Chapter VI: Part VIII: Goethe and Faust

I

GOETHE’S YOUTH

Goethe’s youth.—Pessimism of youth.—Werther.—Tendency
to suicide.—Work and love.—Goethe’s conception of life
in his maturity 261

II

GOETHE AND OPTIMISM

Goethe’s optimistic period.—His mode of life
in that period.—Influence of love in artistic
production.—Inclinations towards the arts must be
regarded as secondary sexual characters.—Senile love
of Goethe.—Relation between genius and the sexual
activities 270

III

GOETHE’S OLD AGE

Old age of Goethe.—Physical and intellectual vigour of
the old man.—Optimistic conception of life.—Happiness
in life in his last period 279

IV

GOETHE AND “FAUST”

_Faust_ the biography of Goethe.—The three monologues in
the first Part.—Faust’s pessimism.—The brain-fatigue
which finds a remedy in love.—The romance with
Marguerite and its unhappy ending 283

V

THE OLD AGE OF FAUST

The second Part of _Faust_ is in the main a description
of senile love.—Amorous passion of the old man.—Humble
attitude of the old Faust.—Platonic love for
Helena.—The old Faust’s conception of life.—His
optimism.—The general idea of the play 290