No, this is not a blog about vampires or werewolves, but it is about magical forces…
I speak, of course, about Marlowe’s ‘Doctor Faustus’. My first glance at this play started off a bit rocky. Doctor Faustus appears to be a typical medicine man, hungry to learn and discover more. He is a man of faith, and seems to be about as typical as characters get. PLOT TWIST. Enter Magic Talk and Angels.
Things escalate pretty quickly from here on out. I think one of the topics that stand out to me appears to be discontentment, and thirst for power. Faustus is simply not satisfied with an earthly life, and completely betrays his faith. Rather than ‘serve’ God, he wants to ‘BE’ God. Ring a bell? No one would be more familiar with that feeling than the Prince of Hell himself, Lucifer.
So now we have Faustus selling his soul to Satan via a blood-oath, and if that is not extreme enough, as Faustus starts to feel buyer’s remorse, he is given the chance by God to return to his faith, and break the oath with Satan.
I think this is a very climactic turn of events in the story because it pits God and Satan against eachother, Revelations style.
I suppose what jumps out to me the most so far in this play is that the play really hits a lot of big controversies and topics. While reading, I found I could relate to some of Faustus’ desires and confusions, but also wanted to whack him in the head a few times and yell at him to clue in!
This blog post is really a verbal spewing of what I have observed so far, and hopefully the lecture and our seminar will bring to light things that went over my head!
– Megan
You’ve picked up on what was for me a big theme in this play–the battle, in a way, between God and Lucifer, which plays out in Faustus’ own head. He starts off being a servant of God, one might think, having gotten a degree in theology and teaching that subject to others. But then he gives up God, ostensibly to have more power for himself, but ends up being a servant to Lucifer instead. He just traded one authority for another, and in the second half of the play or so goes back and forth between them a bit, wanting God then being dragged back by Lucifer or Mephastophilis, the good and evil angels representing his wavering back and forth, perhaps. Lucifer may have gotten some power for himself, at least, by turning away from God; Faustus seems not to have gotten much at all in the end. As I may have mentioned on Friday (can’t recall!) I see a strong theme of power/authority, obedience and rebellion in this play!
I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic.
I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
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