Gretchen's brooding and spinning gives rise to imagery that allows insight into the soul of a woman with great depth of feeling and gives a unique face to this classic drama of hopelessness. Disappointed by her lover (Faust), out of fear of society and the wish to distract herself, Gretchen becomes enamored with the idea of a new lover - Mephisto. However, he cannot and will not be enough for her, either as a substitute or as a complement. The core of the matter lies elsewhere.
—Magdalena Chmielewska