Welcome to the World of Doctor Faustus!
In these notes, we are diving into one of the most famous "be careful what you wish for" stories in history: Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. This play is a core part of your Aspects of Dramatic Tragedy unit. We will explore how a brilliant man loses everything because he wants to know more than humans are allowed to know.
Don’t worry if the 16th-century language feels a bit heavy at first! We’re going to break it down into simple, manageable pieces so you can confidently discuss tragedy in your exam.
1. The Tragic Hero: Who is Faustus?
In a tragedy, everything centers on the protagonist (the main character). For Faustus, his journey is from the heights of prosperity to the depths of catastrophe.
Key Concept: The Overreacher
Faustus is often called an "overreacher." Imagine someone trying to climb a ladder that is leaning against nothing; they keep going up until they inevitably fall. Faustus is a brilliant scholar who is bored with normal subjects like medicine and law. He wants "superhuman" power.
His Fatal Flaw (Hamartia):
His main flaw is Hubris. This is an ancient Greek word for excessive pride. Faustus thinks he is smarter than God and can handle the devil.
Quick Review: The "Tragic Equation"
\( High Social/Intellectual Status + Hubris (Pride) = Tragic Fall \)
2. The Journey: From Ambition to Despair
The syllabus asks you to look at the journey towards death. Faustus doesn't just die suddenly; he slowly slides toward his end.
Blindness and Insight:
For most of the play, Faustus is blind to the reality of his situation. He thinks Hell is just a "fable" or a "trifle." He only gains insight (true understanding) in his final hour, when it is too late to change his mind. This is a classic tragic trope: the hero only "sees" the truth when they are about to lose everything.
The 24-Year Contract:
Faustus sells his soul for 24 years of power. Think of this like a countdown clock. At the start, 24 years feels like forever (prosperity). By the end, the minutes are ticking away like a horror movie (climax and resolution).
3. Mephistopheles: The Tragic Villain
Mephistopheles is the demon Faustus summons. However, he isn't a typical "scary monster."
His Role:
He acts as an opponent but also a mirror. He actually warns Faustus that Hell is terrible! He says, "Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it." This makes him a complex villain because he is also a victim of his own rebellion against God.
Memory Aid: The "Sad Demon"
Remember Mephistopheles as the "Sad Demon." He knows what he lost (Heaven), while Faustus is too blind to realize what he is throwing away.
4. Structure: Order vs. Disorder
A tragedy usually follows a specific pattern of complication to catastrophe.
The B-Text Specifics:
Since you are studying the B-text, you will notice more "spectacle" (big visual scenes) and more comic sub-plots. These sub-plots often involve servants or clowns trying to do magic.
Example: When the clown tries to summon a demon to get a free drink, it mocks Faustus.
It shows that Faustus’s "grand" magic is actually just as silly and low-level as a drunk person in a bar. This highlights his folly (foolishness).
Key Takeaway:
The structure moves from order (Faustus as a respected doctor) to disorder (Faustus playing pranks on the Pope and wasting his soul) to the final catastrophe (being dragged to Hell).
5. Fate vs. Free Will
A big question in tragedy is: Was his end inevitable?
- Free Will: The Good Angel keeps telling Faustus to "repent." This suggests he could have saved himself at any moment if he just said sorry.
- Fate/Predestination: Some argue that because Faustus is so full of pride, he was always "fated" to fall. His own character is his destiny.
Did you know?
In the 1500s, people were terrified of the idea of Predestination—the idea that God had already decided who was going to Heaven or Hell before they were even born. This adds a layer of real-world fear for the original audience.
6. Dramatic Language and Pity/Fear
Marlowe uses Blank Verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) to make Faustus sound grand and important. When Faustus talks about Helen of Troy, he says: "Was this the face that launched a thousand ships?"
Pity and Fear (Catharsis):
The goal of tragedy is to make the audience feel:
1. Pity: We feel sorry for Faustus because he is a human who made a mistake we can relate to (wanting more than we have).
2. Fear: We are scared because we see how easily a "great" person can be destroyed.
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't just summarize the plot: The examiner wants to know how it is a tragedy. Instead of saying "Faustus goes to Rome," say "In the Roman scenes, we see Faustus’s moral decline as he uses his powers for petty tricks instead of great knowledge."
Don't ignore the comic scenes: In the B-text, the comedy is important! It shows how sin makes Faustus smaller and less impressive over time.
Summary: The Aspects of Tragedy in Doctor Faustus
• Tragic Hero: Faustus (Brilliant but Hubristic).
• Setting: Wittenberg (Knowledge) vs. Rome/Courts (Worldly Vanity).
• The Villain: Mephistopheles (The fallen angel).
• The Journey: From intellectual ambition to psychological terror.
• The End: Total catastrophe and physical/spiritual destruction.
Don't worry if the philosophy of "Fate" feels tricky! Just remember: Faustus had the keys to his own cage the whole time, but he was too proud to turn the lock.