Faustus also has classic Renaissance curiosity, representing that he wants to know where heaven and hell are. In Scene 5, he asks ‘Ay, but whereabouts?’ this shows Faustus’ hunger for knowledge. Mephastophilis replies ‘All places shall be hell that is not heaven.’ Mephastophilis also describes hell as ‘Where we are tortured and remain forever. Hell hath no limits.’ This reflects the Renaissance; previously people would not have believed in hell because they were Christian and believed they would have forgiveness and go to heaven. The Renaissance brought new beliefs and a wonder about the world- thus allowing Faustus to speculate hell.
Heaven and hell are shown to Faustus using the Good and Evil angels; the Good Angel represents heaven and God, and the Evil Angel represents hell and the Devil. In Scene 5, the Good Angel tells Faustus ‘Faustus repent, yet God will pity thee.’ The Good Angel is telling Faustus that he can still go to heaven if he turns to God, which is a characteristic Elizabethan belief. The Good and Evil Angels represent Faustus’ conscience and shows that he does have doubts. However, the Evil Angel overpowers the Good Angel because he is seductive and tempts Faustus with goods to feed his Renaissance greed. The Evil Angel says ‘No Faustus, think of honour and wealth.’ Faustus follows the Evil Angel because he has Renaissance gluttony.
Faustus expresses unstable beliefs, another trait of the Renaissance, during Scene 5, when he signs the contract. For example, if he does not believe in God, how can he have a soul to sell? This scene would shock the Elizabethan audience, as Faustus purposely defies God by signing a pact with the Devil. This would be the ultimate sin to Christians. The audience are also stunned when the Unholy Trinity of Lucifer, Belzebub, and Mephastophilis enter scene 5. Marlowe intentionally uses these to coincide with the Christian idea of The Father, The Son, and Holy Spirit. The Elizabethan audience would be outraged at such blatant mockery of God. Marlowe also uses the Unholy Trinity to scare the audience; to them seeing the devil is something they have never though about, because they all believe God will forgive their sins, and they will go to heaven. This also allows Marlowe to get his message across- Do not allow yourself to be caught up in greed like Faustus, because if you do you will go to hell. The audience are taken aback in Scene 12 when Faustus says ‘Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss’, Faustus indicates sexual desire towards a devil. This would outrage the audience as sleeping with a Devil is obviously against Christianity, and would lead to damnation. Faustus says ‘for heaven be in these lips’, while talking about Helen, here Marlowe creates irony because there is nothing heavenly about a Devil!
The play shows the realisation of hell, and the fear of Faustus. Towards the end of Scene 5 we see Faustus begin to despair, ‘My heart’s so hardened I cannot repent’, this shows how affected Faustus is by he Devil and how he has no power. He also gives up on all hope of forgiveness. This shows a very different Faustus, without belief in himself, who appears genuine and human. It seems Faustus has realised he has limitations, and is in a position of no power; he is controlled by the Devil, who enters his mind –‘But fearful echoes thunder in mine ears.’ This shows how domineering the Devil is to Faustus -controlling his thoughts, so Faustus can no longer think of God and gain forgiveness. This lack of restraint leads to fear on Faustus’ behalf. This fear returns and is evident in Scene 13, where Faustus has lost all arrogance and is very regretful. This is shown by the quote ‘yea, heaven itself, heaven the seat of God, the throne of the blessed, the kingdom of joy; and must remain in hell forever-hell, ah, hell for ever!’ The stress on heaven shows Faustus’ fear, and the repetition shows how Faustus is losing the plot- he has no control over his life, he will be damned. It seems that finally Faustus has realised hell is real, and this leads to despair and panic. The quote also shows how Faustus regrets his decision, and now wants to join God in heaven. The use of exclamation marks conveys the emotion Faustus is feeling, and the commas indicate that time is running out and how desperate Faustus is. This scene allows Marlowe to put a message across to the Elizabethan audience- Do not be a victim to the Renaissance, know your limits.
In conclusion, Marlowe uses heaven and hell to shock the audience, by going against their traditional beliefs and uses the Renaissance to shape Faustus, and his beliefs in heaven and hell, which creates fear, curiosity, and entertainment for the audience.