Welcome to the World of Doctor Faustus!
Welcome! Today we are diving into one of the most famous plays ever written: Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. If you’ve ever heard the phrase "making a deal with the devil," this is the story that defined it!
This play is part of your Pre-1900 Drama section. It’s important because it explores huge questions that we still ask today: How much power is too much? Is it better to be safe or to be brilliant? And what happens when we ignore the "Terms and Conditions" of our own lives? Don't worry if the 16th-century language feels a bit strange at first—underneath the fancy words, it’s a high-stakes thriller about a man who wants it all.
1. The Big Picture: Context (AO3)
To understand Faustus, we need to know what was happening in the world when Marlowe wrote it (around 1588–1592). Think of this as the "setting" for the audience's brain.
The Renaissance and the "New Man"
During the Renaissance, people started moving away from just following the Church and began celebrating human potential. Faustus is the ultimate Renaissance Man—he’s brilliant in medicine, law, and philosophy, but he’s bored. He wants to be like a God. Analogy: Imagine a student who has already gotten 100% in every single subject and is so bored they decide to hack into the world's most dangerous computer system just to see if they can.
The Reformation and Religion
England had recently become Protestant. This meant there was a huge focus on individual conscience and the idea of predestination (the belief that God has already decided if you are going to Heaven or Hell). This creates a lot of tension in the play: Is Faustus choosing to be bad, or was he always going to fail?
The Great Chain of Being
People believed in a strict social and spiritual hierarchy: God at the top, then Angels, then Humans, then Animals. By practicing magic, Faustus is trying to "break" the chain and jump above his station. In the 1590s, this wasn't just "cool magic"—it was terrifying and dangerous.
Quick Review: - Renaissance: Focus on human power and knowledge. - Reformation: Focus on the individual's relationship with God. - Great Chain of Being: The "natural order" Faustus breaks.
Key Takeaway: Faustus isn't just a "bad guy"; he represents the excitement and the danger of a world that was rapidly changing its ideas about science and religion.
2. Plot and Structure (AO2)
The play follows a Linear Structure, but it’s famous for its "middle section" which can feel very different from the beginning and end.
The Tragic Arc
1. The Beginning: Faustus rejects traditional studies and signs a contract with the devil (Lucifer) in his own blood. 2. The Middle: Faustus travels the world with his demon servant, Mephistopheles. He plays pranks on the Pope and impresses Emperors. 3. The End: The 24 years are up. Faustus realizes his mistake but is too afraid/proud to repent. He is dragged down to Hell.
The "Comic Relief" Scenes
You’ll notice scenes with lower-class characters like Wagner and Robin who also try to do magic. Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't ignore these "funny" scenes! They are there to mock Faustus. If a servant can do "magic" to get a free drink, it makes Faustus’s "grand" magic look cheap and silly.
Did you know? In the original performances, legend says that real demons once appeared on stage because the actors used "real" magic spells! It was the 16th-century version of a 4D horror movie.
3. Key Characters (AO1 & AO2)
Doctor Faustus
He is our Tragic Hero. He has a Hamartia (a fatal flaw), which is Hubris (excessive pride). He thinks he is smarter than God. Memory Aid: Think of the Icarus myth. Icarus flew too close to the sun with wax wings; they melted, and he fell. Marlowe explicitly mentions this in the Prologue!
Mephistopheles
He is a devil, but he is surprisingly honest. He tells Faustus that Hell is not just a place, but a state of mind. He says: "Why this is hell, nor am I out of it." He is like a mirror, reflecting Faustus's own darkness back at him.
The Good and Evil Angels
These are Externalised Conflicts. Instead of just having Faustus think to himself, Marlowe puts his "inner voices" on stage so the audience can see the battle for his soul.
Key Takeaway: Faustus is his own worst enemy. Mephistopheles doesn't actually force him to do anything; Faustus chooses his path every step of the way.
4. Key Themes and Symbols
1. Knowledge vs. Wisdom
Faustus has plenty of Knowledge (facts, spells, logic), but zero Wisdom (understanding the consequences). Analogy: Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. Faustus puts the "devil" in his fruit salad.
2. Power and Corruption
Faustus says he wants to use magic to wall all of Germany in brass and change the world. But what does he actually do? He hits the Pope on the head and makes a pair of horns grow on a knight. He wastes his infinite power on trivial (unimportant) jokes.
3. Sin, Redemption, and Repentance
The play asks: Is it ever too late to say sorry? The Old Man appears at the end to tell Faustus he can still be saved, but Faustus believes his sin is too big for God to forgive. This is the ultimate sin of Despair.
Key Term: Soliloquy A speech where a character speaks their thoughts aloud to the audience. Faustus's final soliloquy is one of the most famous in literature. He watches the clock tick down to midnight, showing his absolute terror.
5. Different Interpretations (AO5)
To get the top marks, you need to show that people can see the play in different ways!
View 1: The Moral Lesson (Orthodox View) The play is a warning: If you turn away from God and practice "forbidden" science, you will go to Hell. The ending is just and fair.
View 2: The Heroic Rebel (Renaissance View) Faustus is a hero who is "punished" by a cruel system just for wanting to know more. He is a martyr for human curiosity.
View 3: The Psychological Breakdown Hell isn't a literal place with pitchforks; the play is about a man suffering from a mental breakdown or extreme guilt. The "demons" are just his own fears.
6. Summary and Quick Review
Don't forget these "Magic" Tips for your exam:
- Look at the Language: Marlowe uses Blank Verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter). When Faustus is serious, the poetry is beautiful. When he is being "silly" or doing low magic, the characters often speak in Prose (ordinary speech).
- Blood as a Motif: Faustus writes the contract in blood; his blood congeals (hardens) to try and stop him; at the end, he sees Christ's blood streaming in the firmament. It represents his life and his soul.
- Stagecraft: Remember this is a play! Mention the use of props (the daggers, the books), sound effects (thunder), and visuals (the Seven Deadly Sins parade).
Final Key Takeaway: Doctor Faustus is a tragedy of waste. He sells his eternal soul for 24 years of party tricks. When writing your essay, always ask: "Was it worth it?"