Christopher Marlowe, an aspiring minister, yet devilish playwriter. His history at Cambridge does nothing more than add validity to his personification of Dr. Faustus. Marlowe had extensive knowledge of the spiritual, the scriptures, of curses, of evil possession of the body, and the tactics of the Devil. This knowledge of religion and of temptation was what deepened the story of Dr. Faustus and his fall. Like Dr. Faustus, Marlowe may have lived a double life as well; minister-in-training and spy-in-training. The fact that Marlowe was killed while amongst a drunken bar fight, means only that the scholar knew both aspects of the coin: the chaotic underbelly of crime-ridden society, and the spiritual security of Christ.
When Dr. Faustus reaches the end, and tries to find relief for his soon-to-be torment, the extreme pain of Hell becomes quite evident; no longer is Hell a distant 24-years in the future. What better way to show the fluffy cloud-like bliss of Heaven than by showing the acrid dark smoke of Hell. The two examples of God's and the Devil's realm help the reader decide--although the decision is an easy one.
If I were to write a biography of this Dr. Faustus, I would begin with his youth, a time before corruption. I would focus on the steps that led Faustus to Wittenburg, and then the book. Why did he cross over into the world of darkness? Was it truly knowledge he sought? Or was it the power, control, and invincibility of being above a King and a Pope?
Marlowe definitely wanted to show the highest point of what the Devil could give a man, and then what would occur after such a gift. Perhaps Faustus was the externalization of Marlowe's inner turmoil; perhaps the thought of dabbling in satanic rituals had crossed his mind, and he wanted to see how far that path would take him.
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