English 2610

In this dark tale of a man who trades his soul to the devil, there is quite a bit more depth to the story than one might think upon first reading. With the consideration of the previous medieval time period and now the emerging renaissance, it starts to become clear that Christopher Marlowe is trying to tell us more than a tragic story of a man who is condemned to hell for eternity. Yes, there were parts that were light hearted and even parts I found myself chuckling, but the ending leaves no room for a happy ending and delivers a powerful message with probably multiple meanings.

It seems to me that the character of Faustus represents an up and coming group of people who are hungry for something more than the strictly spiritual and religious ideals of the medieval period they find themselves surrounded by. Faustus is tired of the traditional studies of philosophy, law, the bible, medicine, and other areas which were ruled solely on authority and not on an individuals ability to think and create. He is instead intrigued by risky, new practices as he clearly states, "'Tis magic, magic that hath ravished me" (line 109, page 1115). Of course the many other characters associating with Faustus represent the opposite; the restrictions of the lingering medieval thinking. They try throughout the story to bring him back to what they consider the right way path, such as the First Scholar who upon hearing of Faustus' crazy notions believes he has "fallen into that damned art", referring to his newly discovered magic (line 24, page 1117). Even the devil Mephostophilis hints to Faustus in the beginning that he should stay away from what he is about to venture upon when stating, "Oh, Faustus, leave these frivolous demands" (line 80, page 1119). With conviction toward a better life, even if it only lasts for twenty four years longer, Faustus does not take heed to any of the advice and carries out his plan. In the end he is totally condemned and beyond repairing his salvation, not to mention in an incredibly profound state of misery because of it. Had Faustus remained dominant and glorious, Marlowe's agenda might have been clearly in favor of the Renaissance; however, this is not the case and it leaves an interpretation that he was trying to tell us although "new" England might seem exciting, new ideas are the destroyer of us all in the end.