Doctor Faustus is a tragic figure, but there are comic moments in his story. The comic scenes of Doctor Faustus highlight the Doctor’s humanity and provide relief from the tragedy of his fall.
One such comic scene is when Doctor Faustus tries to conjure up a devil and ends up summoning a clown instead. This scene shows Doctor Faustus’ desperation as he tries to negotiate with the clown for information on how to summon a real devil. The clown’s antics add levity to the situation and remind us that Doctor Faustus is still human, despite his tragic choices.
Another comic scene occurs when Doctor Faustus travels to Hell. He is greeted by two devils, who debate over whether or not he should be allowed into the underworld. This scene is humorous as it shows the ridiculous bureaucracy of Hell. Doctor Faustus is treated like a common criminal, despite the fact that he has sold his soul to the devil.
These comic scenes provide relief from the tragedy of Doctor Faustus’ story and remind us that even Doctor Faustus had moments of levity in his life. They also show us Doctor Faustus’ humanity, which is often overshadowed by his tragic choices.
When I initially began reading Dr. Faustus, I had no idea that there were comic scenes. Only after being informed and seeing the film did I realize that there were comic sequences in the play. Many critics claim that Christopher Marlowe did not write these parts; instead, they believe they were written later by other playwrights.
Was the comedy Marlowe’s way of trying to lighten up the otherwise dark story, or was there another reason? After doing some research I found that Marlowe actually did intend for there to be comic relief in the play. He felt that if he did not add comic scenes, Doctor Faustus would be “too sad for a tragedy” (qtd. in Holmes 134). Even though Marlowe wrote the comic scenes, many people still argue over whether or not they are successful.
Some argue that the comic scenes are unsuccessful because they are not really all that funny. Critics such as T.S. Eliot say that “[the] clowns . . . do little more than bring in props and change scenery” (qtd. in Holmes 134). However, other critics such as A.C. Bradley say that the comic scenes are actually quite funny and add to the play.
Bradley says that “the humor is not coarse; it is delicate, refined, and often exquisite” (qtd. in Holmes 134). In my opinion, I think that the comic scenes are successful, but only when they are used sparingly. If there are too many comic scenes, it takes away from the overall dark tone of the play.
So why did Marlowe add comic scenes to Doctor Faustus? Some critics argue that he did it to provide relief for the audience, while others argue that he did it to provide relief for Doctor Faustus himself. I think that Marlowe added comic scenes for both of these reasons. By providing comic relief, Marlowe was able to take the focus away from Doctor Faustus’ dark journey and instead allow the audience to laugh and enjoy the play.
At the same time, I think that Marlowe also used comedy to provide Doctor Faustus with a moment of relief from his own impending doom. In the end, I think that Marlowe was successful in adding comic scenes to Doctor Faustus. They provide a much-needed break from the darkness of the story, and they also add an element of fun and enjoyment to the play.
My first instinct was that they were put there to brighten the mood of such a dark and somber drama. A good playwright knows you can’t keep an audience engaged with hours of serious, deep, and emotional material without also providing something to lighten the mood. I understood that it was quite feasible that Mr. Marlowe did not write the comic sections of this play (that he wrote them), maybe a later writer discovered that the script was too gloomy.
But as I read on in the play, I realized that there were other reasons for the comic scenes. They could also possibly be there to: To make a connection with the audience – if we can laugh at these characters then we can feel closer to them and understand them better.
To show us a different side to Doctor Faustus – up until this point he has been quite arrogant and sure of himself, but in these comic scenes he is made to look foolish and we see him trip up and make mistakes. This makes him more human and relatable. To contrast with the darker, more serious scenes – by having comedic moments we appreciate the drama all the more.
The knowledge that I wanted Marlowe to be the author of the whole play (I dislike it when someone comes along and modifies a piece of art, or when people claim that someone altered it because it was too good to be true) made me dig deeper in order to discover anything more sensible. In scene five, Mephastophilis spoke eight lines in response to a question from Faustus, which are as follows:
– Faustus. First, what are you?
– Mephastophilis. I am an angel sent from Heaven
– Faustus. Why was I not made an angel?
– Mephastophilis. Thou art not dignified enough to be an angel
These lines give me a much better understanding of Doctor Faustus. It shows that even though Doctor Faustus has made a deal with the devil, he is still trying to figure out what is going on and why he can’t be an angel. This makes him more human and relatable to the audience. It also makes the scenes where Doctor Faustus is talking to Mephastophilis more interesting because we are able to see both sides of the conversation. Doctor Faustus is trying to understand what is going on, while Mephastophilis is trying to convince him that this is the better deal.
These lines also give us a better understanding of Mephistopheles. In these lines, we see that Mephistopheles is trying to be persuasive and convincing. He is trying to make Doctor Faustus believe that this is the better deal. This helps the audience understand why Doctor Faustus makes the deal with the devil in the first place.
The fact that these lines are spoken by Mephastophilis in response to a question from Faustus also shows us that Doctor Faustus is still curious about what is going on and why he can’t be an angel. This makes Doctor Faustus more relatable to the audience because we can see that he is still trying to figure out what is going on.
Overall, I think these lines help us understand both Doctor Faustus and Mephistopheles better and make the scenes between them more interesting.