Alone in his study, the aged Dr. Faust worries that his lifelong search for the meaning of existence has been useless. He raises a goblet of poison to his lips but hesi­tates when he hears young people outside his window, awakening all the unfulfilled passions of his youth. Cursing life, the philosopher calls on the devil for help. Méphisto­phélès appears, and Faust tells him he craves youth and pleasure. This can be arranged if Faust will forfeit his soul. Faust hesitates until Méphisto­phélès produces a vision of the beautiful Marguerite. A magic potion transforms Faust into a handsome young man, and he leaves with Méphisto­phélès in search of Marguerite, and of the joys of life he has never known.

At the local fair, the celebrating townspeople and soldiers include a young officer, Valentin. He asks his friend, the young boy Siébel, to protect his sister Marguerite in his absence and then bids a touching farewell. Wagner, a student, begins a lively song but is interrupted by Méphisto­phélès , who sings an homage to greed and glut­tony. The Devil refuses a drink from Wagner and amazes the crowd by causing new wine to flow from an old keg. When he proposes a toast to Marguerite, Valentin draws his sword, but it shatters. Recognizing Satan, the soldiers hold their swords like crosses before Méphisto­phélès , who leaves in disgust. As the crowd begins a waltz, Faust manages to speak to Marguerite just before she demurely refuses to let him escort her home. Méphisto­phélès returns to lead the merrymakers in dance.

Siébel briefly visits Marguerite’s garden to leave her a bou­quet of flowers. The romantic youth is followed by Faust and Méphisto­phélès , who goes in search of a gift to outshine Siébel’s. Left alone, Faust is touched by the humility of Marguerite’s simple home. Méphisto­phélès returns with a box of jewels that he places near Siébel’s flowers. When Marguerite arrives in the garden, she sings a ballad about the king of Thule, distractedly interrupting the verses with reflections on the stranger she has met. Discovering the flowers and box, the girl exclaims in delight as she adorns herself with jewels. Unable to resist the temptation, she tries on all the jewels. Faust completes his seduction. As Méphisto­phélès invokes a night full of stars, Marguerite confesses her love, but nevertheless begs Faust to leave. The Devil mocks Faust’s failure, and points to Marguerite, who has reappeared at her window, still enraptured by the night of love. She yields to his embraces, as Méphisto­phélès’ taunting laughter is heard in the garden.

Scene 1. Marguerite seeks refuge in church, only to be pursued by Méphisto­phélès, who curses her and torments her with threats of damnation. She collapses.

Scene 2. In the town square, Valentin and his comrades return from war, singing the glory of those slain in battle. Valentin ques­tions Siébel about Marguerite but receives only vague answers. Faust, repenting his abandonment of Marguerite, arrives with Méphisto­phélès, who serenades the girl with a lewd ballad. Valentin, defending his sister’s honor, fights a duel with Faust. At a crucial moment, Méphisto­phélès intervenes and Valentin is fatally wounded. As the Devil drags Faust away, Marguerite kneels by her fatally wounded brother, who curses her with his last breath. She rises slowly and giggling madly to herself, moves through the crowd of villagers.

Marguerite lies sleeping on the floor of her prison cell, where she has been confined for the murder of her ille­gitimate child. Faust and Méphisto­phélès appear in the cell to help her escape. As the Devil keeps watch, Faust wakens Marguerite; at first the distracted girl is overjoyed to see her lover, but instead of fleeing with him she tarries to recall their first days of happiness. Marguerite calls on the angels to save her and she walks to her death. Méphisto­phélès pronounces her condemned, but as she approaches the gallows, a choir of angels proclaims her salvation.