Doctor Faustus: Warning against Atheism or Subversion of Religious Faith - Essay Example

? Doctor Faustus Task: Doctor Faustus Doctor Faustus, who is the protagonist in this play, is a citizen of Rhodes Germany by birth. He was however brought up in Wittenberg. Here he attended top schools up to the university and excelled. He achieved much scholarly and got a doctor of letter degree in theology and divinity. He read bibles and religious books therefore could quote bible verses with ease surpassing even priests. He got well versed in Sciences, Philosophy and Humanities. As a result of this trend, Doctor Faustus got very famous and brilliant in Germany and earned himself much respect due to his prodigious acumen (Marlowe, 1969). His fame however made him grow pompous. He grew guilty because of the hubris sin, which is he became proud to gods. Doctor Faustus equaled himself to God. He gave his own soul to Lucifer in exchange of power, wealth and universe control. Christopher Marlowe limns Doctor Faustus to be foolish, one who could not do much and indulges in foolishness and debauchery. Faustus used the powers to conjure spirits in his beck and asked them to bring him women, food and good wine. He circumvented himself in pomposity, hubris and arrogance to an extent that heavens brought his downfall. He went mad and devils tore him apart (Marlowe, 2001). Christopher Marlowe mainly emphasizes on man’s essence in light to gain all but lose to the devils, his soul. Introduction Doctor Faustus is dissatisfied with traditional ways of knowledge e.g. logic, law, religion and medicine. He then opts for magic. His allies, Cornelius and Valdes orient him to black art, and Faustus summons Mephastophilis the devil. Despite Mephastophilis warning him of horrors of the hell, he proceeds and exchanges his soul for up to twenty four years. Meanwhile, one of Faustus’s servants, Wagner, picks up magical powers and uses them to press Robin, a clown, to his service (Willard, 1969). Faustus then ties a covenant with Lucifer using his blood. Sooner than later, a fly gets branded to his arm. He then experiences second thought but Mephastophilis now bestows gifts to him and a book containing spells to learn. Later on, Mephastophilis accepts to answer Faustus questions except when asked about the creator of universe. Faustus’ doubts are however made quiet. He then travels to Rome, the home of pope and plays tricks while invisible. He then goes to Europe where he meets a German emperor. As his contract with Lucifer comes close, he begins to apprehend his death (Marlowe, 2001). On the final night, he becomes remorseful and now implores for mercy, but finally dies. Warning against Atheism Doctor Faustus is better described as a warning against atheism. Atheism is the doctrine or belief that there is no God. Christopher Marlowe, in his play develops a term known as Faustian bargain. This term mainly discusses man’s belief in this myth of remaking his reality to live up to his desires. This myth is in the kernel of the western cultures (Poole, 2006). Generally, Faustian bargain implies that several people, if not all, will succumb to doing any evil activity so as to have or posses whatever they wish to. This playwright from Greek, Mister Marlowe, explodes that the fallibility of his protagonist could attribute to his rash and harsh temper. Doctor Faustus, can be classified as a tragedy. A tragic situation happen to men born in high reputation, they rise up so high, achieve high up and at the end become masters in whatever they survey. Such men mandatorily have basic flaws in their nature or characters that in future could make them fall down from their pinnacles. In most circumstances, these flaws should be of proportions of the hubris and of being proud against gods and goddesses (Hattaway, 1970). In this play, this German scholar in Wittenburg and who is very talented, Doctor Faustus, is railing against possible limits of man’s knowledge. He is able to learn anything he can, or is able to think, from all disciplines of academics. Not feeling gratified, Doctor Faustus says that he is fed up with the applications of all the disciplines he studied (Poole, 2006). He proceeds to appreciate logic saying it is a tool used for arguments; Medicine is getting unvalued, only if it can raise the dead and stop immorality; he says law is upstanding and just being above him; divinity is useless since everyone does commit sins, thus sinning being punishable through dying complicates divinity logics. He decides to turn to magic having been left unsatisfied with his entire academic prowess. To him arrives two opportunities; from one angle, described as good and angle of the evil (Marlowe, 1969). These represent his choice for conscience in Christianity and path of damnation respectively. His conscience for Christianity advises him not to get deeper in his pursuit for magic, while the angle of evil proceeds to tempt him to magic. From some of his two colleague scholars, Cornelius and Valdes, Doctor Faustus learns basic fundamentals of black art. He gets thrilled at all the powers he is capable of having, and all great exploits he will perform not an exception. He then summons Mephostophilis, the devil. He becomes intolerable to the hideous appearances the devil is in. Faustus then commands the devil to change the hideous appearance. Upon seeing that the devil obeys him by changing form, he takes pride on his skills (Hattaway, 1970). He also tries binding the devil to his services but this becomes impossible because Lucifer is already being served by Mephostophilis. Mephostophilis reveals that the powers of Faustus did not summon him instead if one abjures any part of the scriptures, then their souls are claimed by devil’s appearing. Mephostophilis continues on to talk about Lucifer’s history and the other devils. This is to indirectly inform Doctor Faustus of the nature of hell. Hell has got infinite circumference and naturally of one’s mind stature than his physical location. The inquiry of Faustus to know the state of hell leads Mephostophilis in to telling him to quit his demands that are frivolous since they strike terrors to his soul that is fainting. They then identify all the terms and conditions of the agreement and despite knowing well Mephostophilis represents the Lucifer (Willard, 1969). Faustus sells out his soul, to exchange with a twenty four year reign in power. Mephostophilis is now his servant in everything he desires to do. In some risible relief scenario, we then learn of Wagner, a servant to Doctor Faustus is able to glean bit of magical learning. He too uses this magic and convinces a clown, Robin to be one of his servants. As the watch tickles towards signing the contract, Doctor Faustus begins to have misgivings, but puts them aside. Mephostophilis then returns, now Doctor Faustus signs away this soul, and uses the blood from his own body to write. These words, homo fuge meaning fly man appears on Faustus arm. He is gripped by fear but Mephostophilis is able to distract him by the dances of the devils. Doctor Faustus proceeds and requests for a wife, but his request is turned down by Mephostophilis. In response, Mephostophilis gives him several books he claims to be full of necessary knowledge (Hattaway, 1970). As time passes on, Faustus now curses Mephostophilis for denying him the chance to make a visit to heaven albeit being able to see several wonders for him. Doctor Faustus manages to bedevil Mephostophilis, he cannot stomach God’s name and flees of the devil. The two opportunities, from one angle, described as good and angle of the evil arrive once again. His conscience for Christianity this time advises him to repent while the angle of evil proceeds again to tell him to continue with his wickedness (Marlowe, 2001). Lucifer, Mephostophilis and Belzebub, both return to make Faustus timid and fearful. He is overawed by these devils gives in fearfully, to talk and also think only of the devil and not God. They delectate him using the pageant of seven sins that are deadly, followed immediately by Lucifer’s promise to show him hell. In the meantime, Robin, the clown gets access to one of the magic books of Faustus. Faustus meanwhile has been able to explore both their heaven and earth in a chariot that is front driven by dragons (Poole, 2006). He is flying up to Rome this time, the home of Pope. This is where there is an honoring feast for the celebration of St. Peter. Doctor Faustus and Mephostophilis are both waiting for the Pope, who is always depicted to be very arrogant, decidedly much unholy among men. They then play a good number of tricks, through the use of magic powers. This is meant to disguise them hence make them invisible, after which they leave. Following, is the returning of the Chorus, to make us aware that Doctor Faustus is returning home (Marlowe, 2001). This is the place that the vast know how in astronomy including all abilities of his, do make him widely honored and acclaimed. In the mean time, the clown, Robin, also learns the magic powers and uses them to emotionally and cognitively imprint one of his friends christened Rafe, meanwhile summoning Mephostophilis who seemingly is not any happy by being called. In Charles V court, Doctor Faustus is able to perform some illusions which give extreme feeling of pleasure and satisfaction to the German Emperor (Marlowe, 1969). Doctor Faustus again is able to humiliate Benvolio, a kind of a knight. In the event that Benvolio and his allies try to retaliate, Doctor Faustus transforms them cruelly by use of his devils. This makes horns to grow on to their heads. Faustus, using his horse courser, swindles. When this horse courser now returns, Faustus then plays some frightening tricks to him. Doctor Faustus proceeds off and serves a Duke from Vanholt. The clown Robin on the other hand with his ally, Dick, horse courser and Carter meet (Willard, 1969). All of them in one way or another got hurt or swindled by Faustus magical powers. They proceed up to Duke’s court to level scores with Doctor Faustus. With some petty illusions, Faustus is able to entertain Duchess and Duke. This is just prior to the clown and the band of hooligans arrives. Faustus then toys them, besting magic to them to delight Duchess and Duke. Doctor Faustus learns that his twenty four year contract is running out. Wagner openly tells of Faustus approaching death to the audience. He made his wills and Wagner is inheriting all. Despite Faustus approaching death, he continues spending his days drinking and feasting with the rest of the students (Hattaway, 1970). To continue delighting his fellow scholars, Doctor Faustus is summoning some spirits to take shape the Helen of troy. After sometime, an aged man enters and warns Faustus to repent. Doctor Faustus defiantly opts for pleasure, asking Mephostophilis for Helen of troy to be brought to him, to become his lover and comforter in his last days. Without delay, Mephostophilis agrees. Afterwards, Doctor Faustus reveals to his fellow scholars his damn and his magic powers were in exchange for his soul. Showing much concerned, these scholars exit leaving Doctor Faustus to face his fate. As hours went by, Faustus gets taunted by Mephostophilis (Poole, 2006). Doctor Faustus starts to blame Mephostophilis to have let him see damn, and letting devil to take credit proudly for it. The Evil and Good Angels arrives, the Good one abandoning Faustus. The hell gates open, and the Angel of evil taunts Doctor Faustus, to name tortures which are very horrible that he will see. Eleven strikes on the clock and Faustus now gives his final and frenzy monologue, and regretting the choices he made. The devils then enter at midnight while Faustus is begging God and mercy from the devil, but the devil drags him (Marlowe, 1969). Thereafter, the friends to Doctor Faustus discovers finds his clothes near the stage, strewn. His body on the other hand is torn into pieces. They then conclude that Doctor Faustus has already been damned. However, they organize a final party for him and this is a symbol they aim to hint at salvation. Conclusion In this play, Doctor Faustus is a magician and not God’s worshipper. He is someone who just imposes the will of his mind on this world full of materials. He was rejoicing in his powers instead of contemplation. This makes Doctor Faustus a Renaissance symbol. Renaissance is seen as enlightenment age, the mind getting free of dogma through experiments and reasons. The objective of Renaissance is to understand a particular phenomenon either in terms of effect or the cause (Hattaway, 1970). In one’s middle age, the highest level of wisdom is divine knowledge achieved by the grace of God. On the contrary, someone may find depreciation of contemplated life in abundance that is rooted deeply in faith, abundant praises of life that is active, study of social and political man. The infallibility or fallibility of a man greatly depends on his character’s flaw that is the causing factor. In the end, excess pride is all it is. Bibliography Hattaway, M. 1970. The Theology of Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. Renaissance Drama, NS. Vol 3, pp 51-78. Jump, John, ed., Marlowe 1969: Doctor Faustus: A Casebook. London: Macmillan Publishers. Marlowe, C 1969. Doctor Faustus. Ed by Barnet, Sylvan. New York: NY. Penguin Group, Inc. Marlowe, C. 2001. The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. New York: NY. Boston: MobileReference.com. Poole, K. 2006 .The Devil’s in the Archive: Doctor Faustus and Ovidian Physics. Renaissance Drama, Evanston, Vol.35, Pp.191-221. Willard, F 1969. Twentieth century interpretations of Doctor Faustus; a collection of critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice Read More