DR. FAUSTUSChristopher Marlowe

MARLOWE

Born in Canterbury, Great Britain, in 1564

Attended King’s School in Canterbury and graduated from Corpus Christi College in Cambridge

Moved to London; became a playwright

Known for scandal and disruptive behavior

In May 1593, he was arrested on charges of atheism and heresy

He was stabbed to death in a tavern

MARLOWE BIOGRAPHY

DRAMATIC DEVICES

Faustus loosely follows Aristotle’s TRAGIC PATTERN, which focuses primarily on three areas:

Hero

Plot

Audience

Hero

Superior in station Neither wholly good nor wholly evil

Hero has a tragic fall

Generally due to a mistake in judgment, or Hubris (excessive pride)

Hero suffers profoundly

TRAGIC PATTERN

Plot

Unified plot = Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution

Single action

Single protagonist

Reversals of fortune

Final recognition of truth

TRAGIC PATTERN, CONT’D

Audience

Experiences pity and fear

Catharsis – emotional cleansing

TRAGIC PATTERN, CONT’D

DRAMATIC DEVICES

MORALITY PLAY

The morality play was influential in the later half of the 15th century. The main theme of the morality play is religious, specifically dealing with the conflict of good and evil in man. A morality play’s main character is a man who is like every man. The man suffers temptations and conflicts and makes moral decisions. In the morality play, other characters are introduced in order to remind the main character of his moral obligations. The focus of the plot in a morality play is the conflict within the main character’s soul.

DRAMATIC DEVICES

ARCHETYPE (a "template" of a persona; a very typical example of a person or thing)

Examples: The Hero, the Damsel in Distress, the Social Outcast, the Trickster

Dr. Faustus = The Magician

DRAMATIC DEVICES

THE MAGICIAN

Motto: I make things happen.

Core desire: understanding the fundamental laws of the universe

Goal: to make dreams come true

Greatest fear: unintended negative consequences

Talent: finding win-win solutions

The Magician is also known as: The visionary, catalyst, inventor, charismatic leader, shaman, healer, medicine man.

DRAMATIC DEVICES

ALLUSIONS:

Starting on page one, Dr. Faustus is ripe with allusion, especially mythological allusion, both direct and implied. Examples include the mythological characters Prometheus, Oedipus, and Icarus, all “over-reachers” who are punished for their ambition.

As you read, keep track of allusions and note their significance in the play

CHARACTERS (BY RELATIONSHIP)

FAUSTUS' COLLEAGUES

Wagner: his student and servant

Valdes, Cornelius: magicians

Three Scholars

CHARACTERS (BY RELATIONSHIP)

FAUSTUS' CONSCIENCE

Good Angel

Bad Angel

COMIC CHARACTERS

Robin, Dick: clowns

Horse-courser, Carter, Vintner, Hostess

Martino, Frederick, Benvolio: gentlemen at the Emperor’s court

CHARACTERS (BY RELATIONSHIP)

CONJURED CHARACTERS

(By Lucifer) - Pride, Covetousness, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, Sloth, Lechery: The Seven Deadly Sins

(By Faustus) - Darius of Persia, Alexander the Great, Alexander’s Paramour, Helen of Troy, Devils, Piper, Cardinals, Monks, Friars, Attendants, Soldiers, Servants, Two Cupids: Mute Characters

CHARACTERS (BY RELATIONSHIP)

POLITICAL CHARACTERS

Pope Adrian

Raymond: King of Hungary

Bruno, Rival Pope appointed by the Emperor Two Cardinals

Archbishop of Rheims

Friars

Charles the Fifth: German Emperor

Duke of Saxony

Two Soldiers

Duke of Vanholt

Duchess of Vanholt

THEMATIC TOPICS

CHOICE (specifically the choice between good & evil)

REDEMPTION VS. DAMNATION

LUST FOR POWER

HUMAN FRAILTY

PRIDE/ARROGANCE/AMBITION

QUIZ

1. Which Greek mythological character is Faustus compared to? D. Icarus

2. Which characters instruct Faustus in the dark arts? D. Cornelius and Valdes 3. When first summoned, how does Faustus ask Mephistophilis to appear? A. As a Friar 4. What is the name of the ruler of hell in Doctor Faustus?

B. Lucifer 5. How long does Faustus demand that Mephistophilis serve him?

D. Twenty-Four years