The Writer and The Woodcarver

A few days ago I wrote a little piece about a real life “Ghost Churchand today I want to show you a haunting statue.

May I present the“Double Statue of Mephistopheles & Margaretta”. This sculpture is carved out of a single log of Sycamore wood and has two distinct images on either side.

Now I’d like to toss this side note out to you:

A partial English verse translation of Faust (Part One) was published anonymously by the London publisher Thomas Boosey and Sons, in 1821.

Nobody knows who designed or carved this statue.

I find both of those little facts interesting and because it’s almost Halloween I find them deliciously spine chilling because the writer in me would like to bring those two things together- put them back to back if you will.

“Double Statue of Mephistopheles & Margaretta”, this sculpture is carved out of a single log of Sycamore wood and has two distinct images on either side.

Faust by Goethe

The story of Dr. Faustus begins in Heaven where Mephistopheles makes a bet with God. He says that he can lure God’s favourite human being (Faust), who is striving to learn everything that can be known. The Lord permits Mephistopheles to tempt Faust and thus begins the tragic drama. Mephistopheles comes down to earth in the form of a travelling scholar, befriends Faust and by clever arguments excites his interest in sensual pleasures. Faust makes an arrangement with the devil: the devil will do everything that Faust wants while he is here on Earth, and in exchange Faust will serve the devil in Hell. Faust signs the contract with a drop of his own blood before setting out on a series of excursions with Mephistopheles.

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