Doctor Faustus (Marlowe) Essay Questions

What is the best way to describe the genre of Doctor Faustus?

Doctor Faustus is a play about a proud and ambitious man who makes a deal with the Devil and eventually suffers the consequences in the form of a brutal death and eternal damnation. Based on this synopsis, many could guess that it is widely considered an example of early modern English tragedy. However, because of the time it was written (late sixteenth century) and its heavy reliance on allegory, Doctor Faustus is also known as a morality play. Morality plays – a term invented by critics to describe them – were plays that were most popular during the Medieval period but that continued to appear until the seventeenth century. These plays tended to focus on representing abstract concepts like virtues and vices in personified forms on the stage.

What is generally considered to be Faustus's major sin?

In the parade of the Seven Deadly Sins, each sin appears in personified form and describes their origins and characteristics, essentially explaining how they corrupt someone's soul. The first sin to appear is Pride. At the time, Pride was understood as the sin that led to all the other sins, as it makes a person blind to the world around them and renders them too focused on their own ego. Pride is also Faustus's greatest sin, as he aspires to have so much knowledge that he replaces the power of the divine.

What is the significance of the Old Man who appears at the end of the play?

Toward the end of Doctor Faustus, the figure of the Old Man encounters Faustus and tells him that he sees an angel hovering above his head. He also encourages Faustus to repent. While this may seem like a strange or even random appearance, the Old Man is an allegory, or a character that represents a broader, more abstract concept. In this case, the Old Man is likely an allegory for another person, Jesus Christ, whose life was dedicated to sacrificing himself for man and to preaching mercy and forgiveness to sinners.

Why is Faustus sometimes referred to as a Renaissance Man?

A Renaissance Man is a term used to describe a person who passionately pursues knowledge and who pushes the boundaries of what humanity is capable of achieving. In many ways, Faustus fits this description – he is desperate to discover more about humanity and the universe beyond earth, and he is frustrated by the limitations he encounters as a mere mortal. As such, Faustus turns to his pact with the devil, in which he agrees to sell his soul for twenty-four years of power and discovery.

Who is to blame for Faustus's fall?

In one of the central ironies of the play, Faustus puts his trust in Lucifer, the most notorious representative of duplicity and dishonesty in the whole of Christian history. Faustus is certainly misled by the Devil, and this is why many believe his death to be a tragedy rather than an act of justice. However, Faustus himself is not blameless; he is so obsessed with knowledge that he aspires to be as powerful as God, imagining his omnipotent state and rejecting Christianity outright. Faustus becomes so blinded by this goal that he loses sight of what kind of sacrifice the Devil has demanded of him.