In the context of all Marlow's plays, it has been suggested that the heroes are 'tragic, but only in a weak sort of way.' Explore the presentation of Faustus in the light of this suggestion.
1. In the context of all Marlow’s plays, it has been suggested that the heroes are ‘tragic, but only in a weak sort of way.’
Explore the presentation of Faustus in the light of this suggestion
A tragic hero is similar to an idol (someone we look up to) because there is something about them that distinguishes them from ordinary people. They may have a flaw which inevitably leads to their downfall. Because of their elevated status their fall is great. They fall from greatness is an emotional experience for the audience – this is known as ‘catharsis’ – a release of tension. In a certain respect, Faustus can be seen as a tragic hero.
In addition to being portrayed as a tragic Hero, Faustus can be perceived as an ordinary human being. Right from the beginning of the play, he has understood the concept of his mortality. ‘What art thou Faustus, but a man condemned to die!’ This shows that Faustus is aware of his inevitable death. At the end of scene 1, after his discussion with Valdes and Cornelius, Faustus proclaims the ‘trade-off’ between magic and death. ‘This night I’ll conjure, though I die therefore.’ Faustus does realise that dabbling with black magic will result in his death, but he still seems determined to continue, as the thought of having ‘all that power’ is just too much to resist! However, although Faustus realises he is going to die (from the beginning of the play) he may be a little naïve as he wont just suffer a simple death, but eternal damnation in Hell – a concept which is beyond human comprehension.