A village in Germany
The sixteenth century
Act 1, Scene 1: Faust's study
Alone, lamenting life's harsh realities, the aged Faust contemplates putting an end to his existence, Hesitating upon hearing the songs of merrymakers, he is filled with spite at the sound of human happiness and desperately calls on the Devil for help. Mephistopheles promptly appears and offers Faust youth and its pleasures in exchange for his soul. The philosopher does not accept at first, but when Mephistopheles conjures up a vi¬sion of Marguerite, Faust is enamored and agrees to the bargain. The deal done, Faust ventures off with his sinister com¬panion.
Act 1, Scene 2: A fair
Townfolk salute the soldiers who are about to depart for the war. Marguerite's brother Valentin, leaving with them, asks God to watch over her. Drinking and singing have resumed when Mephistopheles breaks in to sing a song in praise of gold and greed. The dark in¬truder makes tragic predictions: Valentin will die by the sword, as will his friend, Wagner. As for Siebel, a young man who loves Marguerite, flowers plucked by his hand will wilt before he can offer them to the lady of his heart. Mephistopheles toasts Marguerite. Valentin draws his sword, which mysteriously breaks in two. Realizing who Mephistopheles is, the soldier makes the shape of the cross with his broken sword and repels the impudent intruder. The festivities resume once again; Faust sees Marguerite, and approaches her respectfully—but she modestly declines his attentions.
Act 2: Marguerite's garden
Siebel picks flowers to offer as a message of love to Marguerite. But the flowers soon wilt, fulfilling Mephis¬topheles' somber prophecy. Siebel dips his hand into holy water, breaking the spell, and the flowers he then picks do not wilt. Faust and Mephistopheles arrive. Wishing to outshine Siebel and his gift, they place a casket of jewels beside the flowers, then withdraw and hide. When Marguerite discovers the gems, she marvels as she tries them on. A neighbor, Marthe, enters and witnesses the young woman's excite¬ment. Mephistopheles appears and begins to court Marthe so that Faust may again declare his love to Marguerite, who soon yields to her suitor's embrace.
Act 3, Scene 1: The street in front of Marguerite's house
The soldiers return from war, and Siebel tries to warn Valentin that all is not well with Marguerite. Valentin rushes into the house. When Mephistopheles and Faust come by and the former sings a mocking serenade in front of Marguerite's door, Valentin becomes furious, draws his sword, and engages Faust in a duel. Valentin is mortally wounded and curses his sister as he dies.
Act 3, Scene 2: A church
Guilt-ridden, Marguer¬ite wants to atone for her sin and seeks refuge in a church. Mephistopheles relentlessly pursues her and adds to her soul's torment by pronounc¬ing her damnation. Marguerite faints.
Act 3, Scene 3: The Walpurgis Night
Mephistopheles, hoping to make Faust forget his affair with Marguerite, brings him to Walpurgis Nacht, a witches' sabbath of temptation and sorcery. Faust is presented with a bevy of the courtesans of antiquity; he suddenly sees an image of Marguerite and demands that Mephistopheles take him to her.
Act 3, Scene 4: A prison
Marguerite's reason is gone, remorse and grief having driven her insane. In prison, she awaits execution for murder of the child she bore Faust, Faust appears and asks her to flee with him. Recogniz¬ing Mephistopheles, she refuses and calls on the angels to save her. As celestial voices proclaim her salvation, she dies. Mephistopheles takes Faust to hell.