Faust, an aged philosopher, contemplates ending his life. Carefree voices are heard from outside: the women sing of the joys of nature and love, the men of the beautiful day that will find them reaping their fields. Faust sets down his phial of poison and curses happiness, learning, prayer and faith. When he invokes the devil, that very being appears, in the debonair person of Méphistophélès. Faust rejects offers of wealth and power, asking instead for youth.
The devil agrees to grant his wishes if Faust will serve him later in hell. Méphistophélès produces a parchment for Faust to sign; when the old man hesitates, Méphistophélès tempts him with a vision of a beautiful young woman, Marguerite. Faust now eagerly signs the parchment and is quickly transformed by the devil into a handsome young man.
A village fair, Kermesse, is in progress. Wagner, a student, leads the townspeople in a song extolling wine and beer. Joining the group is a soldier, Valentin, who holds a medallion his sister Marguerite has given him for protection in battle. He prays that God will protect Marguerite in his absence. Siebel, who is in love with Marguerite, promises to watch over her.
Wagner resumes the festivities with a lively song about a rat, but he is interrupted by Méphistophélès, who regales the crowd with his paean to the Golden Calf. He predicts an imminent soldier’s death for Wagner and tells Siebel that henceforth flowers will wither at his touch. The local wine proves inadequate for Méphistophélès and he magically produces his own vintage. He then provokes Valentin’s anger with a toast to Marguerite. Drawn swords do not frighten the offender. Having guessed his identity, the men subdue Méphistophélès only when they raise the cruciform hilts of their weapons.
Faust arrives and demands to meet the girl he saw in the vision. The villagers dance a waltz in which Siebel is asked to join, but the lad can think only of Marguerite. When she appears, she demurely declines Faust’s gallant offer to lead her home. He realizes he already loves her.
In Marguerite’s garden, Siebel picks flowers for a bouquet, but he discovers that the stranger’s prophecy has come true: the blossoms wither in his hand. After moistening his fingers in a font of holy water, which breaks the spell, he leaves his flowers for Marguerite and happily departs.
While Méphistophélès searches for a suitable gift for Marguerite, Faust reflects on his joy at being near her. The devil returns with a box of jewels, which he places near Siebel’s flowers. After the men withdraw, Marguerite appears and sings an ancient song about a king whose beloved has died. When the girl catches sight of the jewels, she cannot resist trying them on.
Marthe, a meddlesome neighbor, rejects Marguerites’ notion that the splendid present was left by mistake. Méphistophélès appears and melodramatically informs Marthe that her husband has died. While the devil seductively induces Marthe to follow him out of the garden, Faust begins to woo Marguerite. Returning to observe the young couple, Méphistophélès calls on the darkness to come to Faust’s aid. As night descends, Faust grows more passionate about Marguerite and she confesses that she returns his love. The devil urges Faust to wait a moment before obeying Marguerite’s wish to be left alone. When she appears at her window and expresses her longing for Faust, he rushes to her.
Marguerite longs for the return of Faust, who has abandoned her. She is visited by Siebel, her only friend who has remained loyal.
In church, Marguerite attempts to find solace in prayer. She hears the voices of demons calling her name and Méphistophélès looms before her, threatening eternal damnation. The choir sings of the Day of Judgment, but the devil interrupts them, tormenting Marguerite until she collapses.
The villagers turn out to welcome the returning soldiers, Valentine among them. Siebel arouses his suspicions by evading questions about Marguerite. When the remorseful Faust appears with Méphistophélès, the devil pauses to sing a derisive song outside Marguerite’s window. It draws Valentin, who challenges his sister’s seducer to a duel. Valentin is fatally wounded by Faust, whom Méphistophélès urges to flee. A crowd gathers and is horrified to hear the dying Valentin curse his sister.
Marguerite has borne Faust a child, but she has killed it and is now in prison, having been condemned to death. Faust comes to her cell, but her joy at being reunited him quickly fades when Méphistophélès appears. Marguerite prays to the angels of heaven and with her last breath repulses Faust, while a celestial choir proclaims her salvation.