Key Information
Writer: Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)
Full Title of Doctor Faustus: “The Tragical History of Life and Death of Doctor Faustus”
First Performed: 1592
Published: 1604
Genre: Tragedy, Morality Play
Time Setting: 16th Century
Place Setting:
- Wittenberg, Germany
- Rome
- The Court of German Emperor Charles V
- The Palace of Duke Vanholt of Germany
Acts: 5
Themes
Themes are the main points a writer focuses on in a piece of literary work.
- Man’s Limitation and Potential
- Pride and Ambition
- Good vs Evil
- Damnation
- Knowledge and Wisdom
Characters
Doctor Faustus
A brilliant man, who seems to have reached the limits of natural knowledge. Faustus is a scholar of the early sixteenth century in the German city of Wittenberg. He is arrogant, fiery, and possesses a thirst for knowledge. Faustus decides to sell his soul to the devil in exchange for earthly power and knowledge and an additional 24 years of life. He proceeds to waste this time on self-indulgence and low tricks.
Faustus is the absolute center of the play, which has few truly developed characters.
Mephistopheles
A devil of craft and cunning. He is the devil who comes at Faustus’ summoning, and the devil who serves Faustus for 24 years. Not only does Mephistopheles get Faustus to sell his soul; but he also encourages Faustus to waste his twenty-four years of power.
Wagner
Servant to Faustus. He steals Faustus’ books and learns how to summon demons.
Good Angel and Evil Angel
Personifications of Faustus’ inner turmoil, who give differing advice to him at key points.
Valdes and Cornelius
Friends to Faustus, who teach him the dark arts. They appear only in Act One.
Lucifer
Satan. He appears at a few choice moments in Doctor Faustus, and Marlowe uses “Lucifer” as Satan’s proper name.
Beelzebub
One of Lucifer’s officers. A powerful demon.
Clown/Robin
Robin learns demon-summoning by stealing one of Faustus’ books. He is the chief character in a number of scenes that provide comic relief from the main story.
English Summary: Dr. Faustus is a tragedy play by Christopher Marlowe. The play depicts the tragic fate of the main character, Dr. Faustus.
[The Summary is written in points to help you remember easily]
- Faustus learns sorcery and surrenders to Satan
- Misuse of witchcraft
- The tragic fate of Faustus
1. Faustus learns sorcery and surrenders to Satan
Dr. Faustus is a highly educated and respected man from Germany. He is extremely knowledge-hungry. From the beginning of the play, it can be seen that he wants to gain knowledge in all worldly matters. First, he studied logic, then medicine, law, and theology one by one. But still, his thirst is not quenched. He wants to go above and beyond and learn more. He then decides to learn magic under the guidance of his two friends, Valdes and Cornelius. In this situation, Good Angel and Bad Angel appear before him and explain to him the pros and cons of witchcraft. The Good Angel advises him to study the Bible. Bad Angel on the other hand asks him to stick to his decision to fulfill his wish i.e. learn magic. He ignores the Good Angel and accepts the Bad Angel’s advice. The Good Angel and Bad Angel are also the representation of Faustus’ conscience and conflicted mind.
Faustus then learns some magic knowledge from a book of magic, and through it, he introduces Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles appears and asks the reason for calling him. Then Faustus says that he wants to have infinite power. Upon learning this, Mephistopheles warns him of the dire consequences of this sorcery. But Faustus does not back down. Instead, knowing everything, he takes refuge in Satan’s leader, Lucifer. Mephistopheles then declares that he will serve Faustus as long as he lives. But in order to get this loyalty, Faustus has to accept one condition. Under that condition, Faustus must surrender his soul to Satan, and in return, Mephistopheles will serve Faustus for 24 years. But when this contract expires Faustus will meet a horrific and gruesome death. Doctor Faustus hesitates at first but becomes so eager to learn magic that he agrees to Mephistopheles’ terms.
According to the agreement, first Dr. Faustus will join Satan’s group and rebel against the Gods. Second, Mephistopheles will always obey Faustus. Third, Faustus will be given whatever he wants. Fourth, Mephistopheles will always be invisible in Faustus’ room. Finally, Mephistopheles appears before Faustus when he wishes. The term also states that after 24 years Satan will take over both his soul and body.
However, Faustus signs the contract without giving it a second thought. Although he feels a little frightened, he does not hesitate when Mephistopheles presents him with a book of magic. Then Faustus asks Mephistopheles various questions and he answers them all. He cannot answer only one, and that is who created the universe. At this stage, he hesitates again. And then Mephistopheles and Lucifer present him with a show of the Seven Deadly Sins. These are pride, lust/lechery, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth, and covetousness/greed.
Pride — This is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. ‘Pride’ hates to introduce his mother. He is like a fly. He can fly anywhere and kiss any woman on the lips.
Covetousness/Greed — Covetousness is the second deadly sin among the seven. Greed was born in the womb of an old. He always wishes that everything becomes gold.
Wrath — Wrath has no parents. He was born in hell. He believes he was thrown from the lion’s mouth before he was half an hour old. He is always ready to fight. Wounds itself when no opponent is found.
Envy — Envy’s father was a chimney sweep and his mother an oyster picker. He wants all the books of the world to be burnt. Watching someone else eat makes him thin. He wants everyone dead except him.
Gluttony (Gluttony) — Gluttony also has no parents alive. His parents left him nothing. With what is left, one can have 30 meals throughout the day and 10 light snacks. His grandfather was salt pork, his grandmother was a claret jug, and his father was beef.
Sloth — ‘Sloth’ was born on a seashore. He then spreads with the help of Gluttony and Lechery.
Lechery — When asked about its identity, it says that the first letter of my name is ‘L’.
2. Misuse of Witchcraft
Faustus then begins to abuse his magic. He sets out on a journey with Mephistopheles. First, they go to a church in Rome. Arriving there, with the help of Mephistopheles, he begins to joke with the clergy and annoy everyone present in various ways. From there he travels to various royal houses in Europe. At one point, he is invited to the German royal court. King Charles V expresses his interest in seeing magic. He wants to see Alexander, the greatest ruler of the world. At his will, Faustus displays Alexander’s image. He becomes happy with it.
In another case, Faustus jokes with a businessman. Faustus sold a horse to the merchant. He warned him not to let the horse fall into the water. But the merchant did not listen to his words and let the horse into the water and immediately it disappeared. Then the merchant comes to Faustus and asks him to return his money. But he sends him away with the help of magic without returning the money.
Already, Faustus’s name for magic has spread far and wide. One day the King of Vanholt invites him to a meeting to perform magic. When he goes there, he sees the businessman. Afraid of discrediting his name, he makes the merchant dumb with his magic, so that he cannot tell anyone of Faustus’s exploits. Then the queen asks him to present grapes. But it is winter and grapes are rare at that time of the year. But Faustus makes the impossible possible with his magic. Both the king and queen become happy.
Then some scholars ask Faustus to bring Helen (the most beautiful woman in the world) with the help of magic. Faustus does so and is greatly respected.
3. Tragic fate of Faustus
Suddenly Faustus hears an old man cursing him. The old man says that Faustus will never receive the grace of Jesus Christ because of the number of sins he has committed. After hearing this, Faustus becomes distraught and thinks about how badly he has done. He felt remorse. But Mephistopheles soon begins to teach him about the pleasures of evil deeds. Faustus continues to feel very uncomfortable and says that only Helen’s presence can calm him. Mephistopheles then presents Helen and Faustus fulfills his mischievous desire by kissing her.
Meanwhile, Faustus’ contract expires. At the last moment, he realizes how many sins he has committed in this life. Thinking of this, he breaks down. Faustus’ friend tells him to pray to Jesus. By then he has lost that power too. He becomes overwhelmed with the fear of death. Just before his death, he begs God for forgiveness but by then it was too late. Satan’s followers come and take his soul out of his body and into hell. And thus ends his cursed life.
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