Margaret's Judgments in Faust

In Faust, there exist multiple judgments regarding Margaret's crime. Her family and town scorn her for losing her virginity before marriage, condemning her to a dismal life. In deeming her actions as sins, Margaret herself holds the same beliefs of those of her family and town. There might be various judgments, however, among the audience. Margaret has sinned, but her wrongs may be considered collateral damage from Faust's commitment to greed and lust, inspired by Mephistopheles. Dramatic irony serves to divide (perhaps some of) the audiences' beliefs from those of the characters, unaware of Faust's loyalty to the Devil and thereby, the exceptional nature of the offense.

In "Night," Valentine provides a view of Margaret similar to that of the other characters (with the exception of Martha) in the play, but more substantiated. Valentine suggests that Margaret's behavior is not only immoral, but superficially Christian. He tells her: "You shall no longer wear your golden chain, / nor pray to God before the altar, / nor seek your pleasures at a dance / decked out in lace and finery" (341). The "golden chain" may refer to one with a crucifix that she wears; if this is the case, Valentine hints at the many flaws in such a necklace. Not only does a golden chain crudely display of wealth, but it passively accessorizes and luxuriates the painful event of Christ's death. By following the prediction that Margaret will be unable to pray with the loss of the privilege to dress well and enjoy social occasions, in the same sentence, Valentine reveals a possible equation of religious activity with frivolity. Whether or not Valentine's perspective was perceived by the audience as harsh or right, it has a reasonable basis. Valentine provides a fresh and rational view on Margaret's allegedly innocent behavior, thus narrowing the gap between the views of the characters, whom he represents, and those of an audience which, as (then) Christian, values humility and sincerity.