Skip to main content

"Doctor Faustus" - Christopher Marlowe

“Doctor Faustus” – Christopher Marlowe



The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, commonly referred to simply as “Doctor Faustus”, is an Elizabethan tragedy by Christopher Marlowe.

Christopher Marlowe (1564 – 1593) was an English playwright, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era. He energized the manner and matter of the drama – by his revitalizing power and Imagination.

Doctor Faustus is learned men who has desire to become demi-god and sells his soul to devil in order to gain power. His pride then leads him to his downfall

This drama is based on the myth of father Daedalus and the son Icarus.
Father  Daedalus prepares waxen wings for his son Icarus , but warns him not to go near the sun . In the same way , we see that Dr.Faustus wants to become Demi-God by learning the art of necromancy . God in different form warns him . Even the devil Mephistophilis  also warns him :
   “ O Faustus , leave the  frivolous demands
      Which strikes a terror to my fainting soul. “  - ( Act 1 - scene 2)

Dr.Faustus misuses his art in doing silly things . His hubris is the cause of his downfall . Likewise , Icarus in great enthusiasm flies near the sun, despite of his father’s warning   and this causes his downfall.
Father  Daedalus  remains helpless . He saw the downfall of his son but couldn’t help him . Similarly , the God in various form couldn’t help Dr.Faustus.

A question might arise after reading this drama, whether god is present in this play or not.
Yes, the God is very much present in the play , even though  he never appears as a character , but he is there in the mind of the characters .
   We find God in the form of Good Angel , who warns Dr.Faustus to leave his desire to learn necromancy :
         “ O Faustus , lay that damned book aside ,
            And gaze not on it lest it tempt thy soul “  -  (Act 1- scene 1)

Good Angel also urges him to repent :
          “ Faustus , repent, yet God will pity thee “  -( Act 2 - scene 2)

If we say that Good Angel symbolises voice of his conscience, then where does this voice comes from ? It comes from within. That means there is some kind of spirituality in Faustus.
In the Act 1 , we also find that Dr.Faustus had studied the Divinity which shows that there is a spiritual aspect  somewhere in him .   

                 We also see God’s sign in the play. When Dr.Faustus signs the contract with his blood, suddenly the blood congeals and he finds something written in Latin..... “HOMO FUGE ‘’. It means ‘’ O Man Fly ‘’. It was a warning to Faustus not to sign the bond:
       ‘’ Homo Fuge! Whither should I flie ?
          If unto God , he’ll , throw me down to hell.
          My senses are deceive’d : here’s nothing writ ! ‘’  -( Act 2 - scene 1)

                    We can also find presence of the God in form of the Old Man. He is seen in the last part of the play. It can be said that it was the last try by the God to save Faustus . He urges Faustus to repent:
        “ O stay , good Faustus , stay thy desperate steps !
           I see an angel  hovers   o’er  thy  head ,
          And  with a vial full of precious grace ,
         Offers  to  pour  the same  into  thy  soul,
         Then  call for mercy and  avoid   despair  “ – ( Act 5 - scene 1)

A question might arise that if God is present, why does evil wins. God tries to help Faustus in one or the other way. Faustus’s thinks he is powerful. His hubris is the reason of his downfall. Despite of many warnings, he doesn’t stop. And when he realises it is too late.

 Every coin has two sides, but we cannot see both the side together. We see presence of Devil, but also the shadow of God in one or the other way.

It can be concluded that gaining knowledge with hard work is wise, but believing that you have gained all the knowledge is foolish.


  Reference:-
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Faustus_(play)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"RIP"; Rest in Peace those who are Alive....

Hello Friends, After a long time I am writing here. Hope you all are fine. This time I have come up with a different interpretation of the phrase “RIP”. Mostly this phrase “RIP”; Rest in Peace is used for the people who are no more. We use this phrase to give sympathy towards the departed soul. The soul may get peace wherever it travels. No one exactly knows where the soul travels. Sometimes this phrase is used out of care and sometimes just for show off on social media. While sitting alone near a cemetery, a thought struck in my mind. Why do we use RIP only for dead people????? We can also use it for those who are alive. Many time people use RIP when a person is dead. The same people might have harassed the dead person when he is alive. So what’s the point of “RIP”? Suppose in the day time you behave very badly with someone. Is he/she going to get sound and peaceful sleep at night? The dead person will never come back so we just say “RIP”. Of course ever
Post a Comment
Read more

“My friend, the things that do attain” - Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

Hello friends, I would like to share a poem which I studied during my graduation. The title of the poem is “My friend, the things that do attain”. It is written by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1516/1517 – 19 January 1547), was an English aristocrat, and one of the founders of English Renaissance poetry. MY friend, the things that do attain The happy life be these, I find: The riches left, not got with pain; The fruitful ground; the quiet mind; The equal friend; no grudge; no strife; No charge of rule, nor governance; Without disease, the healthy life; The household of continuance; The mean diet, no dainty fare; Wisdom joined with simpleness; The night discharged of all care, Where wine the wit may not oppress: The faithful wife, without debate; Such sleeps as may beguile the night; Content thyself with thine estate, Neither wish death, nor fear his might. In the above mentioned poem, there is a list
3 comments
Read more

" The Winged Word"- David Green

In my Graduation syllabus, I had a book named “ The Winged word”. This anthology is edited by David Green. It is anthology of poems compiled for the students of English literature in the B.A courses of Indian Universities. The chronological order, in which the poets are arranged in this book, helps the students to note the development of English poetry from one age to another. Referring to this book after a long time span, gives me a immense joy. There are many poems in this book. We were given some selected poems to study during three years of graduation. The poems which were in my syllabus are as follow:-    1.)   I Find No Peace – Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-42)    2.) My Friend, the Things That Do Attain –Henry Howard (1517- 47)    3.) The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd –Sir Walter Ralegh (1552-1618)    4.) The Nightingale – Sir Philip Sidney (1554- 86)    5.) Since There’s No Help – Michael Drayton (1563- 1613)    6.) Sonnet No.116 – Willi
5 comments
Read more