During the age of Romanticism, the citizens of Europe were very obsessed with feeling.
This is demonstrated in Faust and "Rene." Unlike the Neoclassicists, the Romanticists used
Feeling over reason. Instead of using their mind to make decisions, they followed what their
heart desired. Many of the romanticists wanted to feel the full effects of life. For example, they
wanted to feel pain, suffering, pleasure, success, and failure, all at the same time, which is
referred to as the sublime. Faust is a great example of a Romantic, because he was bored with
life and wanted to experience many pleasures. During the Romantic era, the people were
obsessed with feeling and it reflects on the literature.
Faust a romantic, wanted to feel all the pleasures of life. In the First part of Faust, Faust
says, "He sees that we know nothing finally." This shows that Faust is bored with life and all the
studying he did which was good for nothing. He is not satisfied, even though he knows a lot, and
is mastered in many subjects such as philosophy, theology, law and medicine. Faust then
complains about his life, which is when Mephistopheles appears from behind the stove. In the
next scene (Faust's Study), Mephistopheles tells Faust, "I am too old for play, too young to live
without desire." He also tells Faust, "I'm a high ranked devil, but if you'd like to try your luck
with me in a new life, I'd gladly put myself at your disposal- go where you will, do what you
want." Faust then says "No, no! The devil is an egoist," Mephistopheles then replies with, "I'll
use my arts for your pleasure, I'll give you things that no man ever saw." Faust then agrees to
Mephistopheles and asks what he owes. He tells Faust he wants his soul, but only if he is
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