Mephistopheles
Demon from German folklore, chief devil in the Faust legend.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Mephistopheles (pronounced MEF-ist-OF-il-eez, or in German [mefɪˈstoːfəlɛs]), also called Mephostophilis or simply Mephisto, is a demon from German folklore. He originated as the chief devil in the Faust legend and later became a recurring stock character in art and popular culture. He was an integral part of traditional magic, appearing in grimoires like the *Grimorium Verum* and *The Grand Grimoire*.
The name first appeared in the late 1500s. It was coined for the historical alchemist Johann Georg Faust by the anonymous author of the first *Faustbuch*, published in 1587. In that book, he was called Mephostophiles. The spelling Mephistopheles was later popularized by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, but the name itself predates his work. Shakespeare used the name in *The Merry Wives of Windsor* as a comparison to a demon, not as an insult; the First Folio spells it “Mephostophilus.” The name is a corrupted Greek compound: the Greek particle *mē* (not) and *philos* (love or loving) form the first and last parts, but the middle term is uncertain. Three possible meanings have been proposed: “not loving light” (from *phōs*), “not loving Faust,” or a reference to mephitic, poisonous vapors from pools and caverns.
Mephistopheles entered magical and demonological lore through Renaissance humanist interpretations of Greek and Latin texts. In Christopher Marlowe’s play *Doctor Faustus* (1604), he was written more as a fallen angel than a familiar demon. In Goethe’s two-part drama *Faust*, he appears as cold-hearted, humorous, and ironic.
In the Faust legend, based on the historical Johann Georg Faust, an ambitious scholar makes a deal with the Devil at the price of his soul. Mephistopheles acts as the Devil’s agent. The legend symbolizes the consequences when the quest for power and realization escapes the intellectual and moral limits of the Christian medieval order. In Marlowe’s version, Mephistopheles is not completely evil: he laments his lost happiness and being shunned from God. He is introspective, clever, and aware of his role, regretting that he perceives only illusions instead of God. This contrasts with the comical medieval depictions of devils.
In the 1725 chapbook that Goethe read, Mephostophiles appears as a devil in the form of a greyfriar, summoned by Faust in a wood outside Wittenberg. From these chapbooks, the name entered Faustian literature, used
- field
- Folklore, literature, demonology
- known_for
- Chief devil in the Faust legend; trickster, liar, cheater, negotiator; Hell's messenger
- origin
- German folklore; name invented for Johann Georg Faust by anonymous author of first Faustbuch (published 1587)
- also_called
- Mephostophilis, Mephisto
Lore & Background
Around the 15th to 17th centuries in Europe, the age of witchcraft waned, and the Devil became more of a fixture in literature until the later 18th century. Once the idea of Satan's 'metaphysical existence' seemed less pressing, he became a symbol in literature representing evil characters, evil meanings, corruption, etc. Sometimes, authors had a more sympathetic depiction of Satan, which would later be called the Romantic Devil. Those who believed in pantheistic mysticism often held that the angels fell from Heaven because they loved beauty and wanted to have Heaven for themselves. This idea led to the work Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832), in which Goethe created his version of the Devil, Mephistopheles. Goethe's Mephistopheles has been highly influential.
Reader's Guide
Mephistopheles is seen as Hell's messenger, making him the servant of the Devil. In the Faust legend, he plays the roles of trickster, liar, cheater, and negotiator, making deals for souls, although he can also be intelligent, ironic, and charming. Mephistopheles can shapeshift into any animal, person, knight, etc., through magic and illusion. He is the opponent of beauty and freedom, and he causes the death of the individuals and works to ruin lives. The name Mephistopheles is a corrupted Greek compound, with three possible meanings proposed: 'not loving light,' 'not loving Faust,' or mephitic, pertaining to poisonous vapors. The name was invented for the historical alchemist Johann Georg Faust by the anonymous author of the first Faustbuch (published 1587). In the Faustbuch he was called Mephostophiles; the name Mephistopheles was coined and popularised by Goethe. In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare used the name in the form of 'Mephostophilus' or 'Mephistophilus' as an insult. Mephistopheles became a part of magical or demonological lore through a Renaissance humanist interpretation of Greek and Latin classical texts. In the play Doctor Faustus (1604), created by Christopher Marlowe, Mephistopheles was written more as a fallen angel than as familiar demon. In Goethe's drama Faust, Mephistopheles appears as cold-hearted, humorous, and ironic.
Did You Know?
- The name Mephistopheles is a corrupted Greek compound, with three possible meanings: 'not loving light,' 'not loving Faust,' or mephitic, pertaining to poisonous vapors.
- The name was invented for the historical alchemist Johann Georg Faust by the anonymous author of the first Faustbuch (published 1587).
- In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare used the name as an insult between two characters.
- In Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, Mephistopheles laments the loss of his happiness, being shunned from God.
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