up in a dilemma through which he had to make a decision. He had his weaknesses that are normal to every man. At some point of a human life, man encounters with situations where they have to battle with their conscience. This is a normal stage of life where a person ultimately learns many lessons about life. What matters are not the mistakes that a person makes but rather how he chooses to rise up from them. Realizing that you have made a mistake and ultimately everything possible not to repeat the same is what counts. This is ultimately what defined Faust. The moment he realized that he made a mistake, he did not stay in it but made a reverse decision. There was still a lot of pressure from Mephistopheles but this time round, Faust did not yield to it.
The moment Faust realized that he could not obtain absolute happiness from doing wrong, he decides not to pursue Margaret even though he missed her. This was for the sake of the innocent girl who would suffer simply because of his selfishness (Goethe 270). The decision to keep off from Margaret was therefore a means through which he would ultimately deliver him from many more predicaments. From this literature, we learn the value of sacrifice, which may at times hurt those that we love. In the end, we have to make decisions that will ensure we are at peace with ourselves even when others around us do not understand. There is need for each individual to realize that no amount of want can satisfy the desires of man. Appreciating the little favors that life brings a long and avoiding any unnecessary greed is the ultimate satisfaction of man. Evil will always be repaid with evil despite the little pleasures it might promise an individual.
Works cited
Goethe, Johann. Faust: A Tragedy, Volume 1. New York: Brockhaus, 1872.
Wolfgang, Johann. Faust; Or the Fate of Margaret: A Romantic Play, in Four Acts. London: Lacy, 1869.
