Act 2 Summary

Scene 1 Gothic Room

This scene takes place in Faust's study, which has been preserved since his disappearence after the first part of the play. Faust is unconscious, still shocked from his earlier encounter with Helen, and Mephistopheles places him behind a curtain. Mephistopheles dons Faust's scholar's robe and rings a loud bell. Hearing the ringing bell, Famulus, an earlier student and assistant of Faust comes into the study. The student does not recognize the devil and after some questioning by Mephistopheles, the student leaves followed by another student, Baccalaureus, who has just finished his studies. The student is arrogant and argues that knowledge is worth less than experience and that men over thirty are worthless and should be shot. The devil listens to the student patiently and sends him on his way before moving into the laboratory.

Scene 2 Laboratory

Mephistopheles enters the laboratory...