Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Question for September 30: Doctor Faustus (pp. 1022-41)
In Christopher Marlowe's play, "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus," the title character sells his soul to Lucifer in exchange for twenty-four years of otherworldly power. What seems to be the motive of Faustus? He wants power, certainly, but on the surface of it, this seems like an extremely shortsighted bargain. What is your informed hypothesis, based on your reading of the play so far?
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After reading the first 5 scenes in “The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus” the character of Faustus seems to be a power hungry character, that will pay the ultimate price for authority. He shows this by being willing to sell his soul to Lucifer in trade of twenty four years of divine power. While making this choice, he seems uneasy about his decision and goes back and forth between whether he should forfeit his soul for power, knowledge, and wealth. The reason I think Faustus seems to be sacrificing everything for power is because at this time in history, power was everything! Society was based on the different classes of people, and through selling his soul for authority is the only way he is able to become an authoritarian. Also, during this time, medicine and law were not seen as we perceive them today, but religion and theology were aspects of people’s lives during this time. Because of this thinking, Faustus believes that magic will make him a “mighty god.” With his beliefs about magic, and thirst for power, selling his soul does not seem too bad for the reward of total power! Through the “dark art” of magic, Faustus believes that he will fulfill his goals of knowledge, wealth, and political power!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the play The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, one of my hypotheses in regards to the reason why Doctor Faustus willingly sells his soul to the devil in exchange for twenty-four years of power is because he believes he is going to hell anyways. Faustus has already made a name for himself as a well-known doctor; however, he wants more. This greediness is one reason why he sells his soul to the devil in the first place. He wants more power and fame. This greediness is also what makes him realize that the possibility of going to hell is no longer questionable, it is a fact. So, in his thinking, why not make the best out of the situation? Faustus states that “the reward of sin is death” (1026). In his understanding, he believes that there is no way he will be unable to sin. Going to hell, for him, is inevitable. He sees this as an opportunity to make a larger name for himself as a magician, which will give him more power. To master the dark arts though, he sells his soul to the devil to make this a possibility. I think the idea of power got to his head before he truly realized what he was doing.
ReplyDeleteDuring my reading of Doctor Faustus, I have come up with the hypothesis that he is simply power hungry and always wanting more in life. He feels that if he sells his soul to the Devil, then he can get anything and everything in his life to make him happy. I agree with threesiblings that this is a time in history when knowledge and wealth was everything. If you had more in life then you were higher in status, which was the goal of most people in this age. Medicine, law and philosophy was not good enough for him until he turned to the dark magic. He realized how simple it was to sell his soul and have Mephastophilis serve him for 24 years. However, after he does this he ends up going back and forth between God and the Devil. He doesn’t know what exactly he wants, until the good and bad angels re-visit him. He is still won over by the bad angel because sin is more appealing to him that good. He is more interested in being power hungry than helping other people. He is given some warnings before he sells his soul to Lucifer, such as not being able to write his deed in blood. He is given another sign that says “Homo fuge” on his arm which means “O man, fly”. He does not listen because he is more interested in the “giving of crowns and rich apparel” from Mephastophilis. Greed and power is everything to Faustus until he finally realizes that after his 24 years he is damned to Hell.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the entries entirely, He's obviously feigning for power
ReplyDeletebut besides that fact, He is fairly confused about his life, he was very successful but yet
confused about the god he should follow after reading half of the Scripture of Romans 6.23 in Jerome's Bible. Faustus would do anything for more power and more reason for him to live, he will have control of his life until death that he has said to hell with because of a half read scripture, He exchanges his soul, for 24 years of power. Seemingly because he thought he was going to hell because of the sins that he made on a daily basis, and The good angel would even let him know that all he had to do was repent, but as ignorant as Faustus is he doesn't pay attention to a word the angel says not even the last second before he gives his soul to the devil.
Faustus wanted control over everything in his life, he wanted to have the ability to do or know anything at any given moment.
Faustus wanted more money, and was willing to give up the life of god and put all his fate into the devil.
I believe that Faustus will eventually realize that he has made the wrong decision on the heedless contract to the devil, he will realize that all the wants he wishes for aren't really what bring happiness to the table. Faustus is extremely insane to give so much away for such a limited time of control.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the previous entries. Doctor Faustus is so power hungry that he will do anything to achieve greatness, even sell his soul to the devil. He is losing perspective as he begins to take drastic measures to gain power. Not only is he power hungry, but I think he embodies several of the seven deadly sins presented to him. He is lazy, abandoning his studies and quest for knowledge at the first opportunity for quick wealth. He is greedy, going to extreme measures to get whatever he wants. He is prideful and overconfident in himself. The list goes on... As I read, I kept hoping he was about to come to his senses, and sometimes it seemed like his doubt was strong enough that he would. Unfortunately, the desire for greatness overpowers the value of his own life.
ReplyDelete--I think that Doctor Faustus wants to obtain this power because he feels that he is already damned by God. In scene one, Faustus states, “The reward of sin is death? That’s hard.” I think that when he made this statement, he was saying that everyone sins, and that if a person who’s sinned is already damned to death by God, then he might as well enjoy his sins and side with the devil. His motive is to gain knowledge he doesn’t currently possess. In my opinion, I also think that by Doctor Faustus being so established in all these different areas that he believes he’s reached his full potential and learned all he needs to know in life, except for the unknown. He makes it clear that he wants to sell his soul to the devil in order to obtain the powers of necromancy, and to obtain all the riches he can. He begins to become very greedy and selfish and will go to any extreme to get what he wants which is ultimate power.
ReplyDeleteIt is also my belief that he chose to make the bargain last only twenty-four years because he is a little weary himself of the decision he’s making. He continuously questions himself on whether he’s making the wrong decision, and despite the various warnings his body has given him, such as his blood congealing before he signs the contract; he still makes the wrong decision in choosing to sell his soul for otherworldly powers.
By: Dream Big
--Dream Big--
ReplyDeleteI think that Doctor Faustus wants to obtain this power because he feels that he is already damned by God. In scene one, Faustus states, “The reward of sin is death? That’s hard.” I think that when he made this statement, he was saying that everyone sins, and that if a person who’s sinned is already damned to death by God, then he might as well enjoy his sins and side with the devil. His motive is to gain knowledge he doesn’t currently possess. In my opinion, I also think that by Doctor Faustus being so established in all these different areas that he believes he’s reached his full potential and learned all he needs to know in life, except for the unknown. He makes it clear that he wants to sell his soul to the devil in order to obtain the powers of necromancy, and to obtain all the riches he can. He begins to become very greedy and selfish and will go to any extreme to get what he wants which is ultimate power.
It is also my belief that he chose to make the bargain last only twenty-four years because he is a little weary himself of the decision he’s making. He continuously questions himself on whether he’s making the wrong decision, and despite the various warnings his body has given him, such as his blood congealing before he signs the contract; he still makes the wrong decision in choosing to sell his soul for otherworldly powers.
By: Dream Big
The story of Faustus begins with him analyzing different fields of studies as he tries to determine which will bring him the most power and wealth as he is well versed in most fields. He decides that no field of study will bring him fortune like that of black magic because he concludes that he could conjure spirits to fetch him gold and pearls found throughout the world. This results in a series of catastrophic events for the doctor and will lead to him selling his soul for power. The motive for Faustus is very clear throughout the first six scenes at least. His main wish is to acquire wealth and this way he can acquire all the benefits that wealth brings such as power over land and women. However as he becomes closer and closer to making a deal with Lucifer, his conscious appears in the form of an evil and good angel in which they weigh the odds of both outcomes. The good angel urges the doctor to repent as god will forgive him. The evil devil insists he sticks with the deal as he will be happy with his wealth. Faustus himself is extremely indecisive as one second he seems as though the transaction is finalized when he says in lines 101-02, “Had I as many souls as there be stars, I’d give them all for Mephastophilis” and in another he wishes he would serve god. While all this is happening, the good angel tells Faustus that as long as he repents, god will forgive him. I feel as though this story will end up with Faustus acquiring some wealth and power but, will find that without god all of it is meaningless to him and will repent his sins and be saved.
ReplyDeleteAll of Faustus’ troubles seem to develop because he is way too full of himself. He thinks to himself about what he should study. He considers and quotes the greatest minds of multiple studies. He claims to have reached excellence in all aspects of intelligence, “Is to dispute well logic’s chiefest end? Affords this art no greater miracle? Then read no more, thou hast attained the end.” Because he considers his excellence to be the “level at the end of every art.”, he must find himself bored with normal studies. I’m sure most people can attest to this statement: When people are bored, or have free time, they usually indulge in some poor choices. He is intrigued by magic, and decides to devote his time towards it. He then associates with some less than reputable fellows, Cornelius and Valdes. (This also fits well with the thought of people becoming bored with themselves and making poor choices. Usually then you become associated with bad people) He conjures up Mephastrophilis and makes a stupid decision to sell the devil his soul in return for twenty-four years of Mephastrophilis’ service. I feel like it’s only fitting for someone that thinks of himself as such a scholar to make such a stupid decision as to sell his soul. It seems his overbearing pride was his motive. He mastered everything else, so he now must turn to devil. But, seeing as how pride is one of the seven deadly sins, it seems as if that turn of fate was inevitable for Faustus.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that Dr. Faustus is greedy for power. This is shown plainly by the line, “my heart’s so hardened I cannot repent!” which Faustus says after he has sold his soul to Lucifer. His heart is hard from wanting more from life. RedBlue says that Faustus is full of himself. I disagree with this. Faustus understands that he is respected in many fields of study, but he wants to make something good into something better. He is willing to pay the ultimate price because he feels that he is damned to hell for his sins. This comes from a quoted bible verse, “the reward of sin is death.” Although Faustus says he does not accept that phrase it is exactly what he is acting out. He is ensuring eternal death in exchange for power. One of Faustus’ motives for going through with the deal with the devil is wealth. He believes that money will buy him happiness in the form of land and power. Despite all of Faustus’ studies he did not learn that money does not buy happiness. He is so worried about making up his own mind that he refuses to listen to others’ advice. He even has to make a large explanation as to why he is not selling his soul for the same reason that the evil spirit suggests. He is prideful in that he would rather fall by his own devices than accept the mercy of others.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus", I would have to say I agree with threesiblings. Faustus appear to be the type of man that would do anything to have power. He wanted authority, and in his mind he was going to get just that. He didn't care what he had to do to get it, he didn't care who he had to go through to get it, he just wanted it. He wanted that authority so bad, he was willing to sell his soul to the devil, and be set away from God eternally. To me, evidently, he couldn't have been a God-fearing man to have even considered to do such a thing. Also, I think that he wanted to do it but he had that good angel telling him not to. With lines like "Ay, so I will; but, Mephastophilis, My blood congeals and I can write no more", was telling him that God was trying to tell him something but he just wouldn't listen. I think that power and authority was such a big thing back in day, and that may have forced him to act as a devil; however, I don't think that he would make a good authority figure because he's so easily persuaded. I say this because, at one point in the play, he was thinking of repenting and he kind of thought that it was too late, so the good angel came and told him that it's never to late to repent, that's when the three devils enters and told him to stop thinking of God, so he proceeded with the damnation. He should have just realized that the devil has no more power than God allows him to have.
ReplyDeleteAgreeing with previous entries, I believe that Doctor Faustus desires an infinite amount of power.Though he had various careers in which he did posses some power through his knowledge, this didnt appear good enough for him. Faustus turns to dark magic because he knows that this will be the only way he will every accomplish his goal, even though his accomplice is the devil himself.As said in a previous entry, Faustus could possibly be already aware of his destination in the after life. Besides his act of greed, Faustus will do anything to receive more power and will pursue any sinful action to get it.In Faustus's mind, he is going to hell regardless, might as well do it the fastest/easiest way possible, by selling his soul to the devil.
ReplyDelete