DR.

FAUSTUS

Elizabethan drama

Biography
Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury, England, around February 26, 1564, Christopher
Marlowe shares his birth year with playwright William Shakespeare and one of the forerunners
of modern science, Galileo. While Marlowe's literary career was cut short by his death at age 29,
works such as Tamburlaine the Great (1587), The Jew of Malta (1592), and Doctor
Faustus (1604) firmly established him as one of the finest writing talents from the golden age of
English literature that occurred during the Renaissance.
Marlowe was the eldest son of a shoemaker and was one of nine siblings. Despite the family's
limited income, he received a first-rate education. After receiving a scholarship to attend the
renowned King's School in Canterbury for his last two years of grammar school, he earned
another scholarship to Corpus Christi College at Cambridge University. There he studied from
1580 to 1587, honing his skills in Latin translation and poetry and writing his first plays. He
gained his bachelor of arts in 1584 and a master of arts (MA) three years later. Intriguingly, his
MA was initially withheld based on a dangerous rumor.

Reportedly Marlowe had been absent from the university on occasion to study at the English
Catholic seminary in Reims, France. Politics and religion were inseparable in English
government, and the prevailing religion during Queen Elizabeth's reign (1558–1603) was
Protestantism. Catholics were persecuted, and there were numerous Catholic plots to assassinate
the queen. Study at the Catholic seminary would have implied Marlowe meant to enter the
priesthood, disqualifying him from receiving his MA and placing him under suspicion of
treason. Nevertheless, his MA was awarded due to government intervention. The university
received a letter from Queen Elizabeth's Privy Council stating that Marlowe had been employed
"in matters touching the benefit of his country" and "had done Her Majesty good service, &
deserved to be rewarded for his faithful dealing." The exact nature of that service remains

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Prologue
This play talks about faustuu‘s furtunes good or bad.
Faustus was born in Germany in a won called Rhode. He was very intelligent and ambition. His
parents were not rich. Later he travelled to Wittenberg because his relatives were there and he
studied at Wittenberg University , he became famous in the university for his knowledge . It was
no longer before the university made his Dr.Faustus. He became a great scholar a cquired
knowledge in divinity and the biology. After all this success he became too proud of his
knowledge. His success meant very little to him , so he tried to over . He became dissatisfied
with the limitations of knowledge. So he decided to pledges his soul to Lucifer in exchange for
unlimited power. So his pride and arrogance led to his downfall.
The chorus mentioned a story similar to Faustus‘s story which is about Icarus and dedlalous.
They were in person , so they decided to made wings with wax and that helped Icarus to fly. His
father advised him not flow too high in the sky near the sun because the sun will melt his waxed
wings , but he did not hear to the advice as well Faustus.
NOTE 1 : Both Faustus and Icarus were proud and arrogant trying to reach beyond the limits of
human being.
NOTE 2 : The chorus mentioned the story of Icarus is allusion from a Greek myth.
Questions:
1- Who wrote Dr. Faustus play ?
-Christopher Marlowe.
2- Where was Faustus born ? and where studied ?
-He was born in Rhode , but he studied in Wittenberg.
3- Faustus is a learned scholar in Germany during fifteen century .
4- Faustus decided to sell his soul to the devil for earthy power and knowledge for 24 years .
5- Faustus decided to study necromancy .
6- Faustus belives that hell is a myth .
7- A waxen wings is a allusion from a Greek myth .
8- Dr.Faustus was written by Christopher Marlowe and published in 1604 .
9- The line ―speak well of scholar‖ is an irony .
10- Mephistophilis told Dr.Faustus that they were angles living in heaven before they became
damned .
11- Dr.faustus basted on story …………

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Characters
Doctor John Faustus A learned scholar in Germany during the fifteenth century who becomes
dissatisfied with the limitations of knowledge and pledges his soul to Lucifer in exchange for
unlimited power.
Wagner Faustus' servant, who tries to imitate Faustus' methods of reasoning and fails in a
ridiculous and comic manner.
Valdes and Cornelius Two German scholars who are versed in the practice of magic and who
teach Faustus about the art of conjuring.
Lucifer King of the underworld and a fallen angel who had rebelled against God and thereafter
tries desperately to win souls away from the Lord.
Mephistophilis A prince of the underworld who appears to Faustus and becomes his servant for
twenty-four years.
Good Angel and Evil Angel Two figures who appear to Faustus and attempt to influence him.
The Clown The clown who becomes a servant of Wagner as Mephistophilis becomes a servant
to Faustus.
Horse-Courser A gullible man who buys Faustus' horse, which disappears when it is ridden
into a pond.
The Pope The head of the Roman Catholic church, whom Faustus and Mephistophilis use as a
butt of their practical jokes.
Charles V, Emperor of Germany The emperor who holds a feast for faustus and at whose
court Faustus illustrates his magical power.
Knight A haughty and disdainful knight who insults Faustus. In revenge, Faustus makes a pair
of horns appear on the knight.
Duke and Duchess of Vanholt A couple whom Faustus visits and for whom he conjures up
some grapes.
Robin An ostler who steals some of Dr. Faustus' books and tries to conjure up some devils.
Rafe (Ralph) A friend of Robin's who is present with Robin during the attempt to conjure up
devils.
Vintner A man who appears and tries to get payment for a goblet from Robin.
Old Man, He appears to Faustus during the last scene and tries to tell Faustus that there is still
time to repent.

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Scene 1
Faustus now in his room studying and he became dissatisfied with his knowledge so he began to
pick them up one by one. The first book was about medicine he said that medicine has not
enabled him to make human beings immortal or to bring dead men back to life. He took another
book and it was about logic (analytics/Aristotle). He turned the pages idly. He discovered that
the purpose of logic is to argue, so he threw it .once again. He pick up a book about law. Law!
(legal). He thought scornfully. That might be all right for someone who just wanted to make
money who is money-minder but law doesn‘t satisfy him.
Finally , Dr. Faustus picked up a bible (divinity) this would be the best and he started reading a
passage ―if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and there is no truth in us he read.
Faustus said if that‘s true we‘re all sinners and sinners go to hell. There is no thing we can do
about that. He pushed the bible away. ‗Ah‘ he said excitedly ‗ a book of magic and spells . that‘s
what really interests me. He thought that magic will bring him not only wealth, but power and
glory .so he decided to learn about magic and the black arts.
Faustus rebels against human limitations he would like to have power and to have the ability to
do things that no one did it before. Such as bring the dead back to life we have to know that
Faustus chose devil and damnation himself. Dr. Faustus thought about two friends he had in
Witten berg , Valdes and Cornelius to visit me . Faustus instructed him Wager to call them .
Faustus sat by fire waiting for them to come . suddenly he saw two angels in front of him. The
good angel asks fausts not to read the book of magic. Put it away the good angel asked Faustus
to read bible. The evil angel encourages him to study magic and to become as powerful on earth
like god in sky. Faustus is left alone in a soliloquy. Now he is thinking of good things that he can
do with magic to justify. He gave himself justification so he said I will asks spirits to bring me
gold from India. Pearls from oceans. And also delicious food from all corners of the new world
at least Valdes and Cornelius arrived Dr.faustus asked them to advise him. I decided to study
magic not because you advised me but magic ravished me ―Faustus said .he wants to be
magician like the one a grsppa used to be. Valdes encourages Faustus and said that spirits will be
at the service of Faustus. Spirit will guard you and bring treasures to you . they will do whatever
you tell them to.
―Faustus will be greater than the dolphin oracle‖ Cornelius added .after that , Valdes gave
Faustus the guidance and asked him to go to some solitary grove in order to conjure.so Faustus
decided to conjure this same time .

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questions:-
1- Did satan try to lempt (seduce) Faustus to read a book of magic? Yes, he did because
satan did not want Faustus to be aclergy man. Because satan aleay trying to stray the
people to the right way to god. And satan tempt Faustus that he can do these things.
2- Ask spirits to read philosophy .
3- Tell the spirits to tell him the screts of foreign kings.
4- He will wall all Germany with brass.
5- He will make the river Rhine circle to the city of Wittenberg.
6- He will clothe university students with silk.
7- He will raise an army to chase the prince of parma from his land.
8- He willhave weapons for the war.

1- Why did Faustus reject divinity?

- Because the reward for sin is hell and all humans are sinners.
2- Why did Faustus throw book of medicine ?
- Because he discovered that the study of medicine does not enabled to make human beings
immortal or bring dead men to life.
3- Why did fastus rejects legal(law)??
- Because he believed that law might be all right for someone who wanted to make money.
A man who is money minded.
4- Did Faustus enjoy studying logic? Explain .
- No , he did not . because he said I can argue and debate better than most of professors
here. It does not sitsfy him.
5- Why did the two angels appear?
- The represent the inner conflict that is going in faustus‘s mind.
6- Why does Faustus promise to do noble (good) deeds?
- Because he wants to justify to himself. He wants an excuse to convince himself to practice
magic .
7- Valdes and Cornelius are only ones responsible for making Faustus practice magic
explain.
- Infact they are not the responsible for making him practicing magic but he wants that.
8- Valdes gave Faustus ------------ and asked him to go to ------------ in order to conjure.
9- Valdes and cournelius taught Faustus how to practice magic.
10- Dr.faustus decides to stop practicing medicine because ---------------------.
11- The first chaus told the audience that it will not deal with war, love, proud deeds.
- It will not deal with war,love,proud deeds.
12- Though he is a man of high knowledge but Faustus proved that he is a naïve person.
13- Dr. Faustus is unknown person before practicing magic (T/F)
14- Dr. Faustus is looking for power , wealth glory.
15- Dr . Faustus completely believes that god will forgive him(T/F)
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Scene 2
Two scholars feel worried about Dr. Faustus because they haven‘t seen him for some time at the
university . they met wager . they asked him about Faustus . Wagner is a fun-loving person .he
argues with them and tried to imitate his master. He plays upon words. Then they knew that
Faustus is at dinner in the company of Valdes and corelius who wanted to teach Faustus the
black art. The scholar feel sorry because Valdes and corelins are bad ones. They decided to
inform the president of the university about Faustus to wean away Faustus .
Questions:-
1- Wagner is an example of a withy servant .
2- The two scholars admire Dr. Faustus.
3- Before Faustus practice magic he had excellent reputation.
4- The two scholars feel -------------- about Faustus.
5- Wagner told the two scholars that they can find Faustus ―in the place of execution‖ that
there is a pun upon the phrase.

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Scene 3
Faustus is Seen in a dark grove ready To Conjure. It is the time of night He Drew a circle on the
floor and wrote the Name of Jehovah for warred and back ward Anagrammatized and figures of
various Starts and planets telling himself not Feel afraid but to be resolute-He says
Spells which will bring Mephistopheles . Faustus heard a terrible noise of thunder ( Go away)
faustus commanded You are too ugly to appear In front of me Go away and come back in the
form of Franciscan friar

Mephistopheles leaves Faust feels Very happy when he devil-obeyed him- He called himself a
conjurer laureate A few minutes later Mephistopheles reappeared again in the form of
Franciscan friar

What do you want me to do? The devil said .I command you to obey me during my life .Faustus
said I am Lucifer‘s servant .Mephistopheles told Faustus that I can't obey you with order of
Lucifer But didn't Lucifer send you to me? Faust added
No I came because we appear whenever Someone curses God Christ and scriptures
A person who curses God is in danger Of damnation Mephistopheles Saied
Tell me about Lucifer Faustus order .Mephistopheles ;Said yes, he was an angel And God
loved him But Lucifer was-proud Then God threw him into hell So, Lucifer fell from Heaven
because of His pride and insolence.
Mephistopheles said that there were many other angels who fell with Lucifer because hey
revolted Against God hose evil angels-are damned Forever in hell Mephistopheles said He is
in hell now Than Mephistopheles describes hell as Mental Conditional and not place where the
damned Souls are damned to live Faustus Told Mephistopheles that he wanted to be like him I
have a message for Lucifer Faustus told Mephistopheles go and tell Lucifer that he must
Give me twenty four years of life in exchange for it During those 24 years Lucifer must give me
everything I asked for and Mephistopheles must be Faustus Servant during these 24yearsI will
tell him Mephistopheles agreed Left alone Faustus said even if had many souls I would give
them all for Lucifer He hopes to be great emperor of world. He began dreaming about what he
would do When Lucifer agreed to his offer.

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Questions
Mephistopheles told Faustus that they were ( angels) before they damned.
Mephistopheles told Faustus that the devils appear whenever some body cursing lucifer (T/F)
Faustus believes that hell is nothing but(. )
Lucifer was in the hell(T/F)
Faustus liked Mephistopheles because he had good look (T/F)
Mephistopheles templeted faustus to practice magic (T/F)
Mephistopheles is Lucifer‘s master (T/F)
Lucifer forced Faustus to take his soul (T/F)
Make a character analysis Faustus character?
Dr.Faustus becomes a victim of the knowledge he is looking for?
Scene 4
A Street
This is another comic scene. This time Faustsus' Wagner tnes to befool the clown. The clown
does not work and feels bungry and he is semi-naked.Wagner feels sorry for him . Wagner wants
to emplgy the cloewn as his boy but the clown dosen't want to serve anyone. Wagner tries to
beat the clown. He summons two devils with magic words, which he picked up from faustos'
magic books. The clown is scared. The clown decides to accept the employment.
Critical comments
1- Wagner's desire to command the clown is a parody of faustus' desire to command
Mephistophilis.
2- Wagner believes that the clown would give his soul to the devil for shoulder of mutton. This
reminds us of Faustus who gives his soul to the devil, not for a shoulder of mutton, but for 24
years of power .
The clown says if he wants to give his soul to the devil, he would like to have mutton-well-
roasted. When Wagner threatens to call two devils, the clown doesn't take him seriously. He says
that he will knock the devils and kill one of them and people will call him a (kill-devil). The two
devils appear and the clown is running and crying. When the two devils him, the clown
distinguishes a he- devil from a she- devil. All he- devils have horns and all she- devils have
cloven feel.
The clown accepts to work as a servant but he wants to learn magic. Wagner promises to teach
him magic by which he would able to turn himself into a dog or a cat or a mouse. The clown
says that as a Christian, he should not accept to turn himself to a dog or a mouse, but he has no
abjection if he changes him into a little frisking flea so that he can fly here and there and " tickle
the pretty wenches".

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Scene 5
Faustus in his study
Faustus is alone in his study. He realizes that he is now damned and that it is no use thinking of
god or heaven. He surprises because a voice arguing him to give up magic and turn to God
again. His mind wants him to return to God but he remembers that he has to serve his own
appetites. He decides to devote himself to the devil, to build a church to the devil and to offer the
devil "lukewarm blood of new born babes"
The Good Angel and the Evil Angel appear. The Good Angel argues him to think of heaven,
while the Evil Angel tempts him with power and wealth. When Faustus hears the word "wealth",
he thinks of acquiring the lordship of the rich city of Emden. He thinks that, with
Mephistophilis, God will not be able to hurt him.
Mephistophilis appears and-tell Faustus that Lucifer has agreed to buy his on conditions laid
down by Faustus. Mephistopheles wants Faustus to sign a bond with his blood. Faustus stabs his
arm and begins to write the bond but his blood congeals. Mephistophilis brings some burning
coals. Then, Faustus sees an inscription on his arm. The words of the inscription are "man run
away" . Faustus is puzzled. If he runs away, God will not accept him. That inscription
disappears but then reappears. Faustus decides not to run away.
Mephistophilis wants to entertain Faustus. A number of devils – appear and give crowns and
expensive clothes to Faustus. Faustus asks if he can summon all devils, and Mephistophilis says
that he can do whatever he wants .
Faustus reads the bond. He will sell his soul for 24 years of power. Lucifer will take Faustus'
soul, body, flesh, and blood. Faustus asks about the hell Mephistophilis tells him that hell is not
a place but it means a condition in which one Fells tortured.
Faustus believes that hell is just a myth. Mephistophilis tells him that he cannot change his
opinion until experience changes his mind. Faustus refuses to believe that ther is any pain after
life and considers it like old wives tales. Mephistophilis tells Faustus that Mephistophilis' soul is
in hell. Faustus says that if hell means that one can continue sleeping eating walking and arguing
he would be damned.
Faustus asks for a wife because he cannot live without a wife. Mephistophilis offers him a devil
disguised as a woman. Faustus dislikes her. Mephistophilis wants Faustus to forget marriage and
he should have a mistress. He promises him to make available any woman whom he likes. Be
beautiful as was bright Lucifer before his fall. He gives Faustus a book of magic to get power
over human beings and the elements.
Scene 6

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Faustus is shown to us experiencing a mental conflict. He thinks of heaven and curses

Mephistophilis whom he blames for having instigated him to choose the path of evil. He wants
to repent but the Good Angel and the Evil Angel appear. Faustus says that his heart is so
hardened that he finds it impossible to repent. That moment he the word (heaven) he hears
fearful sounds roaring in his ears and telling him that he is damned.
Various weapons of death are placed before him to enable him to kill himself. He does not kill
himself because of his feeling of despair. He had made blind Horner appeared before him and
sing to him of the love of Alexander and for Oenon's death. He has built the walls of thebes,
melodious appears and produces ravishing music from melodious harp.
When he thinks of all these pleasures, he decides to continue of magic. Faustus questions
Mephistophilis about the nature of this universe. He asks if there are many heavens above the
moon and if all heavenly bodies constitute one globe. Mephistophilis says that all the spheres are
"mutually folded in each other's orb", and all move upon one axletree whose terminus is called
as poles of the Zodiac.
The entire sphere move from east to west in 24 hours. Faustus feels impatient with this
information because it is elementary knowledge known even to his servant (Wagner). He asys
Mephistophilis to tell him who made the world. Mephistophilis refuses to answer.
Mephistophilis warns him not to ask him questions which are against the kingdom of hell.
The Good Angel whisper into Faustus ears to think of God of the world. Mephistophilis reminds
Faustus that he is already damned Faustus calls Mephistophilis an "accursed spirit" and
complains that it is he who has damned his soul.
The Good Angel and Evil Angel appear .
The Good Angel tells him that it is not too late for repentance, the Evil Angel warns him if he
repents, the devil will tear him into pieces.
Faustus calls Christ to save his soul. He finds himself confronted with Lucifer Belzebub, and
Mephistophilis who tell him about his promise. They warn him not to think of God but think of
devil. Faustus obeys them and vows never to look to heaven, never to name God or pray.
Lucifer summons the Seven Deadly Sins to entertain Faustus. These Seven Deadly Sins are pride
covetousness,wrath,envy,gluttony,sloth,and lechery .
1- Pride says that he scorns the idea that he had any parents .
2- Covetousness likes everything to be turned to gold .
3- Wrath claims to have come out of a lion's mouth .
4- Envy wants all people to die and live alone .

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5- Gluttony has eaten all food and drink but he wants more .
6- Sloth feels lazy even to speak .
7- Lechery hints that the first letter of him name is ( L ).
When the Seven Deadly Sins departed or left, Faustus wants to see hell, and then to come bake
again. Lucifer gives him a magic book and he can turn himself into any shape.
Notes
1. This scene gives us an idea about the mind of a hardened sinner .
2. Mephistophilis doesn't want to admit that the world was made by God.
3. Lucifer appears, not Christ because Faustus' will-power is weakened, and he cannot repent.
4. The appearance of Angels means that Faustus is torn is between the pleasure of magic and the
desire for repentance.
5. We must know that Faustus' sin is (pride) mingled with (curiosity).
Chorus
The chorus tells us that Faustus knows the secrets of astronomy when he reads book about
(clouds, planest, stars…..)
1. Faustus has ascended to the top of the Olympus mountain .
2. He sits in a chariot drawn by dragons .
3. He is carried all over the universe in 8 days .
4. He wants to know about Cosmography .
5. Then he decides to go to Rome and sees the pope and his court, and to witness St. peter feast.

Scens 7
Faustus in Rome
Faustus is now in Rome in the company of Mephistophilis. Before arriving here, he has seen the
ststely town of Trier, next he saw the river Maine fall into Rhine. After that he went up visited
Naples, then he saw Maro's golden tomb of Virgil, from it and through a rock of stone, which
stands there, threats the stars with her aspiring top.
Mephistophilis describes to him the city of Rome which stands upon seven hills, with the Tiber
running through its midst. Mephistophilis also describes a castle within whose walls are a huge
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store of war. Faustus expresses a strong desire to see the monuments and layout of (brigh-
Rome). Mephistophilis wants him to see the Pope's Court first.
Mephistophilis make Faustus invisible and he plays a few tricks on the Pop who is at a fast in the
company of the Cardinal of Lorraine.
Faustus snatches away dishes and drinks from the hands of the Pope. Faustus then hits Pope his
cars. The Pope orders his frias to perfrom a titual to call down a curse on the sinner who offends
the Pope. At the end of this ceremony, Mephistophilis and Faustus beat the friars, and throw fire
– works among then .
This scene shows Faustus who is playing a few tricks on the Pope. The Pope is the hhighest
symbol of the Roman Catholic Church, while Faustus as a disciple of the devil, and is the enemy
of the church .
Important
Through these tricks played by Faustus on the pope, the writer (marlowe) reveals his anti-
religious and anti-christian views. These tricks detract a great deal from Faustus dignity and
lower him in our estimation.

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The speech of the chorus

The chorus tell us that, after his journeys to various places, Faustus returns home where is
received by his friends and (nearest companions ) who feel impressed by his learned answeres to
their questions.
Faustus fame has now spread to every land. He has given magic performance at various places,
the court of the emperor, Charles V, being one of them.
Scene 8
An Inn-yard
Robin, an ostler, has stolen one of Dr. Faustus magic books, and wants to learn some spells.
Ralph, an assistant to the ostler, calls for Robin because one of his customers needs him at the
stable.Robin warns Ralph to keep away from the magic circle, that he has drawn. Robin claims
that he can supply any quantity of spiced wine for Ralph and he can procure the kitchen-maid for
raplh's pleasure. Ralph feels very happy at this offer.
This scene is comic and farcical. It shows robin making use of one of Dr. Faustus magic books
and playing magic tricks (like Wagner ). This scene is mere clownish most of critics believe that
Marlowe did not write this scene, but he might have allowed a collaborator to write it.
Scene 9
The Inn-yard
Robin and Ralph have been drinking at a wine –bar and have stolen a silver wine cup from
there.The bar man who wants his wine cups chases them. Robin pretends to be very offended.
However, the bar man insists on searching Robin. The bar-man does not find his cup, so he turns
to Ralph who scolds him for having accused ''honest'' men of theft the bar-man does not find the
wine –cup even on the person of Ralph, though he is sure that one of them has got it.
The wine- cup has been with the two men, but the bar –man has failed to see it because of
Robin's magic. Robin now wishes to punish the bar- man. He makes use of a few spells to
summon Mephistophilis who appears immediately. All the three are afraid when they see the
devil. Ralph gives the wine – cup to the bar – man who feels happy. Robin asks mephistophilis
for giveness for having bothered him. Mephistophilis feels annoyed at having been summoned
by these 2 villains because he had to come all the way from Constantinople. Robin offers him six
pence to pay for his supper, mephistophilis feels more annoyed and transformed one of them into
an ape and the other into a dog.

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Scene 10
The Emperor's Palace at Innsbruck
Enter Emperor, Faustus, and a Knight, with Attendants.
The scene now shifted to the emperor's palace at Innsbruck. The Emperor has heard of Faustus
Great reputation as a magician. He would like to see with his own eyes some proof of Faustus
magical skill Faustus is ready to satisfy the Emperor's curiosity with his magic performance and
he asks the emperor the emperor what he would have him to do to show his skill.
The Emperor speaks of greatness of his ancestors among who was Alexander the great, the most
heroic of them all. The Emperor would like Faustus to raise Alexander the great from the tomb
in which he lies buried. The Emperor would like Faustus to raise Alexander's beautiful mistress,
Thais. He wants to see Alexander and Thais as they used to be during their life –time.
Faustus says that he is ready to do that but the Emperor will only see spirits in the guise of
Alexander and Thais not the actual bodies because the actual bodies were reduced to dust long
ago. A knight at the court is skeptical of the powers of Faustus whom he thinks to be a juggler.
Faustus tells this knight that he will soon deal with him for his insolence. At Faustus command
Mephistophilis brings Alexander and his mistress. The Emperor is surprised when he sees them.
Warlock
Juggler
Conjurer
After the spirits are gone. Faustus requests the Emperor to send the Knight who had spoken to
him in a sarcastic manner. When the Knight reappears, he is seen with a pair of horns on his
head. The Knight abuses Faustus. Faustus reminds the knight of his insolence towards him. The
Emperor asks Faustus to remove the horn. Faustus removes the horns and warns the knight to be
more respectful towards scholars in future. The Emperor promises a generous reward to Faustus
for his magic display.

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Scene 11, A green.

Faustus and Mephistohilis
Faustus is ready to return to Wittenberg. Before he sets out on his journey a horse – dealer
Comes and offers (40) dollars for Faustus horse. Faustus wants (50) dollars for the horse. The
horse-dealer says that he has only (40) dollars with him. Faustus accepts the (40) dollars but
warns the horse-dealer that he should never ride this horse into a water under any circumstances.
The horse –dealer thinks that he has made a very good bargain. The horse- dealer goes away,
and Faustus realizes that the time of his death is nearing. Faustus consoles himself that Christ
showed pity to a thief at the very last moment. Faustus falls asleep in a chair. The horse- dealer
comes again. He is all wet and he loses his horse. The horse-dealer thinks that the horse had
some quality, which Faustus didn't want him to know, and so he rode the horse into water. The
horse disappeared and the Horse- dealer found himself sitting on a bundle of hay, about to
drowned.
Important
Faustus wants God to pity him just like a Christ pity on a thief who steals his cloths.
The Horse- dealer wants to get his money back. Mephitophilis tells him that Faustus is a sleep
and should not be disturbed. The Horse- dealer shouts in Faustus ears to wake him up. When
Faustus does not move, The Horse- dealer pulls him by the leg and it so happens that the leg
comes off in his hand. Faustus begins to cry at the loss of his leg and ask Mephistophilis to call
the police. Faustus agrees to accept a compensation of(40) dollars from the Horse-dealer for the
loss of his leg. The Horse-dealer pays (40) dollars and runs away. Faustus feels happy that he
has tricked him again. Faustus receives a message that the duke of Vanholt wants him at his
court to give a display of his magic powers and Faustus is ready to go there.
Scene 13
The Court of the Duke of Vanholt
Faustus give magic performance at the court of the duke of Vanholt who feels much pleased
with Faustus. Faustus offers to procure for the duchess of Vanholt (who is pregnant) any estable.
Duchess of Vanholt says that, if it had not been the coldest time of winter, would have loved
nothing better than a bunch of ripe grapes (which are llable only in summer). Faustus says that it
is a very small request. The next moment Mephistophilis appears with a bunch of grapes, which
Faustus offers to the Duke. The duke expresses his surprise at this miracle, Faustus explains that
though it is winter in this part of the world, it is summer in the countries off the east. The
duchess says that these are the best grapes she has ever tasted in her life. The duke offers a
generous reward to Faustus for his magic performance

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Scene 14
A room in Faustus house.
Enter Wagner
We learn from Wagner that Faustus end is approaching. And that he has already given all his
goods to him(to Wagner). But Wagner feels puzzled to think why in case Faustus death is near,
he should be feasting, drinking, and maing merry.
Scene 15
The Room in Faustus house .
Enter Faustus with two or three scholars, and mephistiohilis.
The scholars leave and an old man enters and tries to persuade to repent mephitophilis hands him
a dagger. The old man persuades him to ask god for mercy. Once the old man leaves,
mephistophilis threatens to cut Faustus into pieces if he forgets his promise or his bond Faustus
stabs his arm again and inscribing it in blood. Faustus asks mephistophilis to punish the old man
Mephistophilis says that he can‘t touch the old man soul. Faustus asks him to let him see Helen
again. Helen enters and Faustus makes a great speech about beauty and kisses her.
Critical comments
It is noteworthy that mephistophilis cannot touch the soul of the old man because the old man
faith in god is unshakable. We here witness the contrast between the old man on one hand and
Faustus on the other. The old man has an unflinching faith in god, while Faustus, in spite of the
mental conflict that has been going on in his mind, is completely on the side of the devil.
The scene serves also to emphasize Faustus sensuality. Sensuality is one of the vices of Faustus
as his mistress. Faustus knows that Helen is a spirit a devil in the guise of a woman, and not the
real.

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Scene 16
The Room in Faustus house
The Old Man who has Entered in Scene 15.
The old man appears again. He says that Faustus has not followed his advice but has continued
to practice necromancy and thus (excluded the grace if heaven from his soul).
The devils appear they obey the orders of mephistophilis. They begin to afflict the old man with
physical torment. The old man realizes that his end is near but his faith in God remains unshaken
in spite of the torture. The old man gets ready to meet his end.
This scene serves to emphasize to contrast between Faustus who is working with the devil, and
the old man whose faith in God remains faith and strong. The old man treats his torture as a test
of his loyalty to God. We admire the old man fir his steadfast and unwavering devotion to God.
Scene 17
The Room in Faustus house.
Enters Faustus with the scholars.
Faustus is now seen in the company of the scholars. He tells them that he has committed a sin
and God will not forgive him. Because of his wonders, he has lost everything. He says that he is
doomed to live in hell forever because he renounced God. He would like to weep, but the devil
doe not permit him to shed tears.
He would like to lift his hands in prayer to God, but the devil holds his hands. He tells the
scholars that he signed a bond with the devil pledging his soul to him. When one of the scholars
asks him why he didn‘t tell them about his condition earlier, Faustus says that he wanted to do so
but the devil threatened to tear his flesh into pieces if he ever named God or if he ''once gave ear
to divinity''. He tells the scholars that his end is now near and asks them to leave him and move
into the next room in order to pray for him. The scholars make their exit and Faustus is left
alone. Faustus has now one hour to live. The clock has stuck eleven and at the hour o the
midnight mephitophilis will come to take a way Faustus soul to hell. Faustus is in a miserable
condition. He asks (1) the planets to stop moving. So that the hour of midnight may not come.
(2) He calls upon sun to rise and spread its brightness in order to prevent the coming of
midnight. (3)He wants this hour to prolong itself so that he may get the time to repent and save
his soul . However, he knows that these things are of no use because the clock will strike the
hour of 12 and the devil will come. (4) Faustus now thinks of God and sees a vision of Christ's
blood flowing in the sky. One drop of that blood can save his soul even a half drop would suffice

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But the moment he names God and Christ, the devil begins to (rend) his heart. He would like to
escape (the heavy wrath of God) and calls (5) upon the mountains and hills to descend upon him
to hide him. (6) He asks the earth to open so that he may take a shelter in its bowels.
(7) He asks the stars to draw him up into the entrails of the clouds in the sky so that after being
purified there , he may be able to enter heaven
The clock strikes the half-hour
(1) He asks God for mercy. If God will not have mercy on his soul. He (God) should at least fix
a limit to his damnation.
(2) Faustus says that he will live in hell a thousand years or a hundred thousand years. He thinks
that there is no end to the torture of damned souls. (3) He wishes that he didn‘t have a soul.
He wishes that Pythagoras theory of the transmigration of souls were true so that after death his
soul could enter the body of some beast because all beast are happy. But alas he must go to hell.
(4) he curses his parents for having begotten him, but he should curse himself or Lucifer.
The clock now strikes now strikes the hour of midnight. (2) Faustus wants his body to turn into
air. He wants (2) his soul to be changed into little water drops which could mingle with the
ocean and get lost forever.
The roar of thunder is heard. The devils appear. Faustus sees the fierce looks in their eyes. He
offers to burn his magic books. Mephistophilis appears and Faustus utters a scream of terror. The
devils than take a way Faustus .

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The Chorus
The chorus appears to speak the epilogue. They refer to the tragic death off the man who was a
great scholar and who was so dear to Apollo, the god of learning. The chorus asks all wise men
to keep away from ungodly practices. Their speech contains the moral of the play. This play is
morality and this speech of the Chorus is one of the features of a morality play.

Q. What do you think is the cause of the tragedy in Doctor Faustus ?

We think that Faustus is already master of all the existing knowledge and skills. He is a famous
physician, honored by whole cities.
The tragedy of Faustus is like the tragedy of Adam to Adam, paradise was not enough. Adam
sought knowledge, and this was a forward step in the direction of self-realization. To the
orthodox people, Adam's action is surely sinful, just as Faustus action wholly devilish in the eyes
of the chorus who opens and closes the play.
Faustus has dismissed all studies but necromancy ( which he thinks to be the key to his self-
realization). The Good Angel tells him to put aside the damned book of magic, while the Evil
Angel urges him to go forward in that famous art.
He wants to resolve all ambiguities, red strange philosophy, over his country with a wall of
brass. Faustus scorns all Mephistopheles warnings. He offers his soul to Lucifer for 24 years of
power.

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Symbols:
Blood
Blood plays multiple symbolic roles in the play. When Faustus signs away his soul, he signs in
blood, symbolizing the permanent and supernatural nature of this pact. His blood congeals on the
page, however, symbolizing, perhaps, his own body‘s revolt against what he intends to do.
Meanwhile, Christ‘s blood, which Faustus says he sees running across the sky during his terrible
last night, symbolizes the sacrifice that Jesus, according to Christian belief, made on the cross;
this sacrifice opened the way for humankind to repent its sins and be saved. Faustus, of course,
in his proud folly, fails to take this path to salvation. blood is a symbol of life and life's
connection to God—the divine source that animates the body. In Doctor Faustus it represents
the doctor's soul, and thus his link to the devil, but also the only path to Faustus's salvation. In
Act 2 Mephastophilisinsists that the deed to Faustus's soul be drawn up in the doctor's blood,
underscoring the blood's supernatural nature. It is blood that secures the link between Faustus
and Lucifer as the doctor literally hands over the physical and spiritual essence of his divine
nature to the devil. This causes Faustus's soul to be bound to hell. Yet while blood still courses
through Faustus's veins, he lives and may therefore repent.

In his blood oath to Lucifer, Faustus says, "I cut mine arm, and with my proper blood / Assure
my soul to be great Lucifer's." But his own blood acts independently of him. Midway through
the writing of his pact with Lucifer, Faustus's blood congeals to the point where he cannot get
enough to continue writing. The doctor has time to wonder what this portends and to ask, "Is
[my blood] unwilling I should write this bill?" Then Mephistopheles provides hot coals that
liquefy the blood once more. As the blood represents Faustus's soul, it appears that his soul is not
yet damned but is fighting for survival. Something within Faustus is righteous enough to resist
what the doctor is about to do by signing the pact. Throughout the play he must be convinced to
keep his bargain. In Act 5 when Mephistopheles fears that Faustus may repent, he frightens
Faustus into renewing his blood oath to Lucifer.

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Books
Books scattered throughout the play represent various avenues of learning as well as Faustus's
attitude toward the knowledge and wisdom each offers. In Act 1 he peruses books representing
traditional subjects of study during the Renaissance: logic, medicine, law, and theology. These
books represent the accumulated knowledge and wisdom of the medieval past. Tossing the
books aside, Faustus rejects their subject matter and dismisses their value. What they offer is
old-fashioned, too limited in scope, or something he has already mastered.
Faustus, hungry for new knowledge, picks up a book on necromancy, a branch of magic in
which someone makes the dead appear in the form of spirits in order to manipulate the present or
predict the future. This promise of hidden knowledge appeals to Faustus. Once he signs his pact
with Lucifer, Mephastophilis gives him a better book, filled with spells and incantations, as well
as the secrets of astronomy. astrology, and the natural sciences. However, neither book contains
wisdom. As a result they represent Faustus's foolish entry into forbidden realms of study, where
he is showered with knowledge while losing his soul. In a final act of despair, Faustus vows to
burn his books, signaling that he means to give up necromancy. The wisdom of rejecting magic
in favor of salvation does not come from a book but from the hard reality that magic has brought
him to the doorstep of hell.

The Good Angel and the Evil Angel

As symbols, the Good Angel and the Evil Angel personify the conflict between the opposing
values of good and evil and represent the spiritual battle taking place for Faustus's heart and
soul. The angels also symbolize Faustus's inner turmoil as he wrestles with his pride and
ambition on the one hand and his conscience and fear of damnation on the other. The angels
stand for the two warring aspects of his mind and as such engage in a perpetual debate. In Act 2,
Scene 1 the Good Angel urges Faustus to "think of heaven and heavenly things" while the Bad
Angel counters with "think of honor and wealth." Later, in Act 2, Scene 3, the Evil Angel is
convinced that it is "too late" for Faustus to repent. The Good Angel retorts, "Never too late, if
Faustus can repent." In a broader sense the two angels illustrate the dividedness of human nature,
the internal tug-of-war between a human's noble and moral aspirations and that same human's
ignoble and immoral passions.
The sacred significance of blood appears at the end of the play and represents atonement through
Christ. The old man pleads with Faustus to shed one drop of blood to mingle with tears of
repentance, to save his soul. Later Faustus despairingly wishes he could "gush forth blood,
instead of tears." As his death draws near he sees "where Christ's blood streams in the
firmament." This alludes to the blood Jesus Christ shed on the cross to wash away the sins of the
world. In other words Faustus is not yet beyond mercy and deliverance. All that is required is
repentance and a blood oath to God.

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 DR.FAUSTUS

Theme:
Pride
Pride is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, arguable the one that leads to all the others. Within the
Christian framework, pride is a lethal motivation because it makes the sinner forget his fallen
state. For Christians, men are fallen since birth, because they carry with them the taint of original
sin. A men made haughty with pride forgets that he shares Eve's sin, and must therefore be saved
by the gift of grace. Only God, through Christ, can dispense this grace, and the man who forgets
that fact deprives himself of the path to salvation.

Faustus' first great sin is pride. He does not stop there. Reflecting the Christian view, pride gives
rise to all of the other sins, and ends ironically with the proud man's abasement. Faustus goes
quickly from pride to all of the other sins, becoming increasingly petty and low.

Fall
The theme of the fall in the drama results from two sources, one Christian and one classical. The
classical motif is presented in the beginning of the play by the image of Icarus and his fall.
Icarus was trapped in a labyrinth and his father made him a pair of wax wings so that
he might escape by flying over the confusing maze. In his pride at being able to fly, he flew too
close to the sun, melted his wax wings, and fell to his death in the ocean. Thus, the image or
allusion to Icarus should evoke the idea of pride bringing about a man's fall and ultimate death.
In conjunction with this classical image is the Christian image of the fall of Lucifer. Lucifer,
because of his pride, revolted against God and fell from heaven. In both images the emphasis is
upon pride bringing about a fall. The images comment also upon Faustus' situation in that he is
likewise a man of pride who aspires to rise above his human limitation and as a result plunges to
destruction. His descent from a possible state of salvation into one of eternal damnation is
prepared for by the many illusions to a "fall" throughout the drama.

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THE APPETITES
At the beginning of the play, Marlowe establishes the image that Faustus has a great hunger for
knowledge. When the devil brings various apparitions before him, Faustus comments that these
things feed his soul. Each time that Faustus wants to enter into a discussion of the noble things
of the world, Mephistophilis shows him something which would appeal to his baser nature and
thus satisfy his physical desires. Mephistophilis and Lucifer even parade the seven deadly sins
before Faustus and the appearances of these loathsome apparitions evokes from Faustus the
comment: "O, this feeds my soul." During the course of the drama, the manner in which Faustus
satisfies his appetites brings about his damnation. Even at the end of his twenty-four years, he
signs a second contract in order to satisfy his carnal appetites by having Helen of Troy as his
paramour. Finally in the last scene, he comes to the realization that his appetites have been
directly responsible for his downfall. The manner in which he has fulfilled his desires has
brought damnation upon himself. "A surfeit of deadly sin that hath damned both body and soul."

Pride and Ambition

The theme of pride and ambition is linked to the theme of knowledge over wisdom. The
synthesis of these two themes has an intoxicating effect on Faustus. His intellectual pride, or
arrogance, makes him impatient with even the most revered authorities of the past, such as
Aristotle, a philosopher, Galen, a philosopher and physician, and Justinian, a specialist in law.
Faustus's ambition is to know more than all their accumulated knowledge and wisdom can teach
him. For this reason, he turns to the study of magic. He fantasizes that by mastering this field of
study, he could become a god and command a vast realm, limited only by his imagination. He
never considers using his knowledge for any kind of greater good.
In his pride and ambition, Faustus has a kindred spirit in Lucifer, whose history mirrors his own.
In the beginning Lucifer, the highest ranking angel in heaven, was full of wisdom and perfect in
his beauty. But he became filled with pride and desired to be God, instead of a servant to God.
For his pride and insolent ambition, God threw Lucifer and his followers out of heaven. Lucifer
went on to establish his own kingdom: hell. Like Lucifer, Faustus's first great sin is pride. It
leads to his rejection of God, his pact with the devil, the many additional sins he commits, and
his final damnation.
Like Lucifer's, Faustus's pride-driven ambitions are never realized. Worse, they are reduced to
something trivial and low. Lucifer uses his power to corrupt and add souls to his hellish
kingdom. Faustus uses his power to play pranks, con simple folk, and gain fame by entertaining
royalty with magic. He never uses his power to better himself or the world, nor does he fulfill his
initial desire to rule Earth. In fact, his conjuring tricks are, at best, impressive versions of those
pulled off by Wagner, Rafe, and Robin.

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Damnation versus Salvation

Throughout the play, Faustus finds himself at the crossroads of eternal death and eternal life:
damnation and salvation. Damnation is eternal separation from God. Salvation is a merciful gift
of God to one who repents and asks forgiveness. Sin, an immoral act that violates divine law, is
the defining factor that leads to one state or the other, depending on the relationship of the sinner
to their sin. If a person shows repentance—appropriate remorse and sorrow for their sins—
salvation is still possible. If not, damnation is inevitable.

In Act 1 Faustus's failure to consider both sides of this equation initiates the path to his doom.
Based on an incomplete reading of a Bible verse from the book of Romans (6:23), he falsely
reasons that sinful humans are destined for eternal death. Therefore, his only escape may be
through pursuit of magic, as "a sound magician is a mighty god." Faustus overlooks the second
half of the verse, which emphasizes salvation and God's offered gift of eternal life. The doctor
concentrates on the half that justifies the path to damnation he yearns to pursue. As a
consequence he will struggle with ideas of repentance and salvation throughout the rest of the
play.

Mephastophilis makes it clear in his descriptions of hell's torments that defying God is the road
to eternal suffering. However, the Good Angel and the old man make it equally clear that
Faustus can save himself if he will repent and accept God's mercy. As he tries to decide between
damnation (sticking to his deal with the devil) or accepting the "gift ... of eternal life" (by
showing proper repentance to God), Faustus is forced to question his character and motivations,
often at the expense of his lust for power and his fantasy of his own superiority. Yet once he has
sealed the deal with Lucifer, Faustus audaciously continues down the path to his damnation. He
seems committed to his doom, ultimately unwilling or unable to alter his chosen course.

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