"DR. FAUSTUS."   Term Paper ID:30542 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Analysis of Christopher Marlowe's 16th Century play.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Analysis of Christopher Marlowe's 16th Century play. Faustus' pact with Mephostophiles. Consequences of his pledge to give himself to Lucifer and deny Christianity.r Faustus' troubled conscience, his inability to marry and have a family life because of the pact. Outcome of his bargain with the devil to gain power and physical pleasure. Paper Introduction: The play, Dr. Faustus, written in 1592 by Christopher Marlowe, was based on the story, The Damnable Life (1592), by P.F. Gent[leman], which in turn was the English translation of the German volume, Historia von D. Iohan Fausten (1587). This story was basically the age-old tale of a man who seemingly already has everything he needs -- an education, inherited comfort, good standing in the community, and a bright future in the Church, medicine, or as a scholar, as well as the salvation of his soul -- and trades it all in a pact with the devil. In these tales, Dr. Faustus makes a bargain with the devil to obtain more power, more wealth, more wisdom, and more fame, by having control of Mephostophiles, who is contracted to be at Dr. Faustus' beck and call and do whatever Faustus commands (116). In return, Dr. Faustus pledges to give himself to Lucifer, deny Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. This covenant affected Dr. Faustus' veryfreedom of thought, as well as his personal family life, and hope forsalvation, or his soul. In fact, it could be said that this pact may haveshortened Dr. Faustus' life since after a period of twenty-four years hewould be carried away by Lucifer. In the end, Mephostophiles convinces him that he can havewhatever woman he wants, so long as he doesn't marry one (122). Inpromising his soul to Lucifer, he had lost freedom over his very thoughts. This is what kept Dr. Faustus from repenting and going back on hiscovenant with Lucifer. Dr. Faustus, however, is unableto resist the call to get married and once again requests Mephostophilesfor permission to marry. This story was basically the age-old tale of a manwho seemingly already has everything he needs -- an education, inheritedcomfort, good standing in the community, and a bright future in the Church,medicine, or as a scholar, as well as the salvation of his soul -- andtrades it all in a pact with the devil. The play, Dr. Faustus, written in 1592 by Christopher Marlowe, wasbased on the story, The Damnable Life (1592), by P.F. Mephostophiles, on his part, was a highranking devil in the ranks of hell, and was humbled by this agreement tobecome a servant to this mere mortal and carry out whatever Faustusrequested, so long as Faustus gave himself up for Lucifer in the end (117). Gent[leman], which inturn was the English translation of the German volume, Historia von D.Iohan Fausten (1587). Ontario, Canada: New American Library, A Division of Penguin Books USA, Inc. However, when Dr. Faustus doubted his decision,Mephostophiles threatened him with being torn into a thousand pieces (127). Work CitedMarlowe, Christopher. 1969. In the end, this is what Mephostophiles did to himanyway. Towards the end of this tale this happensagain as an old man pleads with Dr. Faustus to repent his decision.Faustus reflects upon the words of the old man, "and in a manner began torepent that he had given his soul to the devil, intending to deny all thathe had promised to Lucifer" (147). Barnet, Sylvan, ed. For this reason,Mephostophiles urges Faustus to find his physical pleasure throughfornication saying, "Hast not thou...sworn thyself to God?...thou canst notmarry...for marriage is a chief institution ordained of God" (121).Mephostophiles threatens to tear Dr. Faustus to pieces and thus persuadeshim to cease all thoughts about marriage. Whenever he feels a troubled conscience,Mephostophiles is there "demanding what thing so grieved and troubled hisconscience" (127). After Dr. Faustus confides in Mephostophiles,Mephostophiles threatens to "tear thee in thousands of pieces if thouchange not thine opinions" (127). In these tales, Dr. Faustus makes a bargain with the devil to obtainmore power, more wealth, more wisdom, and more fame, by having control ofMephostophiles, who is contracted to be at Dr. Faustus' beck and call anddo whatever Faustus commands (116). Another dimension of his life that changed forever as a result of hispact, was any hope of a family life. Dr. Faustus. Of course, in the end, Dr. Faustus does lose his soul and loses hopefor salvation, even at the end as he yearns for a pardon, he states thathis "sins were greater than God could forgive" (158). Severaltimes throughout the tale, Dr. Faustus falls into despair as he realizesthe end result of his decision. Then, after a period oftwenty-four years, in which Dr. Faustus' every whim is fulfilled, he willbe taken away by Lucifer and his minions and condemned to hell forever(117). When his studentsfind him the next morning his body is literally torn to pieces, his limbstorn, eyes gouged, and blood is everywhere. The impact and obligation that this covenant had on Dr. Faustus, andon Mephostopholes, was far reaching, more than just the obvious damnationof the soul at the end of life. Although he kept his vow toMephostophiles, he was still torn to a thousand pieces. This time Mephostophiles becomes a whirlwind anda fire of fury and "Faustus fried as he lay and thought there to have beenburned" (121). Mephostophiles, for his part, did keep his part of the bargain.Again and again he made Faustus invisible to others while Faustus performedpractical jokes, or brought Faustus beautiful women, brought Faustus andhis companions food, drink, clothes, and took Faustus all over the world tosee its glories. Mephostophiles literally attacks Dr.Faustus for his thoughts, "clapping him upon the head, and wrung it asthough he would have pulled the head from the shoulders" (147). In return, Dr. Faustus pledges to givehimself to Lucifer, deny his Christian belief, be an enemy to all Christianpeople, and not let any one change his mind. One of the most important implications of Dr. Faustus' pact withMephostophiles was the effect that it had on his very thoughts. In the Church, the marriage ceremonyis considered a sacrament, a union blessed by God. 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