About The Author:
Christopher
Marlow was born in Canterbury in 1564. He was great Actor, Playwright, Poet and
was in the lead of 16th century dramatic renaissance. He was
believed to be stabbed to death in Dept ford. His plays are known foe blank
verses.
Dr. Faustus:
Interesting Facts about Doctor Faustus is that it is exists in 2 version ( the first is a shorted version and was published in 1604; second is more preferred and more
than 1.000 line longer and has simple- minded comedy. No other Elizabethan play
caused more controversy than Doctor Faustus. The play is based on a Medieval
legend, (German Legend of Faust). It was written in 1590s in England. It was
written in early 1590s in England. It was first published as The Tragically History of D. Faustus Then it
was changed to The Tragically History the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus.
Characters:
1) Dr. Faustus: A German scholar, who is unsatisfied with the limits of knowledge and decides to
learn magic.
2) Mephistopheles: A
devil, who was summoned by Dr. Faustus.
3) Valdes
and Comellius: Friends of Dr. Faustus who teaches Dr. Faustus about the black
arts.
4) Wagner and his demon, Robin:
They give the low comic relief during the melancholic mood of the play.
Themes:
1) The
Good and Bad in Human: Two angels appear early in the play. The good angel
tells Faustus to repent and serve God, but the evil angel tells him to sell his
soul to gain power.
2) Rejection
of Medieval: Faustus changes his way of
thinking from Medieval to Renaissance. He believes in possibility in human, to
seek more knowledge, wealth and power.
3) Corruption
of Power: At the start of the play, Faustus has his big plan of becoming
wealthy, and remaking the map of Europe. But after he sells his soul to a
devil, his ambition has turn into mediocre and meaningless pleasure of playing
tricks on people.
So,
one of the many themes that this play has is magic and sin and how they work
hand and hand. Dr Faustus want for magic all started from his sinful greed that
he wanted to have power ( Marlow).
Blood
is a symbol in the play because it is what De. Faustus used to sign his deal
with the devil. The blood is the start of the end of his life (Marlow).
Dr.
Faustus summons Mephistopheles using his black magic. Even though Mephistopheles warns about hell, Faustus tells Mephistopheles to return to
Lucifer with his offer of Faustus’s soul in exchange of Mephistopheles
service for 24 years. Then Mephistopheles returns to Faustus with the
acceptance from his master, Lucifer. Faustus doubts about his offer to Lucifer
and starts to wonder about repenting to save his soul, however in the end he
agrees to the deal.
Faustus
travels around the world with his great power and Mephistopheles on his side
to assist. During his journey, he goes to various places and performs tricks to
the audiences.
As
the time passes by and the 24 years of his deal with the Lucifer draws near, he
shudders in the terror of his death. Even though Faustus could have repented,
he decides not to. On the last night, Faustus begs for mercy but his soul is
carried off to hell.
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