Hendrik Höfgen, a German actor during the Nazi period, was loved by the Nazi chief minister for his role as the devil Mephistopheles in Goethe's "Faust". All I can say is that the guy who played Höfgen did a really good job, especially the soft sycophancy that came naturally.
On stage, Höfgen played Mephistopheles in a masterful way, the embodiment of a divine evil, tyrannical and unscrupulous. Off stage, when he saw the Nazi minister for the first time, he was seen through. In reality, as himself, his eyes were soft and his handshake was weak. A kind of contradiction, the spirit and strength displayed on the stage are weak in reality. In that scene, Höfgen is wearing Mephisto's full ensemble, and we see Mephistopheles the devil who nods at the Nazi minister and smirks.
Since then, the Nazi minister seems to have never addressed Höfgen by his first name, calling him Mephistopheles, "My dear Mephistopheles". Who is Mephisto?
2.
In Goethe's "Faust", Mephistopheles, as a devil, say he is evil rather than call him evil. He is not bound by any morality, but it is not hated. Sometimes he speaks vulgar and vulgar words, but Roughness is not rough, it is the most real and transparent truth. He represents all the physical, all the right, material, flashy, sensual enjoyment, and all negation. Don't talk about philosophical worldview and social criticism, what human nature, what is the leisure of heaven and earth, what is hurt in spring and autumn and what is the love of the world, are all useless theories. If he has a principle, that is, if there is wine today, you will be drunk today, and if you have a girl today, you will sleep tonight.
Don't say that Mephistopheles tried his best to lure Faust into depravity. Faust made himself want to commit suicide in metaphysical thinking about the big universe and the small universe. He walked out of the study to walk with the devil and made a bet with his soul. It was his own. choose. Mephistopheles is a devil, but he is not that Satan. He seems to be just a clown with omnipotent power created by God, with a leg of lamb, and smirking to lure humans into making mistakes.
Everyone has a Mephistopheles in their hearts. The only difference is which floor of the atrium he lives in, when he appears, and who leads whom. In fact, there is only one person along the way, and it is me who is entangled with myself. In Faust, God says: A good man realizes the right way even in his dark impulses. (Der Herr: Ein guter Mensch in seinem dunkeln Drange | Ist sich des rechten Weges wohl bewußt.) When Faust finally exhaled to a certain moment "Stay a while, you are so beautiful!" Ster, has he gone to hell with the devil? Of course not, he still went to heaven. Mephistopheles said it long ago: what are you—what are you after all.
3. Going
back to the question, who is Mephistopheles in this movie, in fact, there is no need to go into detail here. Anyone can be Mephistopheles, and anyone can be someone who goes with Mephistopheles, it just depends on who dominates at this time.
When the Nazis came to power, everyone's position was already clear. While everyone was rushing to flee, Höfgen returned to Germany from abroad alone. He felt that he was just an actor, rehearsed carefully, memorized his lines, went on stage, went home and went to sleep, full of love for the performing arts, that was all, and felt that he had nothing to do with what happened in politics.
But when he returned to Germany and offered to play Mephistopheles, he was already in the company of the devil. He felt that he had no other choice. As a German actor, he could not leave. He needed his native language, the stage, and the audience who understood him. It seems that this is a helpless choice made for artistic pursuit, but at that time he had the opportunity to make other choices than anyone else. In the end, he still chose to play Mephistopheles and chose to follow the devil.
The Nazis are the devil. The first time Höfgen saw the head of the Nazi ministers, he was weak and flattering, as mentioned above. He did not walk with the devil, and he did not call Mephistopheles as a servant like Faust did. , but knelt down at the feet of the devil and begged all the way.
Looking back, whether it was before or after the Nazis, Höfgen was always using women and taking refuge in positions of power. With some of his talent and enthusiasm, he flattered and climbed all the way, but every time he made a kind of The gesture of choice, muttering that he is "just a little actor". On the one hand, he betrayed his peers to protect himself, and on the other hand, he disregarded himself and took advantage of the Nazi minister's preference for him to protect his lover, friends and subordinates. Therefore, his nature is not bad, but in a contradiction and unity. When he pleaded with the Nazis for the last time on behalf of his friend, the minister spat out with disgust, "Go away, you idiot!" Höfgen was completely reunited. He was right about himself, and so did the devil. From the beginning to the end, he was just a little actor and a playboy.
Going around and back to Mephisto's words, "What are you—what you will be. And put on a wig made of countless curls, and a yard-high boot and socks, What are you - what are you after all." (Du bist am Ende – was du bist. Setz' dir Perücken auf von Millionen Locken, Setz' deinen Fuß auf ellenhohe Socken, Du bleibst doch immer was du bist.)
4.
Digression . According to Höfgen, he was a German actor who needed a stage where he could speak his native language. The Nazi minister is someone who understands his performing arts, so he wants to stay with people who understand him. That's why, when his wife and friends are fleeing Germany, he's on thin ice to stay behind. I don't know if other master artists who stayed in the Third Reich would also have the same idea. The Nazi leaders were very artistic, and objectively no one can deny it. It doesn't matter whether those masters are also compromising for the sake of art, whether they are angels or devils as long as they are people who understand their art. I haven't researched this, so I don't know.
Not to mention masters, but ordinary Germans before and after the Third Reich. Whether they bake bread or build planes, do they have a choice? Yes, the Nazis were their own choice. Of course, when Mephistopheles entered Faust's house, he first pretended to be a curly dog. When Mephistopheles became Mephistopheles, Faust went with him with his soul. But what he is, after all.
God says that as long as you work hard in life, mistakes are inevitable. (Der Herr: Es irrt der Mensch so lang' er strebt.) Mephistopheles said, if you don't go the wrong way, you won't make sense. (Wenn du nicht irrst, kommst du nicht zu Verstand.) God and Mephistopheles seem to be on the same page. Can the Germans comfort themselves like this, but they made a mistake and walked with the devil for a while, but what they are, after all, who is not the devil. Proud and tenacious Germans, they supported Hitler, they fought, they were defeated, and it was them who rebuilt the ruins back into a strong country after the war. What are they? Today I saw a very good saying, Germany is a wonderful country, she will either question the world or torture the world. Germany is a grim conundrum that the world cannot avoid.
The digression is over.
5.
This movie is adapted from the novel of the same name by Klaus Mann, the son of German writer Thomas Mann.
Hitler came to power in 1933, and Klaus Mann went into exile as an anti-Nazi writer, first in Amsterdam. Written in 1936
At the beginning, the editor gave Klaus Mann the task to write a novel. Klaus Mann originally wanted to write about Europe in 200 years (traveling? Science fiction?). Later, a friend of his made a foolish suggestion to let him process the art of Gustaf Gründgens. Written as a homosexual, chasing fame and fortune in the Third Reich, it is both critical of society and irony. How nice.
Klaus Mann thought it was a very good idea, but silently removed the homosexuality one, after all, he was alluding to his ex-brother-in-law, yes, with so many popular people, how did this unlucky Gustaf Gründgens just get caught— —Klaus Mann's sister Erika Mann was briefly married to Gustaf Gründgens, divorced in 1929.
Nobel Prize winner Thomas Mann and other sons and daughters Klaus Mann and Erika Mann, this family is full of love, making all kinds of gay, heterosexual, bisexual, and it is not fuel-efficient.
6.
Finally, sort out the fragments of "Faust" that appeared in the film. In fact, each of these paragraphs has been chosen with a special meaning. The short dialogue actually omits a lot of the original text. The subtitles of the movie are not copied here, it is the translated version of Lu Yuan. Reading and reading, or scratching the itch, "Faust" is really untranslatable.
[Segment 1] The tragedy of "Faust" Part 1: The Study Room (2) The dialogue between Faust and Mephistopheles after the bet
(in the movie it was a formal performance on the stage)
Mephistopheles: Blood is a very Rare liquid.
Faust: Let fiery passions be washed away from the depths of our faculties.
Mephistopheles: There are no goals or measures set for you. You can go anywhere you want, and you can take the sheep with you when you're on the go. Whatever you like, you can get it. Go ahead and don't be shy!
Faust: Listen, it's not about having fun. What I would like to dedicate to is the state of ecstasy, the most painful pleasure, the hatred of being infatuated, and the refreshing boredom.
Mephistopheles: Oh, I've been eating this whole grain for thousands of years, please believe me, from cradle to coffin, no one can digest this old meal! Trust one of us: this whole is for God only! He dwells in eternal splendor, but casts us into darkness, leaving you only to enjoy day and night.
Faust: But I will!
Mephistopheles: That's so sweet! There is only one thing I worry about: time is limited and skill is infinite. I advise you to ask someone for advice. It is better to associate with a poet, and let this gentleman run his imagination, and pile upon your glorious head all noble qualities: the bravery of a lion, the swiftness of a stag, the blood of an Italian, the endurance of a Norse. Let him find the trick for you to combine generosity and cunning, and follow the plan with a fiery youthful impulse. Such a gentleman, I would also like to be aware of Jing: I intend to call him "Mr. Little Universe".
Faust: What's the point of having the crown of mankind if you can't attain it with all your heart and soul?
Mephistopheles: What are you—what will be. And put on a wig of countless curls, and a yard-high boot and stockings, what are you—what are you after all.
[Segment 2] The tragedy of "Faust" Part 1: The Study Room (2) Mephistopheles pretended to be Faust and had a conversation with a student
(in the movie, it was a rehearsal under the stage)
Student: When I first arrived in your land, I was sincere Sincerely come to visit Mr.; people mention Mr.'s name with awe.
Mephistopheles: Your kindness honors me! I'm just an ordinary person. Have you ever touched the door elsewhere?
Student: I beg you to accept me as a student! I came full of courage, I still had enough money, I was younger, and my mother didn't want me to leave my hometown, but I really wanted to gain knowledge and knowledge outside.
Mephistopheles: You're in the right place.
Student: Honestly, I want to get out of here again: in these high walls, in these halls, I just can't feel comfortable. It's a very cramped space. I can't see green clothes or trees. In the classroom, on the bench, I can't hear, see, or think about anything.
Mephistopheles: It depends on habit. For example, a baby may not be happy to receive breast milk at first, but quickly suck happily. It seems that you too will increasingly crave the lotion of wisdom.
Student: I'd love to put my arms around her neck; tell me, how can I get there?
Mephistopheles: Before you talk in depth, please tell me which subject you are taking!
(The actor looks at the camera and says that the following scene has been deleted, and then goes to the next rehearsal)
Mephistopheles: (loud) The essence of medicine is not difficult to understand: you have to study the big and small worlds thoroughly, and in the end you have to obey God. You roam around in vain to learn, each person only learns a little bit of what he can learn; only the person who can seize the opportunity is a hero. You are still quite strong, and you are not lacking in courage, and as long as you believe in yourself, others will believe in you. Especially learn to control women! Although there are hundreds and thousands of different kinds of their sighs, the right medicine only needs to start from one point. First you have to have a title to convince them that you are better than many people in medicine; then, as a gift, you can grope for all the softness in your body, and it takes years for others to coax and deceive. To know how to press the pulse properly, you have to hug their slender waists with fiery eyes to see if they are fastened tightly.
Student: It's been very clear! Do know where to start and how to start.
Mephistopheles: Dear friend, all theories are gray, and the golden tree of life is evergreen.
[Segment 3] The Tragedy of Faust Part 1: The Study Room (1) Mephistopheles changed from a curly dog to a wandering scholar, and had a conversation with Faust
(the film was a formal performance, and the Nazi minister was present)
Mephistopheles: Salute to the learned master! You've got me sweating profusely.
Faust: What's your name?
Mephistopheles: For a person who so despises "words", who keeps away from all appearances and blindly explores the esoteric essence, I think this question is really trivial.
Faust: As for you gentlemen, you can usually read the essence from the name. Since people call you "fly gods", "fallen ones", "liars", don't they make the problem clear ? Come on, who are you?
Mephistopheles: Part of that force that always wants to do evil and always does good.
Faust: What does this riddle mean?
Mephistopheles: I'm the elf of eternal denial! It makes sense to say this: because everything that happens is ultimately destroyed; so it is better for nothing to happen. Therefore, all that you call "sin", "destruction", in short, "evil", is my very essence and nature.
- Finish-
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