...The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe From the Quarto of 1604 Edited by Rev. Alexander Dyce THE TRAGICALL HISTORY OF D. FAUSTUS. AS IT HATH BENE ACTED BY THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE EARLE OF NOTTINGHAM HIS SERUANTS. WRITTEN BY CH. MARL. 2 In reprinting this edition, I have here and there amended the text by means of the later 4tos,--1616, 1624, 1631.—Of 4to 1663, which contains various comparatively modern alterations and additions, I have made no use. DRAMATIS PERSONAE. THE POPE. CARDINAL OF LORRAIN. THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY. DUKE OF VANHOLT. FAUSTUS. VALDES, ] friends to FAUSTUS. CORNELIUS, ] WAGNER, servant to FAUSTUS. Clown. ROBIN. RALPH. Vintner. Horse-courser. A Knight. An Old Man. Scholars, Friars, and Attendants. DUCHESS OF VANHOLT LUCIFER. BELZEBUB. MEPHISTOPHILIS. Good Angel. Evil Angel. The Seven Deadly Sins. Devils. Spirits in the shapes of ALEXANDER THE GREAT, of his Paramour and of HELEN. Chorus. Dr. Faustus Christopher Marlowe 3 Enter CHORUS. CHORUS. NOT MARCHING Mars did mate the Carthaginians; NOW in fields of Thrasymene, Where Nor sporting in the dalliance of love, In courts of kings where state is overturn’d; Nor in the pomp of proud audacious deeds, Intends our Muse to vaunt her heavenly verse: Only this, gentlemen,--we must perform The form of Faustus’ fortunes, good or bad: To patient judgments we appeal our plaud, And speak for Faustus in his infancy. Now is he born, his parents base of stock, In Germany...
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...Doctor Faustus Christopher Marlowe Prologue * Chorus comes on and tells audience that the play isn’t going to be about war, valiant deeds, or love, but all about the fortunes of some guy named Faustus * Faustus was born in a town called Roda in Germany and was raised by relatives in Wittenberg * He excels at his studies of Theology, so much that he’s very quickly given the title of doctor of divinity and can out debate anyone * Faustus’s pride is a serious problem * Because Faustus is so proud he’s not happy being a mere theologian, so he opts instead to study magic Act 1 Scene 1 * Meet Faustus, he’s busy figuring out what he wants to do with his life – he mulls over the options: philosophy, medicine, law – he rejects them all for being too boring and too pointless * Every time he reads the Bible Faustus can’t help but conclude that man’s sins give him no hope of heaven anyways * Faustus decides to study magic because a magician is almost like a god * He tells his servant Wagner to fetch Valdes and Cornelius, his friends, who happen to be a couple of magicians * Before they stop by the Good Angel enters and tells Faustus to lay the books of magic aside and to read the scriptures instead * Bad Angel disagrees & thinks Faust should go ahead with his plan because he’ll be godlike * Faustus is convinced and begins to wax poetic about all the thing he’ll do once he masters magic – especially excited about the whole...
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...Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus" and "Sin against the Holy Ghost" Author(s): Gerard H. Cox, III Source: Huntington Library Quarterly, Vol. 36, No. 2 (Feb., 1973), pp. 119-137 Published by: University of California Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3816592 Accessed: 07/11/2010 15:38 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=ucal. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. University of California Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access...
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...relationship with Mephistopheles and in turn the devil himself. Poor Faustus believes it is he who has called upon the demon Mephistopheles and it is his tongue that orders the servant of hell, yet he could not be any more mistaken. In reality, Faustus is the one with strings attached to him and it is Lucifer, Mephistopheles, and the Evil Angel playing the role of the puppeteer. Nevertheless, Faustus remains a student to the ideology of Christianity throughout his adventures, even amongst the bleakest of hours. God never leaves the side of John Faustus, as He relentlessly tries to bring Faustus back onto the path of righteousness. Though it was indeed Doctor Faustus that summed the evil form of Mephistopheles and bargained with the devil for control over him, it is really Faustus who is being controlled by the Evil Trinity. The Doctors free will, one of the distinguishing factors of humankind, one of Gods greatest gifts given to man, has been taken away from him. The Evil Trinity is subtly controlling his every move, poking and prodding him so that he stays on the path they have laid out for him, the path to Hell. Whenever Faustus begins to question his decision and seek repentance, either Mephistopheles distracts him with earthly pleasures or facts of hell, the Evil Angel whispers some doubt in his ear, or the Devil himself appears and threatens John that it is all over and far too late. Pitiable Faustus is being persistently brainwashed by evil, yet he is under the influence...
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...British Literature Is Dr. Faustus a Magician or is he a scientist? Dr. Faustus is a fascinating character, mainly because he is easily misunderstood. He makes lots of astonishing things happen throughout the text but leaves the reader wondering whether these mysterious acts are rooted in science or magic. Throughout my reading, I changed my mind constantly on whether these strange occurrences were a result of magical powers or just scientific discoveries. There are three specific things he does that made me feel like it was more than science behind his actions. First, he uses trickery throughout the story. Second, there are numerous magical events presented throughout the story. And lastly, he sold his soul to Lucifer that helped him gain the powers of which he uses, so that especially makes me feel that it is not science behind his actions. This last example ultimately helped me to come to the decision that Dr. Faustus is a magician and not a scientist. Dr. Faustus sells his soul to Lucifer in exchange for the assurance that the devil will continuously be at his beck and call. Now, with this newfound power that he obtained, he began to travel. His first stop was the Pope’s court in Rome. After he makes himself invisible, he plays a series of tricks! The invisibility, as well as the tricks, were both sheer signs of magic, and not science! He does this as a sort of prank; he is trying to aggravate people using his tricks. Another occurrence in the text that helped me make...
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...DOCTOR FAUSTUS – A PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAGEDY Spiritual Combat: Tragedy is regarded as the highest aspect of the dramatic art as in it our emotions are more profoundly stirred than in comedy thereby rendering it more universal in it appeal. And conflict is the essence of or soul of tragedy. All previous dramas including Tamburlaine had dealt with single-minded individuals. If a struggle in the heart of the hero was introduced, it was like that of Morality plays. It was external as in the Jew of Malta because it was between the hero and his adversaries. Doctor Faustus attempted something different. It is a drama of spiritual combat within the soul of man. This struggle is certainly somewhat primitive in its expression but it is a foretaste of those inner characteristics towards which a drama in its development inevitably trends. Faustus in this respect is unquestionably the greatest tragic figure in sixteenth century outside the work of Shakespeare. It is also a modern tragedy because Marlowe broke away from the old Aristotelian concept of tragic hero as being a royal figure of some very lofty stature. He introduced Faustus who is not a prince or a king but a common learned man whose parents are base of stock. Tragic Flaw – cause of his tragedy According to Aristotle, the tragic hero must have some inherent weakness – a tragic flaw which he referred to as Hamartia. He should be neither totally vicious nor good. As per Doctor Faustus, he is puffed with pride and his wisdom....
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...Consider Dr. Faustus as a morality play. Ans. What Marlowe creates out of the story of Faustus is a medieval morality play with a late Renaissance temper. Despite its conformity to the later morality plays, ‘Dr. Faustus’ is by no means an evidence of the thorough change of spirit in Marlowe. Faustus is too stiff necked a pursuer to deny the medieval morality tradition. Here we see the typical temptation by no evil figure. Rather we see a knowing Faustus deliberately setting himself upon an evil course. The supernatural context of Faustus’ tragedy and the central importance of the theological concepts of evil and suffering within that context distinguish it from all other tragedies of the time, and suggest its relationship to the Eng morality play. Even though Marlowe’s play seems by and large to grow directly from the English Faust Book rather than from the stage tradition of the moralities, there is no doubt that the morality tradition provided Marlowe with both its thematic precedence and devices of dramaturgy on which to draw. Hardin Craig’s definition of a morality play as the presentation of man in the post lapsarian situation, where he is destined to die in sin unless he be saved by the intervention of Divine Grace and by repentance, is very certainly and properly applicable to “Dr. Faustus”. This general thematic import of morality play was very characteristically embodied in a dramatic structure defined by the conflict of the abstract forces of Good and Evil...
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...renaissance spirit of unlimited powers, unlimited knowledge for the sack of power and unlimited materliastics progress. His dramas also show the love of physical beauty and the desire of fulfilled sensual appetite. He was born on 1564; it was the age of renaissance. So his dramas possess all characteristics of renaissance plays. First characteristic of renaissance that is found in Doctor Faustus is thirst of gaining knowledge. Faustus was presented as a scholar. He was the master of different subjects including science, medicines and divinity. Faustus had a wide knowledge but still he had a longing to increase his knowledge. He renounces god and pact his allegiance to Lucifer only because of his hope of earned knowledge of all universe. He wanted to know till the end. His gluttony of acquiring more and more knowledge leads him to his downfall. Doc Faustus being the product of renaissance is dissatisfied with the limited sphere of knowledge. He says, The end of physics is our body’s health Why, Faustus hast thou not attain’d the end? Renaissance praised individualism instead of society. Faustus being a man of renaissance also possesses the spirit of individualism. He showed no concerns with society; he wanted to be his own man and set...
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...In the first 2 acts of Dr Faustus, Marlowe makes it clear that Faustus is very academically smart as he talks a lot about logic and all of the things he can do. He reads "to dispute well logics chiefest end" he says, "affords this art no greater miracle?" He has mastered this art and achieved his goals already. He even decides that medicine is not good enough as he has no power over life and death. He the turns to necromancy and decides that he wants to be more than a mortal "yet art thou still but Faustus and a man." Marlowe is pushing boundaries by making the protagonist want to do Gods work, to be above him, by raising the dead. The audience may view Faustus as the villain as he turns to black magic and sells his soul to the devil. However, Marlowe also portrays him as a protagonist whose ambitions lead him to his downfall. Marlowe uses the seven deadly sins to portray Faustus' character. Pride is the main one as he deludes himself into thinking that he can be the most powerful "all things that move between the quiet poles shall be at my command." This sin also leads to laziness as he takes the easy route to gain success and power. Instead of studying at university he chooses to summon evil spirits to give him everything he wishes for but he of course has to sacrifice his soul. "Shall I make spirits fetch me what I please" Dr. Faustus also contradicts himself as he rejects studying law due to its involvement with money yet he wants to "ransack the ocean for orient pearl...
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...Macbeth, Dr. Faustus, and The Picture of Dorian Gray the three protagonists make decisions which lead them down the path of wickedness. The supporting characters also act as evil beings by encouraging the protagonists to make bad decisions. With evil acts on their minds, the protagonists have many symbols that represent their conscience in different ways. Though obvious to the readers, the protagonists had to commit many evil acts to realize the errors of their ways. The protagonists of these stories commit many acts of wickedness which all lead to their final damnation in hell. As the age old question goes; Are people born evil or do...
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...Introduction Doctor Faustus, a unique creation of Christopher Marlowe, conveys a deep conception of tragedy. In awe inspiring and terror, the play fulfils one of the true functions of tragedy. It thrills us because there is something of the ‘desire of the moth for the star’ of Faustus’s desire to conquer human limitation, in all of us, and we are fascinated by the audacity with which he persists in his desperate course. Extraordinary Courage and Indomitable Will Doctor Faustus deals with the heroic struggle of a ‘great souled’ man doomed to inevitable defeat. The entire interest in a Marlovian tragedy centres round the personality of the hero, and the pleasure comes from watching the greatness and fall of a superhuman personality. And ordinary German scholar, in the beginning, Faustus’s intellectual endowment raises him to the status of a great hero. He has the genuine passion for knowledge infinite. With his inordinate ambition he soars beyond the petty possibilities of humanity, leagues himself with superhuman powers and rides through space in a fiery chariot exploring the secrets of the universe. Marlowe’s Faustus aspires to be more than man and therefore repudiates his humanity and rebels against the ultimate reality. Being a true Renaissance hero, he surpasses his mortal bounds to be as powerful on earth as Jove in sky. He finds some hope only in Necromancy. He, therefore, turns to Magic and is elated by its prospects of profit, delight, power, honour, for: All things...
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...Works of literature are often layered and may require close attention to discover their depth and complexity. With respect to Doctor Faustus I will show his valid views. Doctor Faustus being a Christian play depicts a Christians understanding of sin. In Christianity, a sin is a conscious act that is contrary to the will of God. When Faustus made his decision to sell his soul to Lucifer he knew that he was renouncing his affiliation with the kingdom of God and pledging his alliance with the Devil. He knowingly gave up his gift of eternal life for a life of eternal damnation. But the question remains if he really believed it or not. Would God really turn his back on him? After all, Jesus is the redeemer of all sin. His death on the cross with the shedding of his blood is the promise of forgiveness of all sin and the promise of everlasting life. Can it be that Faustus was testing the almighty as he tests us? Faustus many times throughout the play is visited by the good angels who encourage him to turn away from his sinful ways and come back to God but the evil angel is on his other shoulder convincing him of his desire for his own pleasure. At times, he desires a pure life but it doesn't come to pass. We all make choices on a daily basis in our lives and it is the choices we make that determines the kind of life we will live and how successful or unsuccessful we will become. God did give us the gift of total forgiveness through the death of his son Jesus but we do not...
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...The Tempest written during the 1600s by one of the most influential writers of his time, William Shakespeare, takes us deep in to the Renaissance, in which questions of religion and man’s place in the world were the cause of much conflict. There are many insinuations that the character of Prospero is a cover for Shakespeare himself and through the protagonist, Shakespeare voices some of his views about the world he was living in. Along with themes of power, men and control, colonization also seems to be a main focus of Shakespeare throughout The Tempest, as almost every character ponders upon how he would rule the island on which the play is set if he were its king. Dr Faustus was written during the reign of England’s Queen Elizabeth I by Christopher Marlowe. It focuses on the main character, Dr Faustus, selling his soul to the devil in exchange for all the luxuries the world has to offer “twenty-four years of all voluptuousness.” Both plays present men questing for power and have left their mark on the modern world of literature. Shakespeare highlights the dominant themes power and control through the characters of Prospero and Antonio. Throughout the play many of the characters are in constant battle for power and freedom sometimes resulting in them succumbing to malevolent deeds. Prospero personifies the imperialist omnipotent ruler as he enslaves Caliban son of Sycorax and rightful ruler of the island. He uses the informal pronoun and pejorative phrase “thou most lying...
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...Renaissance Theatre. The Protestant Reformation in northern Europe put an end to most religious drama by the mid-16th century, and a new, dynamic secular drama developed in its place. The Renaissance began at different times in different areas of Europe and was a slow process of change rather than a sudden shift in ideas and values. England The English drama of the 16th cent. showed from the beginning that it would not be bound by classical rules. Many themes and ideas can be seen in the components of the Elizabethan drama. For example, many works were influenced by other works. Themes on revenge were seen and blood and killing was evidenced in many works by, for instance, Thomas Kyd 's Spanish Tragedy (c.1586). Marlowe’s works presented deeper meanings of questioning life. Shakespeare, of course, stands as the supreme dramatist of the Renaissance period, equally skilful at writing tragedies, comedies, or chronicle plays. His great achievements include the perfection of a verse form and language that captures the spirit of ordinary speech and yet stand above it to give a special dignity to his characters and situations; a marvellous ability to unify plot, character, imagery, and verse movement. With the reign of James I the English drama began to decline until the closing of the theatres by the Puritans in 1642. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_drama Comedy in Elizabethan Drama: The term "comedy" as applied to a division of the drama was not...
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...their statements through their symmetrical statements. ‘Sweet Faustus, think of heaven, and heavenly things’ ‘No, Faustus, think of honour and wealth’ Repeatedly interject the play when Faustus is making decisions. This allows the audience to see and experience the decisions and choices that Faustus makes, leading them to form a judgement. However, it also perhaps adds to the audience’s frustration of Faustus as it adds to his frustrating changeability and makes the bad decisions he makes seem worse. ‘Faustus repent, yet God will pity thee’ ‘Thou art a spirit, God cannot pity thee’ LEADS TO FAUSTUS SAYING ‘Who buzzeth in mine ears I am a spirit? Be I a devil, yet God may pity me. Ay, God will pity me if I repent’ However, there is ambiguity as to what the angels are/represent. Some have argued that they are separate characters yet others say that they are Faustus’ inner turmoil and thoughts, giving the audience an insight into his inner psychology. ‘O Faustus, lay that damned book aside, And gaze not on it, lest it tempt thy soul And heap God’s heavy wrath upon thy head: Read, read the Scriptures; that is blasphemy’ ‘Go forward, Faustus, in that famous art, Wherein all nature’s treasury is contained: Be thou on earth as Jove is in the sky, Lord and commander of these elements.’ Because we repeatedly come up throughout the play, we are allowed to see the importance of their presence in Faustus’ journey towards hell. I think that the audience appreciate...
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