Why Does Faust Talk In Third Person

So, there I was, in the middle of a lively debate with my friend Max about our favorite literary characters. We'd been going at it for hours, and I was just about to make my final pitch for why Hamlet is the ultimate tragic hero, when Max drops this bombshell: "You know, Faust never talks about himself in the first person. He's always talking about 'Faust' like he's someone else." I was taken aback. I mean, I'd read Faust in college, but I'd never noticed that. I was intrigued, and I knew I had to investigate.

Meet Goethes's Enigmatic Protagonist

For those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting him, Faust is the main character in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's epic play. He's a scholar who's grown tired of the limitations of academic knowledge, so he makes a pact with the devil, Mephistopheles, to experience life to its fullest. Sounds like a fun guy, right? Well, not so much when it comes to his conversational style.

Why the Third Person, Faust?

Now, you might be thinking, "Why does Faust talk in the third person? Is he trying to distance himself from his actions?" That's a great question, and it's one that literary scholars have been debating for centuries. Some argue that Faust's use of the third person is a sign of his disassociation from his own actions, a way to avoid taking responsibility for the consequences of his pact with the devil. Others suggest that it's a way for Faust to objectify himself, to see himself as a character in a grand narrative, rather than a real person with real feelings and real stakes.

But here's where things get interesting. Some scholars, like the brilliant Giorgio Agamben, argue that Faust's use of the third person is actually a way for him to assert his freedom. According to Agamben, by referring to himself in the third person, Faust is able to step outside of his own narrative, to see himself as a character in a play that he can direct. In this reading, Faust's use of the third person is a sign of his agency, his ability to shape his own destiny.

So, Why Should You Care?

You might be thinking, "This is all well and good, but why should I care about how Faust talks?" Well, here's the thing: Faust's use of the third person is a great example of how language shapes our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. When we talk about ourselves in the first person, we're claiming ownership of our experiences, our thoughts, our feelings. But when we talk about ourselves in the third person, we're creating a distance, a separation between ourselves and our experiences.

Think about it. When you're having a really bad day, do you ever find yourself saying things like, "Well, she just can't catch a break today"? By using the third person, you're able to step outside of your own narrative, to see yourself as a character in a story, rather than the author of that story. It's a way of creating emotional distance, of protecting yourself from the pain of your experiences.

Faust and Wagner in Conversation, Illustration for Faust by Goethe

Give It a Try

I don't know about you, but I find this whole idea fascinating. So, I've been giving it a try, talking about myself in the third person when I'm feeling overwhelmed or disconnected. It's strange at first, but it's actually really helpful. It's a way of stepping back, of gaining some perspective on my own experiences.

So, next time you're feeling like Faust, like you've made a pact with the devil and you're spiraling out of control, give it a try. Talk about yourself in the third person. See if it helps you create some distance, some perspective. And who knows? Maybe you'll discover that you're the author of your own story, after all.

Until next time, dear reader. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and remember: you're the star of your own story. Even if you talk about yourself like you're someone else.