Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus is a tragedy about the title character’s descent into damnation. Faustus is a brilliant scholar, but he is also arrogant and greedy. He makes a deal with the devil, Mephistopheles, in exchange for unlimited knowledge and power. However, Faustus eventually realizes that he has traded his soul for nothing.
The Doctor is a complex character who embodies many different values. He is a hero, but he is also flawed. The Doctor often faces moral dilemmas, and he does not always make the right choices. Like Faustus, the Doctor is sometimes tempted by dark forces. However, he ultimately strives to do what is right.
Both the Doctor and Faustus are tragic figures. They are both capable of great good, but they are also prone to error. Ultimately, their flaws lead to their downfall. The Doctor and Faustus are both fascinating characters with many layers to them. They provide a unique perspective on the nature of good and evil.
In Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, the protagonist, Dr. Faustus, is torn between God and Lucifer. Although he appears to be a contradiction in himself, Faustus is capable of great eloquence and willful blindness. His pride prevents him from seeing reality as it is. Faustus fails to recognize that there is life after death because to his egotistical attitude. Faustus is engaged in an internal theological battle for knowledge or salvation.
As a doctor, Faustus is skilled in the art of healing and is known for his miraculous cures. He has the ability to save lives, yet he is willing to give them up in exchange for power. Faustus wants to be able to do whatever he pleases without any consequences and this desire ultimately leads to his downfall. In the end, Faustus realizes that he has been misled by Lucifer and repents his sins. He calls out for God’s mercy, but it is too late and he dies in horror.
The Doctor represents many of the same values as Faustus. He is intelligent and knowledgeable with a strong sense of curiosity. The Doctor is also capable of great compassion and is often driven by his need to help others. However, the Doctor does not always make the right choices and sometimes resorts to violence in order to protect those he cares for. He is willing to take risks and has a strong sense of justice.
The Doctor and Faustus share many of the same values, but ultimately choose different paths. The Doctor remains true to his values and eventually repents his wrongdoings, while Faustus allows himself to be consumed by his own desires. In the end, it is clear that the Doctor is the victor as he embodies the Christian virtues of redemption and salvation.
The main theme of the play, as revealed by Faustus’ inner conflict, is medieval ethics versus Renaissance principles. The tragic fate of Faustus serves not only as a lesson to others but also as an act of retribution for the age-old cliché “too little too late.” Marlowe’s depiction of Faustus leads one to see social duality in Elizabethan England, when Medieval beliefs clashed with those of the Renai period. Marlowe uses the chorus at the opening of his play to tell time, place, and most significantly, to introduce Faustus.
Faustus is a renowned scholar and yet, he was not content with what he had learned. He makes a deal with the devil in order to gain more knowledge. Faustus’s decision to defy God also shows his rejection of traditional values that are upheld by the church. Faustus epitomizes the Renaissance ideal in which an individual is able to question authority and think for themselves.
Faustus does not blindly follow what the church tells him to do; instead, he uses reason and logic to come to his own conclusions. Additionally, Faustus has a great thirst for knowledge; he is not content with what he knows but wants to learn more. This is another characteristic of the Renaissance ideal in which individuals are constantly seeking new knowledge and expanding their horizons. In the beginning of the play, Faustus is able to hold onto his soul but eventually succumbs to Mephistopheles’s temptations.
Faustus’s decision to give up his soul shows how he is willing to let go of traditional values in order to pursue new ones. He is no longer content with what he knows and wants to learn more, even if it means forsaking his soul. Ultimately, Faustus’s downfall comes from trying to have it both ways; he wants the benefits of the Renaissance without giving up his soul. Faustus is a victim of his own desires and ultimately pays the price for his choices. Christopher Marlowe uses Faustus as a symbol for the duality in society of his era.
On one hand, there are the traditional Medieval values that are upheld by the church. On the other hand, there are the new Renaissance ideals that encourage individuals to think for themselves and expand their horizons. Faustus chooses to side with the Renaissance ideals but ultimately pays the price for his decision. Marlowe’s play is a warning to all about the dangers of rejecting traditional values in favor of new ones. Christopher Marlowe uses Doctor Faustus as a symbol for the duality in society during the Renaissance era.
Faustus represents the conflict between Medieval values and Renaissance ideals. In the beginning of the play, Faustus upholds traditional Medieval values but eventually succumbs to the temptations of the Renaissance. Faustus is a victim of his own desires and pays the price for his choices. Marlowe’s play is a warning to all about the dangers of rejecting traditional values in favor of new ones. Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus is a tragedy because Faustus’s downfall comes from trying to have it both ways.
The chorus likens Faustus to the Greek myth of Icarus in terms of his character – “Till swoll’n with craft, by self-conceit,/ His waxen wings did mount above his grasp/ And melting heavens conspired his downfall!” (Prologue. 19-21). “His waxen wings did mount above his reach” is an ironic comparison between Icarus and Faustus. It is ironical because it suggests that Icarus disregards his father directly. However, in the case of Faustus, being excessively learned was considered a crime.
Faustus is similar to Lucifer in his quest for knowledge and disregard for moral law. In the end, Faustus suffers a similar fate as Icarus and Lucifer. Faustus’s disregard for moral law can be seen early on when he tries to summon Mephistopheles. Faustus makes a deal with the devil, which is inherently evil.
The agreement between Faustus and Mephistopheles is that Faustus will serve the devil for 24 years. In return, Mephistopheles will give Faustus whatever he desires. This contract sets the tone for the rest of the play because it shows that Faustus is willing to do anything, including making deals with the devil, to get what he wants.
