Assignment
Name :- Nirali Makvana
Class :- M. A Sem 1
Roll no. :- 21
Paper :- The Renaissance literature
Topic :- Various themes of the play " Dr. Faustus "
Submitted to :- Department of English ( Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar university )
Batch :- 2019 - 21
Enrollment no.:- 2069108420200023
☆ Brief introduction about author :-
Christopher Marlowe
The great Poet, Playwright and translator of the Elizabethan age, Christopher Marlowe is famous for his play, " Dr. Faustus ", " Hero and Leander." He was born in 1564 in London and died in 1593 in England. Marlowe is also great for his writing style. He used Blank Verse in all his plays. His characters or protagonists are overreaching. He is only two months older than Shakespeare. All his plays were successful and performed on the stage. His first play is, " Dido, Queen of Carthage."
His other famous works are:
• " The Jew of Malta "
• " Edward the Second "
• " The Massacre at Paris "
• " Dr. Faustus "
• " Tamburlaine the great "
☆ Various themes of Dr. Faustus :-
☆ Sin, Redemption and Damnation :-
First of all, we can define the play, " Dr. Faustus " as Christian play because christianity defines sin as contrary to the will of God. Choosing the way of Lucifer Dr. Faustus himself choose the path of sin. He does not follow the rules of God but egotistically he renounces obedience to him choosing the way of devil or hell rather than God or heaven. In christianity there is belief that worst deed can be forgiven through the redemptive power of Jesus christ. So, for there is an open door for Dr. Faustus to repent his terrible act and also Good Angel and Old man are on the shoulder of Dr. Faustus for suggesting turn in right way but there are countless moments which the play offers to Dr. Faustus but that is Dr. Faustus's own decision for doing so.
In every moment in the play Dr. Faustus thinks to be and he remain loyal to hell rather than rest in heaven and stay with God. In the christianity, this turning away from God condemns him to spend eternally in hell. In the last scene of the play Dr. Faustus wants to repent and he urged God for forgiveness it is too late. There are some moments in the play for Dr. Faustus but he incapable for doing so. In whole over Play Christopher Marlowe used the dramatic power out of the box and put some amazing moments that is quite different than the entire play. In the last scene of the play he put the character of Dr. Faustus totally different than in the beginning of the play. Dr. Faustus spend his ending moments in quite a different universe. Where a redemption is no longer possible and also certain sin can not be forgiven.
☆Conflict between Medieval and Renaissance Values :-
Scholar R. M Dawkins famously remarked that Dr. Faustus tells,
" The story of a Renaissance man who had to pay the Medieval price for being one. "
In the simplistic way this quotation does get the chance to become the central theme and also the heart of the play Dr. Faustus: The clash between the Renaissance and the Medieval world. The Medieval play always put God in the centre and the world of nature. The Renaissance moments began in the 15th century in Italy and spread all over the Europe. There is scientific inquiries into the nature of the world and carrying with a new emphasis on the individual and on Classical learning. In the Renaissance there is secular matters in the center stage and in the Medieval theology was the queen of Science. Dr. Faustus wants to being a magician and wants to receive more knowledge and power rather than being a scientist , obvious rejects the Medieval model.
In the beginning of the play Dr. Faustus goes every fields like field of Scholarship, law, theology, Galen on medicine justinian on law, the Bible on religion theology etc. But he rejects the Medieval way of looking and thinking. He resolves in full Renaissance spirit, there is no limits for quest for wealth, tradition, quest for power and knowledge. In short we can say that Christopher Marlowe keeps Dr. Faustus as tragic hero in the Medieval world, where damnation is the price of human pride. He seems hostile toward Dr. Faustus and R. M Dawkins note. Through this whole play may be Marlowe wants to suggesting modern spirit, glittering, will lead to a Faustian dead end.
☆ Power as a corrupting influence :-
Dr. Faustus choose the path of hell with Lucifer, at that time he has full of ideas that where, when and how to use the power that he seeks. He imagined for being great and receive more wealth and he also wants to remake the map of Europe. His horizon become narrow and he wishes that one he gains more power, knowledge and wealth he will become great and he will do whatever he wants. Everything is possible to him. He used his magic to play practical jokes on simple folks. His behaviour is totally changed after hardly he sells his soul. His soul rises to the level of true wickedness. After transforming his boundless into meaningless delight in petty celebrity there is no use of his corrupt power and wealth as well as knowledge also. After gaining knowledge he feels that he gains the power of the whole world and knowledge of everything, he doesn't know where he can use these all.
☆ The Divided nature of Man :-
In the beginning of the play Dr. Faustus is in big confusion that whether he should return in the path of God or continue to follow the path of Lucifer. His internal struggle goes on whole play. Good Angle, Bad Angle and Old man gives their view to Dr. Faustus. He thinks for a part of to do good and serve God or lust after the power that Mephastophilis promises. Good Angle and Bad Angle are symbolizing his struggle. May be these two Angles as an actual pair of supernatural being. They clearly represent Faustus's divided will.
☆ The theme of Wisdom and knowledge :-
In the beginning of the play " Dr. Faustus " Christopher Marlowe gives information about the knowledge of Faustus. He has enough knowledge of all fields like Theology, Philosophy, Science, Mathematics etc. Yet he wants to become more knowledgeable and wealthy. It is a hamartia of Dr. Faustus. His lust for more power, he uses magic not only for knowledge and power but forbidden knowledge it promises to reveal to him. After gaining knowledge at the end of the play, he doesn't care about it. In the play religion plays a big role. Religion follows Dr. Faustus step by step in the play very slowly. We only thinks that how religion is very important in the life of Dr. Faustus but we can not help him. He can not escape in the role of religion.
☆ Theme of the Supernatural :-
Magical power is the Supernatural thing in the play Dr. Faustus. Because Faustus use it to become more knowledgeable as God and more wealthier as king. When the exact time came. He used his power in a totally wrong way. He uses it to make the images of dead people appear in order to amuse himself and his friend and also with peasants who had nothing to do with him.
☆ Flash and Spirit :-
The difference between spirit and flash was stronger in Greek and in Hebrew thought but christianity adopted this thought in its belief. Western brought this concept granted while Buddhist and Hindus belief in life after death. In Christianity Flesh and Spirit are divided to value the later and devalue the former. In the play Dr. Faustus values his flesh after sold his soul.
☆ To Conclude :-
Thus, the above information we can Conclude that Dr. Faustus is a great tragic play written by Christopher Marlowe in the Renaissance age. We find out renaissance characteristics in this play. Through the character of Faustus Christopher Marlowe draw the picture of renaissance man. His lust for more power and knowledge and also wealth. Through this we can imagine lusty nature of man. This is a writing style of Christopher Marlowe, for what he is famous in Renaissance literature. Also he put the point of Religion and tried to describe the mentality of people toward religion. He wants to give the message to society's people how lust is dangerous throughput very beautiful scene of seven deadly scenes. There was belief in christianity that God forgives the man if he repent through voice in front of God. But there is not any scene in play where God is. Faustus wants to repent but at the end of play. Before he has the opportunity to change his path but he didn't. So it is too late. This is writing style of Christopher Marlowe. Through these various themes he beautifully describes the play, " Dr. Faustus " and his character as well as the religion also.
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