MEPHISTOPHELES

Mephistopheles (also Mephistophilus, Mephistophilis, Mephostopheles, Mephisto, Mephastophilis and variants) is a demon featured in German folklore. He originally appeared in literature as the demon in the Faust legend, and he has since appeared in other works as a stock character version of the Devil. In Doctor Faustus, Mephistopheles acts as a guide to Faustus. Mephistopheles is not only a speaker for the Devil, but he is also seen as a possible lover to the character. In the play, Faustus asks Mephistopheles for a wife and, when he returns, the woman is just a devil in disguise as a woman.

Here, Samuel Ramey plays Mephistopheles in Faust. His clothing follows a red colour scheme; this is symbolic as it shows his loyalty and connection to the devil. Red could also be suggestive of his ability to seduce, as we see in Doctor Faustus, he leads the protagonist atray, to turn from good and instead to sin.