Representation of Disobedience to Divine Authority and Its Anthropological Consequences in Goethe’s Faust and the Myth of Prometheus

Abstract

Disobedience toward divine authority constitutes one of the fundamental concepts in myths and literary texts, playing a decisive role in the formation of human identity, self-awareness, and destiny. Beyond a merely moral or theological act, this concept possesses profound anthropological dimensions that reflect the relationship between human beings and transcendence, free will, and individual responsibility. The myth of Prometheus in ancient Greece and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Faust, each situated within distinct intellectual and historical contexts, represent significant portrayals of resistance against divine authority. Despite numerous studies addressing these two texts individually, comparative analyses focusing specifically on the anthropological consequences of disobedience have received limited scholarly attention; therefore, the present study aims to fill this scientific gap and provide an interdisciplinary interpretation. The central research question examines how disobedience toward divine authority is represented in the myth of Prometheus and Goethe’s Faust, and what anthropological outcomes emerge from this disobedience in each work. Employing a descriptive–analytical method and a comparative approach grounded in textual and conceptual analysis, the study investigates the structure of divine authority, types of disobedience, and their consequences. The findings indicate that disobedience in the Prometheus myth primarily possesses a mythological character, culminating in the emergence of a self-aware and responsible human being, although this process is accompanied by suffering and punishment. In contrast, Faust’s disobedience reflects the crisis of modern humanity and an unlimited thirst for knowledge, resulting in consequences such as alienation, existential suffering, and an ongoing search for meaning. Nevertheless, in both works, disobedience is interpreted not merely as a negative act but as a formative force in the development of the historical and self-conscious human subject. The study demonstrates that disobedience toward divine authority, despite contextual differences, constitutes one of the fundamental components of human existence within mythological and literary traditions.