Faust between Goethe and Bakathir: A Comparative Literary Study

Abstract

This study examines the Faust legend through the lens of comparative literature, aiming to explore the dynamics of influence and interaction between Western—particularly German—literature, in which the legend originally emerged, and Arabic literature, which later absorbed and adapted it. The focus is on how Ali Ahmad Bakathir reinterpreted and localized the Faustian narrative to align with the cultural, intellectual, and literary context of the Arab-Islamic world. The study highlights both the shared and divergent elements between Goethe’s and Bakathir’s versions and emphasizes the role of comparative literature in facilitating literary exchange and enriching national literary traditions.