Satan and Dr. Faustus, overreachers in their own different ways - Term Paper Example

In Paradise Lost, it is seen that Satan had to exercise his own will, and this was in contrary to the will of God, “thou against his thy will/ chose freely” (Eliot, 8). All creatures of God who fall in Paradise Lost are “sufficient to have stood, though free to fall (Fluchereand Henri, 32). Festus a man, who is brilliant, tends to have reached the natural knowledge limits. He is an early sixteenth century scholar in Wittenburg, the German city (Gregg, 5). He is fiery, arrogant and has a thirst for knowledge.

Faustus as an intellectual, who is familiar with issues such as demon astrology and summoning that is usually not taken to be an academic subjects by the current universities. It is seen that Faustus makes a decision of selling his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and earthly power as well as 24 years as an additional life (Sachs and Ariel, 31). He goes on to waste his time on low tricks and self-indulgence. Faustus is seen to be the key character in the play, which consists of few characters that are seen to be truly developed.

From the Hebrew, destroyer, mephitz and liar, tophel, Cunning and Craft devil. He is the devil who appears at the summoning of Faustus', as well as the devil that has the role of serving Faustus for a period of 24 years. In Mephostophilis, also referred to as Miphostophiles or Mephistopheles, as well as Mephisto, tends to be a latecomer in the recognized demons’ hierarchy. He was created possibly for the legend, Faustus.      In the play of Marlowe, Mephostophilis is seen to have layers to his own personality.

He broadly admits that ‘‘separation from God is anguish,’’ and is capable of pain and fear. But he is known to be a gleefully evil, who participates at every level in the destruction Faustus. Not only does Mephostophilis influence Faustus to go on to sell his soul; but he as well encourages him to waste his 24 years of power. It is also seen that the Servant to Faustus steals the books of Faustus and learns how he can summon demons. He tends to be concerned about the fate of his master at the end of the play.

Inner turmoil of Faustus suggests contradicting advice to him at major points. Their characters as well reflect the belief of Christian that humans have been assigned guardian angels, and in this context, the devil has the capacity of influencing the human thoughts. Satan. "Lucifer" original known as Venus, refers to the brilliance of the planet. In Christian context, Lucifer is sometimes believed to be another name of Satan. Some traditions believe that Lucifer was the name of Satan before the fall, while the Catholic Church Fathers held that Lucifer was not the proper name of Satan but instead a word indicating a the beauty and brilliance of his station before the fall.

He appears at a few choice moments in Doctor Faustus, and Marlowe uses "Lucifer" as Satan's proper name (Weil, Judith and Marlowe, 14). Satan broadly admits that God created him, and he was seen denying this at other occasions, and he never rebelled due to God was unjust, but because his ambition caused him to desire to overreach his place. More so, he is seen to admit that he was at will in choosing that his pride forbids him to repent. Furthermore, if he might repent, later his ambition might again result to a rebellion as well as