Marlowe's DOCTOR FAUSTUS - Essay Example

Doctor Faustus Doctor Faustus by Marlowe is a story that is written based on the Christian belief of sin and redemption. It generally deals with themes that are at the core centre of Christianity. It is based on the idea that each human has an immortal soul. The play would have worked differently if it was suddenly conclusively proved that there is no such thing as an immortal soul. Such a realization would have changed the entire course of the play. The play starts off with Doctor Faustus showing dissatisfaction with the forms of knowledge traditionally offered.

He decides to try magic instead. He offers Lucifer his soul in exchange with 24 years of service (Marlowe 5). With the realization that there is no immortal soul, the magic of the spells that Faustus was given by Lucifer would not perform. The scene were Faustus travels to Rome and makes himself invisible would probably be different. He plays tricks and disrupts the banquet of the pope by boxing his ears and stealing his food (Marlowe 115). At this instance, the tricks would most probably not have worked and the pope together with the people would have noticed him and his intentions and punished him.

With the incident at Rome, Faustus’ fame grows and he travels to Europe. This would also have been different and instead of his fame growing, he would be hated all over. The incident when Faustus conjures an image of Alexander and impresses Charles would also have been differently presented because the magic spell would not have functioned. Another scene that would be different is when the Knight scoffed at Faustus powers and Faustus chastised him by sprouting his head with hunters. Here, again, the spell would not have worked.

At the end of the play, Faustus has served Lucifer for 24 years and is about to die but very scared. He however, does not repent and on the last night, he dies. His soul is then carried to hell (Marlowe 195). This final part would also be a little different. After serving the devil for 24 years, Faustus would die, but since there is no immortal soul, his soul would have no place to go. He would have spent his entire life time with no knowledge of magic. Generally, with a realization that there is no immortal soul, the entire story would be different and arguably, not as interesting.

Work citedMarlowe Christopher, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. New York: MobileReference. 2010. 1-200. Print.