In lines 3-7, I believe that Faustus is demonstrating that he has succeeded in understanding all that one needs to know in the field of knowledge and philosophy ‘level at the end of every art’. In this section he presents his great knowledge to the audience by referring to respected philosophers and showing how he fully understands and appreciates them, for example stating that he will ‘live and die in Aristotle's works.’ In addition, for the first time he quotes using Latin ‘bene disserer’. He displays his will provide further evidence to the audience that he is highly intellectual, his ability later in this soliloquy to fluently switch between English and Latin and the ability to instantly think up quotes without difficulty will be seen as very impressive.
This soliloquy is effective as it gets the reader to consider the characteristics of Frastus, this illustrate a successful book. Fully understanding the works of the great philosophers should be an achievement that one should be proud of, I get the impression that Faustus remains rather discontent. It is line 10 where he states that he can ‘read no more’ as he has achieved the ‘end’ target of ‘logic’s chiefest end’.
From this, the reader can suggest another of Faustus characteristics. The idea that he may remain discontent even though he has achieved greatness. In his soliloquy it seems as if having succeeded in the field of intellectual pursuit he wishes to take up a new challenge ‘magicians’. I believe this is powerful as it symbolises and reveals the future as he sells his soul to Satan.
I believe that Line 11 may intrigue the audience as he claims that there is a subject that he considers as more appealing and significant that ‘fitteth Faustus wit’. One may find this hard to believe, as he speaks as if his vast knowledge is less significant than it actually is, and the reader may ponder over what an intelligent doctor could find more appealing than wisdom.
From line 14, he temporarily contemplates becoming a physician, looking at the fame he could achieve from this. Looking at his potential ambition, to ‘heap up gold and be eternised for some wondrous cure’, one could speculate that Faustus main targets are to achieve great wealth and fame. The word ‘end’ is simply repeated and emphasised, this increases tension significantly as this is what he is actually trying to avoid the ‘end’. In demonstrating how he has already been successful as a doctor, he reveals a fascinating and highly respectable fact. His claim that because of his work ‘whole cities have escaped the plague, and thousand desperate maladies been cured’. This may further fascinate the reader, as there is something he may find more desirable or satisfactory than saving the lives of thousands.
It is from line 25 onwards that his interest in magic is revealed and now the audience may understand what he now wants to conquer. Having concluded that he is no longer interested in physics, but interested in magic, he appears to seek guidance from Justinian. I find it very interesting how he asks ‘Where is Justinian?’ as if he is requesting for Justinian to come to him, when really when asking for Justinian he desires useful quotes, the source being his mind. This portrays Faustus to match the stereotypical image of a mad scientist. I also believe that this is the form of power he admires to be able to call up someone and they just appear.
His response to the Latin principle attributed to Justinian here may certainly surprise the audience. Previously, he had taken the philosophical and science-based quotes into consideration, I believe that by doing this he is showing respect to the writer. However, here he rejects Justinian’s principle as ‘A petty case of paltry legacies’. It seems as if Faustus is only taking the famous quotes and principles into consideration if he agrees with them and they provide evidence for his argument of aiming higher to achieve more.
It is at this point that the audience will see the extent to which Faustus wishes to go - not only does he want the ability to raise the dead, but possibly to ‘raise the wind or rend the clouds’ and be in control of the entire world. In the last lines he suggests that he wishes to have enough magic to be considered as a ‘demi-god’. This is a powerful term to use when nearing the end of the soliloquy as it may have shocked readers, as it suggests that he is serious in becoming a dark magician.
In conclusion, the opening soliloquy is successful in showing that Faustus has great knowledge and wisdom, though some of his characteristics and his attitude may not be considered to all as highly favourable. Thus from the very start, Marlowe has successfully given the readers an accurate impression to what Faustus is like regarding his attitude and character.
