Mephistopheles at The State Russian Museum, St Petersburg

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Mephistopheles is a demon deeply rooted in German folklore. He first emerged in literature as the demon in the Faust legend and has since become a stock character appearing in numerous works. Although Mephistopheles presents himself to Faustus as a demon, critics argue that he doesn't seek out men to corrupt but rather comes to serve and ultimately collect the souls of those who are already doomed. Farnham explains that Mephistophiles does not first appear to Faustus as a devil who roams the earth tempting men with corruption. He appears because he senses in Faustus' magical summons that Faustus is already corrupted, that indeed he is already in grave danger of being damned. Mephistopheles is trapped in his own hell by serving Lucifer. He warns Faustus of the choice he is making by selling his soul to the Devil: Mephistophiles, an agent of Lucifer, appears and initially advises Faust not to trade away the promise of heaven for his goals. Farnham adds to his theory that Faustus enters a private hell that's always present, much like that of Mephistophiles.