Reread the opening soliloquy of Dr Faustus. In what way does this establish Faustus' character and at the same time take you back into the Renaissance world?
Reread the opening soliloquy of Dr Faustus. In what way does this establish Faustus' character and at the same time take you back into the Renaissance world? The opening soliloquy of Marlow's , Dr Faustus' reveals many different characteristics and values of the epilogist. At the same time as establishing Faustus' character, the soliloquy takes one back to the Renaissance world by presenting Faustus as a 'man of his times' since his character is greatly influenced by changes in attitudes and society which were encountered in the Renaissance era. One of Faustus' key characteristics, which is very apparent throughout the opening soliloquy, is that he is engaged in a personal power struggle and is not content with his current status. One acknowledges this problem when Faustus asserts demands such as, ' Be a physician, Faustus, heap up gold, And be eternised for some wondrous cure'. In instructing himself to find a wondrous cure in the medical world, Faustus is implying that he wants to be famous and improve his financial situation. This desire to become rich and famous compliments the newly-adopted attitude towards individuals after the Restoration. As the Restoration stripped the Church of its religious authority, prominence was given to individual's own quest for religious understanding and both mankind and his life on earth were therefore given greater value.
The final passage, Faustus is again trying to repent in some kind of way. There is a sense of irony in this passage as
Find these passages in the play and cite their significance to the play as a whole These four different passages from the play show a great significance to the play as a whole. Now I will go on to explain what the significance of these passages are to the rest of the play. The first passage, 'I see an angel hovers o'er thy head and with a vial full of precious grace, offers to pour the same into they soul: then call for mercy, and avoid despair'. The old man, in scene twelve lines forty-four to forty seven, says this quote. The significance that this passage has to the play as a whole is that this relates this play to the traditional morality play. In morality plays, the normal procession is that in some point of the play, the well respected being who has been tempted away from his responsibilities is confronted by a respectable person to leave the tempters, and go back to his normal responsibilities. I feel that this is exactly what this quote is telling Faustus to do. Obviously the who play does differ from a normal morality play, but this play still has a lot of morality features. Also the old man is trying to persuade Faustus that what he is doing is not right, and so he should look up to God and repent. I feel that the old man links with the Good Angel in this play. I feel that the play suggests this as, the old man is trying to convince Faustus that what he is doing
What do scenes 1 and 3 tell us about Elizabethan beliefs?
What do scenes 1 and 3 tell us about Elizabethan beliefs? By Hayley Sheath 12MF Scene 1. The opening speech to Scene 1 demonstrates how Elizabethan people began to think differently, due to the Renaissance. Lines1-3 tell us abut Faustus' education, as does the use of Latin; this shows that Faustus is educated. Followed by line 4 -'Yet level at the end of every work', that shows how he now considering all options. As a Renaissance man, he no longer has to live the life he was intended to (for example to follow his father's career); instead, he has choices. Line 5 refers to Aristotle, whose work in Elizabethan times was disputed by another philosopher, Ramus. This proves how Elizabethan people were beginning to challenge their own opinions, and the opinions of others, as well as thinking of new ideas- all typical Renaissance attitudes. This first speech also reveals the greed the Elizabethans had for knowledge, a typical Renaissance trait. Faustus asks 'Affords this art no greater miracle', while talking about philosophy. This is saying he needs more than just philosophy, more than just learning, he has experienced both of this already: he wants something new. To satisfy their greed for knowledge many Elizabethans went travelling, in hope to discover more. Lines 82-83- 'I'll have them fly to India for gold, Ransack the ocean for orient pearl,' show how Faustus wants to
Analyse the ways in which Faustus thinks of using the magic powers he is seeking to acquire
Friday, 17 January Analyse the ways in which Faustus thinks of using the magic powers he is seeking to acquire Faustus is an exceedingly ambitious man, even in relation to what is considered ambitious by people in today's society. In the prologue, The Chorus sums up Faustus' background and early life, emphasizing his ordinary background and academic success. It seems that Faustus' intellect made him become proud and this fired up about his ambition. We can instantly observe that Faustus is an intellectual man, who has great ambition to gain the qualities from magic such as knowledge, wealth, power and fame. He cannot resist the temptation of carrying out magic, since he wants to be 'eternized for a wondrous cure'. However, we perceive that Faustus thinks about how to use his magic in different ways, as he wants 'a world of profit and delight, of power, of honour, of omnipotence'. This indicated his ability to do anything he requests, but we soon learn of his ideas using magic, show how selfish he is. Indeed, we can examine the way in which Dr Faustus seems to use magic for the chase for knowledge as he wants to acquire more intellect as he wants 'All things that move between the quiet poles/small be at my command'. This quotes exemplifies his attitude to wanting to be able to command everything between the north and South Pole in the world, he intends to have
It has been suggested that Marlowe's audience would have seen Dr Faustus as a 'simply morality play' consider this view of the play using scene 5 as your starting point.
It has been suggested that Marlowe's audience would have seen Dr Faustus as a 'simply morality play' consider this view of the play using scene 5 as your starting point. Dr Faustus is, without a doubt, among Marlowe's most celebrated works of literature. It is said to be a morality play, which would be an accurate analysis, as there are many moral questions and themes present. However, it cannot be said that it is a simple play, because what is thought to be simple by one person could be interpreted as very complex by someone of a higher calibre. It is necessary to explore all levels of the play to understand its true meanings and messages. If one is to analyse what Marlowe's audience thought of Dr Faustus, then one must establish who his audience was. The play was shown during the Elizabethan period, so Elizabethan people of all classes would have watched the play. It was popular entertainment at the time, and would have been regarded as an afternoon play. Many say that Marlowe wrote the play with the primary intention to make money, so it was in his interests to make it appealing to the rich minority, but also to the poorer majority, making it an efficient source of income. What is interesting is how he managed to do this, because at the time, upper class people would have been highly educated in the fine arts, but the lower class people would not quite understand the
What does Marlowe's presentation of Mephastophilis tell an audience about sixteen century ideas of hell and damnation?
What does Marlowe's presentation of Mephastophilis tell an audience about sixteen century ideas of hell and damnation? Literary works in sixteenth- century England were rarely if ever created in isolation from other currents in the social and cultural world and Marlowe's Dr Faustus is no exception. It is significant that Marlowe's great play was written at a time in which the possibility of sorcery was not merely a theatrical fantasy but a widely shared fear. Dr Faustus was also performed at time in which many artists such as Bosch and Jacques Callot were depicting horrific images of hell in their paintings making the play all the more disturbing to the medieval audience. Marlowe's tragedy emerges not only from a culture in which bargains with the devil are imaginable as real events but also from a world in which many of the most fundamental assumptions about spiritual life were being called into question by the movement known as the reformation. The character of Mephastophilis plays a pivotal role in Dr Faustus as it is through him that Marlowe expresses his views on sin, redemption and damnation. Mephastophilis presents a particularly intriguing portrayal of hell and encapsulates the audience from his very first appearance on stage. The audience first encounter Mephastophilis when he is summoned by Faustus' chants. This is significant as one of the central questions in
Doctor Faustus: What do we learn about Faustus? What are our responses to his ambition? What is your response to key issued linked to pride?
Doctor Faustus: What do we learn about Faustus? What are our responses to his ambition? What is your response to key issued linked to pride? We first learn that Faustus is an academic and well educated individual from the first few lines, having studied at 'Wittenberg' we are prone to believe he is a highly educated man; furthermore, we begin to understand same of his qualities, such as, being a 'quick learner', a master of theology, yet after a change in register, we begin to identify the fact that his awareness of being an intelligent person, turns into cockiness and self-pride. 'His waxen wings did mount above his reach' This allows us to pick up on the idea that his desire for knowledge and power is beyond the scope of man; in other words, Dr Faustus feels that he has to make decisions about his future, having mastered a brilliant career. Philosophy, medicine, law and theology doesn't satisfy hum any longer and this is where we begin to embark on Faustus' attractions to the secrets of magic; having mastered all other aspects of knowledge, he want to master craft. Faustus' journey to creating magic reveals a lot about his character in just the first few pages. Faustus originally intends to increase his intellect and power to help others and impact on his chances of finding a mate to start a family, yet we begin to identify him ad being somewhat a demonic character,
Aysha Bismillah 11R
Aysha Bismillah 11R Drama GCSE- Evaluation of live performance The play was about a man called Dr Faustus who sold his soul to the devil for 24 years s he could live in luxury and get whatever he wanted with people waiting on him. When these 24 years come to an end Faustus regrets giving his soul to the devil and turns to God who forgives him. It was set in Whittenburg University in the 1500's. The theatre we watched the play in was small and intimate. This affected the performance because the audience were closer to the stage and this made the audience concentrate more. Faustus was a greedy character. He wanted luxury and power. The actor who played Faustus was loud and showed his emotions/feelings. His body language and facial expressions showed his confusion throughout the play. He talked to himself to tell the audience what was going through his mind. Mephostophilis was a stern character who had his way of making people change their mind. Lucifer was a mean character who looked evil and controlled people. She could also make people do what she wanted them to do. The good and bad angels were competitive and tried to keep Faustus on their side. The set was ideal for the play. It was a traverse stage with people on both sides so everyone could see what was going on. The lights were very low so the room was dark. This created an eerie effect and increased audience
Dr. Faustus: Show how Elizabethan beliefs in heaven and hell influence the play.
DR. FAUSTUS: Show how Elizabethan beliefs in heaven and hell influence the play. By Hayley Sheath 12MF. This essay will explore how Marlowe uses Renaissance beliefs in heaven and hell to direct the play. This essay will include how Elizabethan views influence Faustus' character, the Renaissance curiosity of heaven and hell, how heaven and hell are represented by the Good and Evil angels, how beliefs in heaven and hell are used to shock the audience and the fear of hell. This essay will focus mainly on Scene 5 of the play. The Elizabethan audience had traditional Christian beliefs of heaven and hell; and tried their best to obey God and join Him in heaven. Marlowe deliberately challenges Elizabethan beliefs in the play, by making the character of Faustus dare God and religion, which was typical of the Renaissance period. Faustus is an Atheist; this is shown in Scene 5- 'Come, I think hell's a fable.' In discussing hell, Faustus shows his Atheism, because Christians believe that God will always forgive, and so as long as you believe in God, you will go to heaven. It shows the Renaissance arrogance, and how Faustus is unable to accept the Chain of Being; he sees himself as superior to all. Faustus also defies God; demonstrated in Scene 3, 'This word damnation terrifies not him.' This quote shows that Faustus is not scared of hell, and that he sees himself as being able to
Themes, Motifs & Symbols in Doctor Faustus.
Themes, Motifs & Symbols Themes Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. Sin, Redemption, and Damnation Insofar as Doctor Faustus is a Christian play, it deals with the themes at the heart of Christianity's understanding of the world. First, there is the idea of sin, which Christianity defines as acts contrary to the will of God. In making a pact with Lucifer, Faustus commits what is in a sense the ultimate sin: not only does he disobey God, but he consciously and even eagerly renounces obedience to him, choosing instead to swear allegiance to the devil. In a Christian framework, however, even the worst deed can be forgiven through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, God's son, who, according to Christian belief, died on the cross for humankind's sins. Thus, however terrible Faustus's pact with Lucifer may be, the possibility of redemption is always open to him. All that he needs to do, theoretically, is ask God for forgiveness. The play offers countless moments in which Faustus considers doing just that, urged on by the good angel on his shoulder or by the old man in scene 12-both of whom can be seen either as emissaries of God, personifications of Faustus's conscience, or both. Each time, Faustus decides to remain loyal to hell rather than seek heaven. In the Christian framework, this turning away from God condemns him to
