Dr. Faustus is an Elizabethan tragedy that was authored by Christopher Marlowe. The story highlights the life of a man who is after power and knowledge to which the lead protagonist associates with Godhood. Dr. Faustus is the lead protagonist in this play. He follows in the footsteps of Lucifer and is so full of himself due to the success and fame that he has found. He appears at the beginning of the play having a desire to learn and a master of medicine, law, logic and divinity. This can be related to the original sin of humankind in which Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit in order to be like gods. Faustus also has a desire to acquire knowledge and be like God. This represents his damning folly.
Folly may be defined as lack of prudence or foresight. Faustus actions show his foolishness and lack of judgment. For instance, Faustus makes a pact with Lucifer in an act of disobedience to God the creator. According to the Bible, even the worst of sins can be forgiven if one confesses the sins. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of man so that man can be redeemed back to God the Father. From the play, there are many instances when Faustus is urged by angels to ask for forgiveness from God. However, he maintains his loyalty to hell instead of choosing heaven. He is too proud and arrogant and the arrogance makes it difficult for him to recognize the truth in Lucifer”s words. This shows his foolishness because he is presented with an opportunity to make peace with God but he instead chooses to go with Lucifer. He does not understand the damnation that he is setting himself into. In scene III, Faustus is reminded of what awaits him together with Lucifer, “conspired against our God with Lucifer, and forever damned with Lucifer” (III, 70-72). Just like in other scenes of the story, the name of God appears few times in this scene. This is meant to highlight the influence that the dark spirits have over Faustus” life and how he has allowed these spirits to control him.
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As has been mentioned Faustus damnation results from the fact that he is trying to attain godhood yet he is a mere mortal that was created by God. This is a flaw and folly that makes it impossible for God to walk with Faustus (Cole 125). God finally places Faustus in hell. He is cheated by Lucifer to repeat the sin that Lucifer did. Dr. Faustus is continually alienating himself from God”s holy presence and damns himself while preparing himself for life in hell. Faustus even attempts to become a perverted Christ who sheds his blood. However, the difference between him and Jesus Christ is that Jesus Christ”s blood saved and redeemed mankind from sin and destruction in hell while on the other hand Faustus blood damns his own soul. This is a form of blasphemy that is practiced by Faustus (Sims 17). Faustus exhibits pride and arrogance in a mortal body. He is well aware that he is a creature but does not want to submit to his creator. In the beginning of the play, Faustus had notable ideas on acquisition of knowledge. However, the pursuit of knowledge ends up being a source of destruction for Faustus.
In conclusion Dr. Faustus is an Elizabethan tragedy that was authored by Christopher Marlowe. The story highlights the life of a man who is after power and knowledge to which the lead protagonist associates with Godhood. He is guided by the angels around him to confess his sins and ask for forgiveness. However, his pride and arrogance does not allow him to do this. His folly makes him not understand the machinations of Lucifer making him be damned to hell.
- Cole, Douglas. Christopher Marlowe and the Renaissance of Tragedy. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995.
- Marlowe, Christopher. Dr. Faustus. 1592.
- Sims, James H. Dramatic Uses of Biblical Allusions in Marlowe and Shakespeare. Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 1966.
