Doctor Faustus

Doctor Faustus is based on a German legend about a scholar who sells his soul to the devil. The legend has had such a profound influence that the term "Faustian" became part of the English language. A "Faustian bargain" refers to an agreement where someone does something morally wrong in exchange for power, wealth, or some form of personal gain through a deal with the devil.

In the story, Faustus, a scholar, is dissatisfied with his life. He desires eternal knowledge, and the only way to obtain it is by seeking the help of Mephistopheles, the first demon who serves Lucifer. The agreement is simple: Faustus will have power and knowledge for 24 years in exchange for his soul. Initially, the first few years bring him happiness, but as time passes, Faustus begins to regret his decision. By the end of the play, he faces the eternal punishment for his actions. The play makes it clear that such an agreement cannot be condoned.

The Chorus in the Prologue

In the prologue, the chorus functions as the narrator. It introduces the main character and provides the context for the play. Faustus is not of noble birth; he comes from a lower-class background but has managed to become a doctor. He studied at Wittenberg, a university central to the Protestant Reformation. His excellence in his field is portrayed as both a positive trait (he’s a talented scholar) and a negative one (his pride and self-righteousness lead to his downfall).

The reference to "waxen wings" is an allusion to the Greek myth of Icarus. In the myth, Icarus and his father are imprisoned, and the father makes wings out of wax for their escape. Despite his father’s warning, Icarus flies too close to the sun, causing the wax to melt and him to fall to his death. Icarus becomes a symbol of unchecked ambition and desire for power. The chorus compares Faustus to Icarus, foreshadowing his eventual fall.

Faustus and the Dark Arts

Faustus turns to magic as his path to power. Throughout the play, he considers various fields such as medicine, science, religion, and magic, but he finds magic to be the most enjoyable. He places his hope in dark magic. This reflects the humanist ideals of the Renaissance but also suggests that excessive ambition and desire can lead to eternal damnation. Faustus’s pursuit of power through knowledge ultimately results in the loss of his soul. The play is about the fall from grace.

The Paradox of Free Will and Predestination

The play explores the paradox of free will and predestination. As Bevington and Rasmussen describe, Faustus is caught between these two opposing forces. Predestination relates to faith, while free will concerns personal choice. This conflict is dramatized through the characters of the good and bad angels, who represent Faustus’s internal struggle. Faustus converses with both angels, ultimately making a decision that will lead him down the path of damnation.

The Constriction of Time

When Faustus makes the deal with Mephistopheles, he has 24 years to enjoy his newfound power. However, as the play progresses, the constriction of time becomes evident. As he nears the end, only an hour remains before his death, and he realizes there is no escape. The sense of time slipping away is palpable, and Faustus experiences both physical and psychological suffering. As readers, we too feel the urgency as his time dwindles. The mental anguish Faustus faces becomes central to the story.

Faustus and Mephistopheles: Parody and Political Message

In Act 1, Scene 3, Faustus summons Mephistopheles. This scene is a parody reflecting the writer's political and religious views. Faustus orders Mephistopheles to change shape and appear as a Franciscan friar, mocking the Catholic Church. The joke is a commentary on the Protestant atmosphere of the time. It represents Faustus's rejection of God’s power and existence. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the author fully embraces Protestant beliefs, as he also denies God’s power. Critics have also noted that the play functions as a morality play because of Faustus’s eventual regret, symbolized by the two angels.

Faustus's World: Manichaeism

Dollimore notes that "Faustus is situated at the center of a violently divided universe. To the extent that conflict and contradiction are represented as the essence of the world, it appears to be Manichean." Manichaeism is an ancient religion that believes the world exists due to the conflict between good and evil. Faustus's world, as portrayed in the play, is similar to a Manichean worldview, where the good angel and the bad angel embody the struggle between good and evil.

Blasphemy and Dark Magic

When Faustus declares, "A sound magician is a mighty god," it reflects his belief that magic can offer him more power than anything in religion. The play explores individualism and humanism, particularly Faustus’s desire for eternal knowledge, which leads him to engage in dark magic. Despite this, Faustus is not without hesitation; he is caught in a dilemma between religion and magic. The good angel advises him to abandon the magic books, while the evil angel entices him with promises of godlike power.

Mephistopheles’s View of Hell

Mephistopheles tells Faustus that hell is not a physical place but a state of consciousness. When Faustus inquires about the location of hell, Mephistopheles responds that it is a psychological state rather than a geographical one. This idea parallels the portrayal of hell in Paradise Lost, where hell is both a physical place and a mental state. In both works, hell exists not only in the underworld but also within the minds of those who have fallen from grace.

The Philosophical Nature of the Play

Ultimately, Doctor Faustus is a philosophical exploration of the true nature of human hell, punishment, sin, regret, and the consequences of a soul’s choices. It challenges the boundaries of ambition and knowledge and highlights the dangers of seeking too much power, especially at the cost of one’s soul.