The Faustian Bargain: A Deal with the Devil
↪ Rumplestiltskin’s Opinion:
"Oh, Faust, darling, the man who thought he could outsmart the devil. Well, let me tell you, you don’t pull one over on Mephistopheles. You’d think a scholar, a learned man, would know better, but no—Faust, in his desperation, made the fatal mistake of thinking he could bargain with the dark forces of the universe. He wanted more knowledge, more power, and, in true human fashion, he wanted it all. So, naturally, he signed away his soul to the devil in exchange for earthly delights.
And what did he get? Everything he asked for and more. Power, beauty, wealth—he had it all, but it wasn’t enough, was it? Faust couldn’t see beyond the surface, and just like every deal with the devil, there were strings attached. His soul was forfeit, and in the end, the devil comes calling—as they always do!
Faust thought he could escape the consequences by playing fast and loose with time. But, sweetheart, you can't outrun your fate. You can’t cheat the system and expect to get away with it. Tsk, tsk, Faust...you should have asked me for a deal. I would have at least given you some good advice, and maybe an out!"
➡ The Takeaway
Making deals with dark forces? Not the best plan. Faust learned the hard way that you don’t mess with what you don’t fully understand.
Alice’s Opinion:
"Ah, Faust. A man who thought he was clever. Pfft! You can almost feel the arrogance radiating off him, can’t you? Here’s this scholar, thinking he’s the smartest man in the room, and what does he do? He goes and sells his soul for a bit of worldly enjoyment. All the things he wanted—wealth, knowledge, youth—suddenly, poof, he’s got them. But did he ever stop to think about the price? Oh no, darling, he was too busy basking in his own success.
Now, the devil, sweet little Mephistopheles, he was just biding his time. Faust thought he had outwitted him. Oh, the poor fool. Like a rabbit hopping into a snare, he believed the game was his to win. But of course, in the end, he was dragged away, soul and all, back into the dark abyss. What did he learn? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
So here’s the thing, my darlings: Don’t make deals you can’t back out of. Not with devils, not with anyone. And certainly not when you’re in a hurry to get everything. Because when the price tag comes in, it’s often higher than you think!"
➡ The Takeaway
You might get what you want, but the cost will haunt you forever. Faust learned that the hard way, didn’t he? Always be careful what you wish for... especially when it comes with a price.
Loki’s Opinion:
"Oh, Faust, Faust, Faust. You see, I just can’t help but laugh at a guy like this. You’d think with all his scholarly knowledge, he would have known that the devil always gets the last laugh. Faust, poor bloke, made the classic mistake of believing he could control everything. He thought he could bargain with Mephistopheles for a little more life, a little more power. Please. If I had been there, I’d have told him: ‘You don’t negotiate with the devil, you outplay him!’
But no, Faust was too busy looking for ways to satisfy his endless thirst for more—more knowledge, more youth, more pleasure. Well, guess what? The devil doesn’t just hand that out. Mephistopheles wanted one thing: his soul. And like a clueless fool, Faust handed it over willingly. The devil’s like, 'Oh, don’t worry, I’ll make it worth your while,' and bam, just like that, Faust is getting dragged into hell.
And what did Faust learn? Absolutely nothing! He was so blinded by his own ego that he never thought to ask, ‘What’s the catch?’ Because there always is one."
➡ The Takeaway
You think you’re smart? You think you can outsmart the devil? Please. The only one laughing in the end is the devil. Faust made a bargain he couldn’t break, and, in the end, he paid the ultimate price.
And there you have it, folks. The Faustian Bargain.
An immortal tale of greed, arrogance, and inevitable doom. You can try and make deals with dark forces all you want, but guess what? They’ll be the ones holding all the cards in the end. Faust didn’t learn that, but maybe you will. Or maybe you’ll be the next one trying to outwit the devil.
Stay tuned for more legendary rips from the Immortal Gazette, where we tear down myths, legends, and the foolishness of some men—one immortal soul at a time!
