Doctor Faustus

Definition

Doctor Faustus is a tragic play written by Christopher Marlowe in the late 16th century, centered around the character of Dr. Faustus, a scholar who makes a pact with the devil in exchange for magical powers and worldly knowledge. The play explores themes of ambition, the quest for knowledge, and the consequences of overreaching, which are key features of Renaissance drama and reflect the period's fascination with humanism and individual potential.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Doctor Faustus was first published in 1604 and is considered one of the first English tragedies that focuses on an individual’s internal conflict.
2. The play emphasizes the Renaissance conflict between medieval scholasticism and emerging humanist ideals, as Faustus turns away from traditional knowledge in favor of dark magic.
3. Faustus's pact with Lucifer grants him 24 years of service from Mephistopheles but ultimately leads to his despair and eternal damnation.
4. Key scenes highlight Faustus's internal struggle, particularly moments where he contemplates repentance but ultimately succumbs to his desires for power and knowledge.
5. The play features various allegorical characters like Good Angel and Bad Angel, who symbolize Faustus's moral struggle between salvation and damnation.

Review Questions

• How does Doctor Faustus reflect the themes of ambition and the pursuit of knowledge characteristic of Renaissance drama?
  • Doctor Faustus embodies the Renaissance spirit through its exploration of ambition and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Faustus's desire to transcend human limitations leads him to forsake conventional scholarship for necromancy, highlighting the tension between human potential and moral boundaries. This reflects broader Renaissance ideals where individuals sought to expand their understanding and capabilities, often at great personal cost.
• Discuss the significance of Faustus's internal conflict between desire for power and fear of damnation in the context of Renaissance thought.
  • Faustus's internal conflict showcases the complexities of Renaissance thought, where enlightenment comes with existential risks. His struggle between the allure of magical power and the terror of eternal damnation highlights the era's grappling with moral questions amidst newfound intellectual freedom. This duality underscores how Renaissance individuals wrestled with their ambitions while being aware of traditional religious beliefs that warned against hubris.
• Analyze how Doctor Faustus serves as a critique of Renaissance humanism by depicting the consequences of unchecked ambition.
  • Doctor Faustus critiques Renaissance humanism by illustrating that unchecked ambition can lead to catastrophic results. While humanism celebrates human potential and knowledge, Marlowe warns that striving beyond one's limits can result in alienation from divine grace. The tragic ending serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of overreaching, suggesting that a balance must be struck between ambition and moral integrity, a reflection on both the potential and peril inherent in humanism.

Related terms

Hubris: Excessive pride or self-confidence that often leads to a character's downfall, particularly evident in Faustus's ambition to attain god-like knowledge.

Tragedy: A dramatic genre that presents the downfall of a noble character due to a personal flaw or fate, exemplified by Faustus's tragic choices and ultimate demise.

Morality Play: A genre of medieval drama that conveys moral lessons, which influenced Doctor Faustus through its exploration of sin, redemption, and moral choices.