Christopher Marlowe s Dr. Faustus - 1706 Words

Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus is a complex character. Whether or not to feel pity for the misguided scholar is a debatable issue, but he does seem to possess some â€Å"evil† qualities. Some consider him a tragic hero, while others would argue he better fulfills the role of a villain. But really, who is Dr. Faustus? Taking into consideration the defining characteristics of both the tragic hero and the villain while comparing them to the doctor leads one to the conclusion that Faustus does not completely fit into either category, but rather belongs to the more specific genre of the Elizabethan villain-hero, which encompasses both his hero and villain sides. The concept of the â€Å"tragic hero† was defined by Aristotle, and applies to many protagonists in a variety of plays. According to Aristotle’s definition, in order to be classified as a tragic hero, the character must fulfill the following criteria: be born into a noble standing, possess a tragic flaw which causes his downfall, experience an unfortunate event as a result of this flaw, eventually acquire an increased sense of self-awareness, and be pitied by the audience. It is important to note that Aristotle also argued that a man cannot be considered a tragic hero without realizing the cause of his downfall (Perrine). Dr. Faustus only fulfills some of these requirements, and falls short of the most important and necessary characteristics needed in order to be classified as a tragic hero. Most importantly, Faustus seemsShow MoreRelatedChristopher Marlowe s The Tragical History Of The Life And Death Of Doctor Faustus 1688 Words   |  7 Pagesdeveloping rapidly. In the 16th century, a playwright, poet and translator, Christopher Marlowe, decided to reach out even further than an ordinary human experience. In the age of social, scientific and cultural rebirth, Marlowe examined the possibilities and consequences of reaching out the most from knowledge, power and wealth. In the play, The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, the main protagonist, Dr. Faustus, sick and tired of the limited abilities of any human individual tradesRead MoreComparing Dr. Faustus And Marlowe And Mamet983 Words   |  4 Pagesclassical music and opera to paintings and cartoons. From Goethe to Radiohead, Dr. Faustus’ thirst for knowledge and the chaos this desire produces have captivated artists of all disciplines. This paper will examine two theatrical depictions of this myth. A little more than 400 years separate the original productions of Christopher Marlowe’s The Tragic History of the Life and Death of Dr. Faustus and David Mamet ’s Faustus, but both plays feature the bare bones of the Faust myth. Vastly different politicalRead MoreWhat Is The Theme Of Dr. FaustusBy Christopher Marlowe897 Words   |  4 Pagesprimary theme in â€Å"Dr. Faustus† by Christopher Marlowe. Dr. Faustus is the main character, who seeks power through a â€Å"pact with the devil.† He trades his soul for power and knowledge beyond the human realm. Dr. Faustus’ pride and sense of achievement, is the catalyst to his downfall. In context, the theme of pride predates the religion of Christianity. Christopher Marlowe introduces pre-Christian myths, situated in a Christian narrative to lay the foundation of the conflict of Dr. Faustus. Icarus fromRead More Dr. Faustus Essay626 Words   |  3 Pages Dr. Faustus nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dr. Faustus, written by Christopher, is the story of a man that represents the common human dissatisfaction with being human. He sells his soul to the devil for what he believes to be limitless power, with full logical knowledge as to the consequences of such a transaction. He knows the stakes of his gamble with the devil. His extensive education and his cultural environment had certainly alerted him as to the dangers associated with Lucifer. Although awareRead MoreHow Does Power Affect The Lives Of Macbeth And Dr. Faustus?1009 Words   |  5 PagesFaustus/Macbeth- Marlowe/Shakespeare Death, magic, and evil are what you will encounter when you dive into these two works of Macbeth and Dr. Faustus. The two protagonists in these stories show a great deal of ambition. These men were in the top of their professions when they gave up everything for a little taste of power. These plays illustrate a problem that is still relevant today. Humans can never be satisfied with what they have. They are always searching for more. In these stories the menRead MoreFaustus Tragedy2251 Words   |  10 PagesDiscuss Dr. Faustus as a tragedy Dr. Faustus is a tragedy because the main character falls as a victim of his own circumstances, and is a victim of himself. He is a man with all the potential and possibilities to be successful. He is a Renaissance man who is versed in every aspect of science, philosophy, the arts, education, and genius, yet, he utilizes his energy and wit into absolutely nonsense and unnecessary goals, such as his obsession to be a magician, and his ridiculous fixation for power:Read MoreDr. Faustus As Morality Play1443 Words   |  6 Pageswhether Dr. Faustus is a morality play or tragedy, two aspects must be considered. Firstly, it must be decided whether Dr. Faustus is a morality play or not. In an attempt to categorize the play, the play s form, content and subject matter will be discussed. There is alternative argument that states the play is in fact a tragedy. Secondly, does this supposed morality play have a moral? In order to answer this question, the tone of certain parts of the play will be analyzed. To determine if Dr. FaustusRead MoreDorian Gray And Dr Faustus Literary Analysis1278 Words   |  6 PagesFinal Essay Dorian Gray and Dr Faustus By Mohammad Hussain Starting with greed and temptation, then with a sense of immortality, and ending with destruction of one s morals and soul. In the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, the main character trades his soul for what he desires most, beauty and eternal youth. He ends up dying after living a tortuous life because of the damage he has to his soul. Similarly, in Dr. Faustus, a play by Christopher Marlowe, a doctor sells his soul toRead MoreFaustus Sins1771 Words   |  8 PagesDr Faustus and Seven Sins Dr Faustus is a short play written by Christopher Marlowe. The play is a masterful insight into the paradoxical soul of mankind and its ironically self inflicted corruption. The play could be classification as a theological allegory. It can be assumed that the play specifically speaks to the religious motivations of the time, but can be adapted to the present as well. Marlowe portrays Faustus ambition as dangerous; it was the cause of his demise. Perhaps MarloweRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Play Everyman 1275 Words   |  6 Pagesabout the meaning of life. Similarly, we can also see the shadow of a philosophical trace in Christopher Marlowe’s play, Doctor Faustus. The play personifies good and evil. The devil will fight for the soul of human beings, while our soul remain indecisive. Soon after, high lights appeared in the instance when the soul makes a decision. Even though both works are excellent, but I fell that Dr. Faustus made a bigger impact on me. Altho ugh both work revolved around death, sins, and judgment of