Open Access

Herbert Deinert

• "Musst du nicht längst kolonisieren?" ("Hasn't colonizing been your business?") is Mephisto's loaded comment on Faust's dilemma, namely his inability to persuade Philemon and Baucis to vacate their little estate voluntarily in exchange for pleasant retirement quarters in his newly gained territory, wrested from the sea (Faust, Part II, V, line 11274). Baucis in particular sees no reason why they should be displaced and resents Faust's expansiveness. "Wie er sich als Nachbar brüstet, soll man untertänig sein" ("He struts into the neighborhood expecting us to act like serfs," lines 11133/4). "Kolonisieren" as Mephisto uses the word clearly favors strong-arm tactics over restraint. Faust finally gives the go-ahead: "So geht und schafft sie mir zur Seite" ("Go and get them out of there," line 11275) for an attempt at forced resettlement that leaves three more corpses on his path to salvation and is followed by a seamless flow of events culminating in his own death.