Valentine Character Analysis in Faust

Margarete’s brother and a soldier, Valentine is outraged by the knowledge that his sister has compromised her honor by taking on a secret lover (Faust). Outside of his mother and sister’s house, he challenges Faust to a duel, but with Mephistopheles’s magical aid Faust mortally wounds the soldier. Before he dies, Valentine tells his sister that she might as well become a whore. He wishes he could kill her himself, and tells her that in her dishonor she gave his heart the fatal blow.

Valentine Character Timeline in Faust

The timeline below shows where the character Valentine appears in Faust. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The Human Desire for Meaning and Transcendence Theme Icon

This scene is set in the street outside Gretchen’s house. Her brother Valentine, a soldier, enters. He recalls how his comrades used to get drunk and toast to... (full context)

Faust and Mephistopheles enter, and Valentine swears that if his sister’s lover is one of these two, then that man won’t... (full context)

Valentine advances on Faust and Mephistopheles, cursing the devil’s song and breaking his guitar. He says... (full context)

...light, and they discover that a brawl has taken place: the murderers have fled, and Valentine lies dying. Gretchen mourns for her brother, but he tells her in front of all... (full context)

Martha tells Valentine to commend his soul to God in his dying hour, not to slander his sister.... (full context)

...fallen Gretchen. Her Evil Spirit torments her with memories of innocence. It reminds her of Valentine’s death, his blood shed because of her sins, as well as of her mother’s death... (full context)

About a year has passed since Valentine’s death. It is April 30th, Walpurgis Night—a dark celebration in the devil’s honor, held on... (full context)