Name- Siddhi Himanshu

Sec- B
Roll No.- 2023/1244
Semester- 2nd

16th and 17th Century English Drama

Continuous Assessment
Dr.Faustus

Q. Faustus represents the modern man as he lets the thought of power overshadow his
wisdom. And hence, Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus” is where myth and psychology blend
perfectly. Discuss using references from text.

The tragedy of Christopher Marlow, Doctor Faustus is a story that elucidates the depth of the
human psyche, focusing on a soul that calls upon the devil to obtain mastery over all catholic
powers. Faustus, the main character, represents the innate yearning of man for control, even
at the cost of wisdom and soul. Faustus faces a tragic end, symbolizing the modern man who
is always after power, but finally, fails to attain his dream. His tragedy is characterized by his
search for the ideal power that he hardly finds. Marlow blends mythology and instinct
theories to provide his narrative with a rigorous human image.

Faustus approaches the light side from the starting of the story. He is depicted as a brilliant
young man who seeks to gain knowledge via advance science. The study plans for Faustus
are all unacceptable: he will not become a theologian, a lawyer, or a doctor. The play deals
with Faustus’ materialism and self-indulgence that comes at the cost of his own soul’s
eternity. It makes the work relevant to the present audience, tackling the concepts of
materialism and consumer culture. In its essence, the character of Faustus can be epitomized
as an “everyman” of the Renaissance, glorifying the ideals of the time and feeling
disillusioned. His faith in Christian symbols that has previously comforted him is unable to
do so due to the insignificance in his psychological crisis. Marlowe uses the structure and
theme of morality to explore the paradox of the irredeemable man and the tragic nature of
human life. Faustus’ duality and weakness, innate growing divine perception, and atheist
dependence illustrates the play . Another central aspect of Faustus’s character is his aspiration
for knowledge and power. In the play’s introduction, Faustus is already unhappy with the
restrictions of typical learning and desires something more. He discovers necromancy and
makes a deal with the devil, who in return for his soul grants him 24 years of service from
Mephistopheles, his subordinate, who guarantees him access to all the universe’s mysteries.
This action exemplifies Faustus’s need to exceed the perimeters of knowledge and ascend to
the position of divinity.
Knowledge and power can be described as the ways in which Faustus can be described
throughout the main driving force of the play. Disappointed with his traditional form of
learning, he replaces necromancy and concludes a pact with the devil – known as the Faustian
bargain. Faustus’ goal is to gain all of the strength and unrestricted access to knowledge and
understanding, reflecting the human migration of all time. In his declaration, he states:
"A sound magician is a mighty god:
Here, Faustus, tire thy brains to gain a deity."
This implies Faustus’s desire to become a god. In this perspective, Faustus’s desire for
domination and greatness is profound in psychological terms. Although he is a man of
intellect and learning, his insight is subject to his relentless desires. Faustus is indeed a man
haunted not just by his conscience but his fantasies. This is clear when Mephistopheles
attempts to alert him of the vice and by extent his terms with Lucifer. To this, Faustus indeed
considers it briefly:
"Ay, Mephistopheles, a covenant with thee:
But, Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly,
And write a deed of gift with thine own blood."
Here, Faustus considers the moral ramifications of everything, demonstrating the character's
psychological acuity.

Faustus's terrible demise, meanwhile, is a result of both external factors and his own moral
failings and defective nature. Despite his extensive knowledge, Faustus frequently engages in
reckless behaviour or indulges in small pleasures, yielding no permanent benefits from his
abilities.

To sum up, Christopher Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus" skilfully combines deep psychological
insights with mythological elements to produce a timeless tragedy. Marlowe examines the
enduring struggle between ambition and wisdom via the figure of Faustus, highlighting the
negative effects of an unbridled desire for power. Audiences of all ages are cautioned by the
sad fall of Faustus, who symbolises the modern man burned by hubris.