Fausta Character Analysis in Pedro Páramo

Along with Angeles, Fausta is one of the two elderly women who sees Susana San Juan’s light go off in the distance while decorating Comala’s church for Christmas. Unlike Angeles, whose name represents goodness and light (angeles in Spanish means “angels”), Fausta’s name is associated with corruption and immorality. Her name indirectly refers to Doctor Faustus, the titular character of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for limitless knowledge. This connection to the corrupt Doctor Faustus may be a commentary on Pedro Páramo and/or Susana—while Pedro chooses wealth and power above morality (like Faustus chasing after forbidden knowledge), Susana agrees to live with the devilish Pedro Páramo (like Faustus selling his soul to the devil).

Fausta Character Timeline in Pedro Páramo

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

History, Memory, and Narrative Theme Icon

Fragment 61. Two old women named Angeles and Fausta notice that a window at the Media Luna ranch has gone dark. For the last... (full context)

On their way home from the church, Angeles and Fausta see Doctor Valencia hurrying toward the Media Luna, before the light in Susana’s room comes... (full context)