DOCTOR FAUSTUS: THE CAUSE OF FAUSTUSS TRAGEDY

After Miracle and Morality plays (both were strictly didactic in their approach) came the turn
of Elizabethan stage. In medieval Europe, Christianity and God lay at the center of intellectual life:
scientific inquiry languished, and theology was known as the queen of the sciences. In art and
literature, the emphasis was on the lives of the saints and the mighty rather than on those of ordinary
people. With the advent of the Renaissance, there was a new celebration of the free individual and
the scientific exploration of nature. A vast experimentation in English drama was done in this age of
Renaissance. Shakespeares immediate predecessors, the university wits, including John Lyly,
Thomas Kid, George Peele, Robert Greene, Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Nash started writing
romantic plays (as distinguished from the classical drama). Marlowe introduced the romantic tragedy
in the history of English literature. Unlike Greek or Classical tragedies, the Renaissance /
Elizabethan plays are the tragedies of Character.
Marlowe is regarded as a rebel because he revolted against the convention of writing plays in
rhyme and against the clownage of popular comedy. Marlowes use of bombastic blank verse
prophesies Milton,the mighty-mouthed inventor of harmonies, and attains sublimity. All the
protagonists in his plays are over-reachers. They are never satisfied with whatever they have rather
they always run after the unlimited. They have strong desires to attain unlimited power, wealth or
knowledge. They adopt all fair and foul means in gaining their passions. Being immoral or damned
in their gain matters not for his heroes. The same passions become the cause of their downfalls.
Faustus is also an over-reacher. His longing for unlimited power and knowledge become the cause
of his downfall.
Doctor Faustus is not about war or courtly love, but rather about Faustus, who was born
of lower class parents. This can be seen as a departure from the Medieval tradition; Faustus holds a
lower status than kings and saints, but his story is still worth being told. During this opening, we also
get our first clue to the source of Faustus' downfal. He thinks that he has studied enough of
Logic, Medicine, and Divinity. He dismisses Divinity as What doctrine call you this? So, he
wants something new to study. He decides to master the art of necromency. Faustus is
likened to the story of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun with his waxen wings and as a result fell
to his death when the sun melted the wax. Faustuss excessive pride in his learning brought about
his downfall.
He calls upon his servant Wagner to bring forth Valdes and Cornelius, two famous
magicians. The good angel and the bad angel dispense their own perspective of his interest
in Magic. Though Faustus is momentarily dissuaded, proclaiming "How am I glutted with
conceit of this?", he is apparently won over by the possibilities Magic offers to him. Valdes
declares that if Faustus devotes himself to Magic, he must vow not to study anything else
and points out that great things are indeed possible with someone of Faustus's standing.
Faustus summons a devil, and a hideous looking devil named Mephistopilis appears
before him, to which Faustus commands it to change its form to a Franciscan friar. It would
seem Faustus is either deliberately unwilling or simply unable to see things the way they are.
Faustus, in seeing the obedience of the devil (for changing form), takes pride in his skill and
perhaps his inherent talent. He tries to bind the devil to his service but is unable to because
Mephistophilis serves Lucifer the prince of devils.
Mephistophilis introduces the history of Lucifer and the other devils while indirectly
cluing Faustus that hell has no circumference and is more of a state of mind as opposed to a
place. Faustus's questioning of hell leads to Mephistophilis saying: "Oh Faustus, leave
these frivolous demands, which strikes a terror to my fainting soul." Although it can be
said that Mephistophilis is sympathizing or advising Faustus for the better, it seems highly
unlikely because it would be inconsistent with Mephistophilis's character in the play.
Mephistophilis seems to imply that Faustus's questioning has reminded Mephistophilis of
his origins.
Using Mephistophilis as a messenger, Faustus strikes a deal with Lucifer: that
Mephistophilis will be Faustuss personal servant for twenty four years, and, at the end of
which, Faustus will give his soul over to Lucifer as payment and spend the rest of time as
one of the damned in hell. This deal is supposed to be cemented in the form of Faustus' own
blood. Interestingly, at first his blood congeals, leading to second thoughts by Faustus.
Mephistophilis brings coals to break the wound open again, and thus Mephistophilis begins
his servitude and Faustus his oath.
Faustus has an interesting debate with Mephistophilis regarding astronomy and the
"nine spheres". Two angels, good and bad, appear to Faustus giving him the chance to repent
and rebuke his oath with Lucifer. This is the largest fault of Faustus throughout the play,
that he is blind to his own salvation. Though he is told initially by Mephistophilis to
"leave these frivolous demands, Which strike a terror to my fainting soul," Faustus
remains set on his soul damnation. The same fault of Faustus becomes the cause of his
downfall.
Lucifer brings to Faustus the personification of the seven deadly sins. Faustus
recognizes these as detestable, not pleasing, but ignores the echo of his own 'detestable' life.
A humorous interchange occurs when Faustus teases the Pope in Rome. Later, he impresses
the Duke of Vanholt by fetching grapes in winter time and he also excites several scholars
conjuring spirits from Troy (Helen of Greece).
From this point until the end of the play, Faustus does nothing of worth. Later on,
Faustus appears to scholars, and warns them that he is damned and will not be long on the
earth. He gives a speech about how he is damned and eventually seems to repent for his
deeds but now it is over. He has made his downfall certain by his attitude. Mephistophilis
comes and Faustus appears to leave willingly for his eternal damnation. He dies and his final
fate remains ambigous. The scene following begins with Faustus' friends discovering his
body parts strewn about the stage: from this they conclude that Faustus was damned.
Conclusion: Faustus's conclusions are the result of self-selective interpretations and
act as a consolation for Faustus. This is because Faustus as a renaissance man, is pressured
by the environment he is in. It made it possible for a man of humble origin to carve a status
of power and affluence. All Marlowes protagonists long for unlimited power , wealth,
status, affluence and knowledge.All his heroes are over-reachers. This very longing
ultimately becomes the final fate (i.e. downfall) of his heroes. Faustus even sells his soul in
pursuit of obtaining unlimited power and knowledge. Though he thinks often to repent but
does not do so. This is the gravest fault on his part.To practice more than heavenly power
permits is not acceptable. Those who try to go against the laws of nature, perish. God
does not permit black magic. Faustus did against the natural law and thus guarantteed his
downfall. Thus we can say that excessive pride, self-selective interpretations, passion for
unlimited power and knowledge and lack of repentance spirit cause Faustuss downfall.
Perhaps the price of rejecting God is worth it, or perhaps Faustus pays the price for all of western
culture, allowing it to enter a new, more secular era.