Wikipedia has a major article about Faust. Wikipedia also has a major article about Marlowe's Play that we are seeing in class. Goethe's Faust is perhaps even more famous than Marlowe's, especially in Japan. I understand it has a happy ending, and I get tired of those tacked on, artificial happy endings people like so much. Life doesn't always have happy endings.
The legend of Faust has influenced western literature greatly. You may recognize some other works based on Faust. A deal with the Devil (or any pact selling one's soul for power) is called a "Faustian Bargain." This is a common motif in literature and other fiction today. Politicians and diplomats are sometimes accused of making Faustian bargains, either literally or figuratively.
Faust is also the original mad scientist. You may recognize the type in modern literature as Dr. Evil, Dr. Frankenstein, or Lex Luthor from the Superman stories. It's a common type of character.
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