Final answer:
In the tale of Faust, Faustus asks Mephastophilis for Helen of Troy as a symbol of his pursuit of ultimate pleasure and knowledge, embodying the human desire for ideals beyond reach, and illustrating the narrative of ambition and its costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Faustus' Request for Helen of Troy
In the context of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's work on the German folktale, Faust is a character who makes a pact with the devil, exchanging his soul for worldly pleasures. The tale, as represented in various adaptations including those by Marlowe and Goethe, often includes a moment where Faustus asks Mephastophilis to bring him Helen of Troy. In these stories, Helen is the epitome of beauty and desire, and Faustus' request is symbolic of his quest for ultimate knowledge and pleasure - essentially, to experience the pinnacle of what he believes life has to offer. His fixation on Helen could be understood as a representation of the longing for an ideal that is beyond human reach, which is a common theme throughout the narrative of Faust. It plays into the broader commentary on ambition, as well as the consequences of surrendering one's values and soul in the pursuit of fleeting, worldly gains, a narrative that resonates globally as explored in the discussions of globalization and cultural narratives.