Character in a story treated by both
Christopher Marlowe and
Goethe. Sells his
soul to the
devil in return for
magical powers. The story is both a
tragedy (Faustus is dragged off to
Hell at the end) and a love story (Faustus does, truly, fall in love with
Helen of Troy).
The story and elements of it permeate much of Western literature, with ideas of selling your soul to get something, of making a deal with the devil, and of the Faustian Bargain.
Comic references to Faustus include Eric by Terry Pratchett and Faust Among Equals by Tom Holt.