The German legend of Faust was transformed into a poem by Carol Ann Duffy. She uses the perspective of Mrs. Faust to illustrate that it is very easy to be compelled by materials. Materialism is prioritizing possessions and material objects rather than focusing on other common values (Webster's). When we look at materialism in “Mrs Faust”, we can see that the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Faust represents consumerism in today’s society, which most people do not see. This is important because people become so focused on success and the things they obtain that it harms their relationships.

Success is often measured by the things you possess. This way of life gets the best of people, and materialism consumes them. “For all these years of gagging for it, going for it, rolling in it, [he] sold [his] soul” (Duffy 62/). Faust has been kidnapped and captured by materialism, and he cannot escape. Faust and his wife flourished academically and made smart decisions to save the money they have worked hard for (Duffy 6). The more money they made, the more stuff they could buy. This was dangerous in their relationship because they grew farther and farther away from each other as more goods came between them. Faust “grew to love the kudos, not the wife” (Duffy 20). The praise he got for his accomplishments drew his attention away from Mrs. Faust. She tried to look for happiness but she returned home (Duffy 87). It was too late to change now.

The base problem of materialism is the feeling of dissatisfaction. Those who feel they need to buy fancy products are those looking to fill a hole in their life where something seems to be missing. Looking for happiness in objects is not the way to get it. Having the latest toy may be great for the time being, but materialistic people will always need to get the next best thing. Mrs. Faust and her husband wanted more than the multiple homes, computers, boats, and cars; none of it was enough. They both became so greedy and so focused on their upper class lifestyle, their relationship was strictly defined by the materials they had. The problem with this is that things are just things. At the end of your life, the stuff you buy does not die with you. What is important in the afterlife is what kind of person you were and what kind of life you lived. “[You] reap what [you] sew” (Duffy 100). It is clear, though, that Faust was not worried about his afterlife. He sold his soul to the devil in order to compliment his greedy actions (Duffy 105). He wanted to obtain more worldly positions; more positions than the political and financial ones he already had (Duffy 47/). Faust’s materialistic compulsion was simply like a villain in a superhero movie; he wanted to take over the world. “Faust was Cardinal, Pope, knew more than God; flew faster than the speed of sound around the globe; lunched; walked on the moon,” (Duffy 53/). However, everyone knows that most of the time the villain never wins. 

Time goes by faster than expected. The uniqueness of “Mrs Faust,” is the length of the poem; the lines are very short and does not give too much detail. However, Duffy’s point gets across, and Mrs. Faust's whole life story is told within it. This is a representation of life; it goes by in the blink of an eye. It is important to be thankful for the things we have, but not take life for granted. You only live once. Mr. and Mrs. Faust are not grateful at all. “When [she] got ill it hurt like hell. [She] bought a kidney with [her] credit card, then [she] got well” (Duffy 122/). It is not everyday someone can just buy a body part without thinking about it. 

Early Mr. and Mrs. Faust can be compared to a typical, teenage relationship between the popular cheerleader and the hot, hunky football player. They believed they were bound to be together, when in reality, it was all about their ego and living up to reputation. That greed, immaturity, and selfishness continues to grow in modern marriages. A lot of older couples in today’s time were high school sweethearts, but like all relationships, some last and some lead to divorce. Young love is hard to determine. Mr. and Mrs. Faust met as students, and even then they did not seem to be totally in love. They shacked up, split up, made up, hitched up (Duffy 3/) -nothing too convincing that they were meant to be. 

Women dream of finding the right husband their whole life. Some succeed on the first, and some get divorced before finding “the one.” Occasionally, women find themselves trapped in a marriage and do all they can to find happiness. Couples will avoid talking about their problems and cover them up with vacations or gifts. This is Mrs. Faust. She needed to find change for herself, but she looked in the wrong light. She used her debit card immensely to go visit new places and completely change her look; she colored her hair, got a facelift, a boobjob (Duffy 74/). It did not work. She knew Faust was “cunning and callous” (Duffy 128), and although she may have had not planned this type of lifestyle, “she learned to love it” (Duffy 18). She became just as obsessed with objects and materials as her husband was (Duffy 17). She was under the spell of materialism, and nothing could be done about it. Many women, like Mrs. Faust, fall into that trap, and ultimately, fall in love with the money and what it can buy them. Love is not the center of marriages anymore. When her husband turned to other women, Mrs. Faust did not build up jealousy (Duffy 23). Her husband sold his soul to the devil, and she simply said “Oh, well” (Duffy 115). She was more concerned with Faust’s will which left her everything. “C’est la vie,” she said (Duffy 122)- that’s life.

Greedy attitudes not only have an effect on relationships but friendships, too. Selfish people think only of themselves, and these mechanisms can be absorbed the more time people spend together. Those who choose to be around these people often find others to spend their time with later on. No one wants to purposely surround themselves with arrogant, self-absorbed people. The influence of this kind of behavior has a negative impact on our society and future generations. Children learn from and look up to their parents as role models, and selfishness is not an example that needs to be set. If Mr. and Mrs. Faust were to have children, they would be so dependent on their parent’s money and what they have provided for them, probably a nanny, multiple servants, and a sue chef. 

The problem with materialism is it’s so natural in today’s world that it is not seen as an issue. Because success is measured in money and money can buy expensive things, people are linked to the idea that the key to happiness is materials. It is so common for relationships revolve around this idea which, overall, leads to an unhappy life. Healthy relationships lie within your heart, not the items you have.
