Goethe's "Faust" is the quintessential human drama: the immense search for what holds the world together at its core drives even the most learned to the limits of reason. In "The Second Part of the Tragedy" (1832), this quest condenses into the pursuit of a universal, unbreakable bond between life and art. To this day, "Faust" captivates with its explosive power and depth, as well as its wealth of references. The tragedy is rightly regarded as the most significant work of German literature.