"Den Boesen sind sie los, die Boesen sind geblieben" - Goethe's De-Christianization of the Devil in Bulgakov's Faust Novel and in "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones

Richard Ilgner (Memorial University) [BIO]

Email: rilgner@mun.ca

 

ABSTRACT:

In the 1960's Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones read a newly published Russian novel by Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita, and the creation of one of the signature lyrics of the Rolling Stones was the result. Bulgakov's novel shows great familiarity with Goethe's Faust, and especially the creation of Woland, Bulgakov's devil, gives evidence of a subtly nuanced and sophisticated reading of Goethe's drama. Mick Jagger on his part also evinces a great understanding of this aspect of the theme. This paper will focus on the creative transformations of Goethe' Mephisto from a Christian to an un-Christian devil and trace his reception in the atheist Russian context of Bulgakov's work of the Stalinist 1930's, and in the secular North American pop culture of the 1960's represented by the opening lyrics of Beggars' Banquet.