Renaissance Renaissance Humanism in Humanism in

Dr. FaustusDr. FaustusPresented ByPresented ByMiss RashidaMiss Rashida

Christopher Marlow: A brief biographical sketch

• Shakespeare's greatest predecessor was born at Canterbury in 1564.

• The first great poet who uses modern English speech.• Marlow was greatly accused of being an atheist. ”The

first beginning of religion was to put man in awe.”• He was troubled by the usual intellectual difficulties

about the doctrine of trinity and incarnation, quite natural to a man of independent intellect and fearless disposition.

• Died a tragic death at the age of 29 at which Shakespeare had produced nothing of significance.

• Had there been no Marlow, there would have been no Shakespeare.

• Marlowians believe that he did not really die but survived to write some of the works of Shakespeare which could not have been written by somebody who was not university educated.

Important Works• Tamburlaine the Great • The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus• The Jew of Malta• Edward II• The Massacre at Paris (incomplete)• Dido Queen of Carthage (incomplete)

Dr. Johann Faust• Obvious basis for the title character• Born late 15th Century and claimed

to have practiced the “Dark Arts”• Numerous accounts of his “ magical

powers” were combined and published in a biography in 1587 in Frankfurt.

Puzzling A vs B Text• Text itself has survived in two forms

referred to as A text and B text• “Alternating” serious and comic scenes• Comic scenes serve to undercut

overreaching attitudes and ambitious presumption of Faustus.

• Did Marlowe write comic scenes at all?• Any text now used is usually a

combination of the two.

The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus

Based on an earlier Faust legend presented in a medieval morality play. Goethe’s FaustusFaustus sacrifices his soul to the devil in exchange for unlimited power, glory and worldly pleasure. Yet the presentation of this theme is Renaissance--Faustus and Mephistophilis‘s psychologies are evident in the conflict of choice between good and evil. Faustus is clearly a damned individual.

Aristotelian characteristics

• The very conception of this wonderful tragedy owes a great deal to Greek philosopher Aristotle.

• “A man like us” often of “high esteem”• Hamartia (tragic flaw)• Evidence of suffering• Evidence of enlightenment• Opportunities for provoking catharsis in

the reader.

Renaissance Literature (1485-1660)

• “Renaissance” means “Rebirth”--Rebirth of the values, ethics, and styles of Greek, Roman and Latin classics.

• Emphasis on humanistic education for statesmanship.

• Focus on the individual and a concern with the fullest

possible cultivation of human potential through proper

education; focus on individual consciousness and the

capability of mind.• Concerns with the refinement of the language and

the • development of a national, vernacular literature.

Medieval Vs Renaissance

• The Great Chain of being

• Universal Catholicism

• Agriculture• Preparing for

Imminent Death• Nobility• Hold of church

• The Individual• Reformation &

Humanism• Manufacturing• Living for worldly

accomplishments • Rise of Middle Class• Vernacular

translation of Bible

Humanism• Term freely applied to a variety of beliefs and

philosophies that place central emphasis on the human realm.

• Most frequently, the term is used with reference to a system of education and mode of inquiry developed in N. Italy during 14th century.

• A broadly and profoundly influential program: one of the chief reasons why the Renaissance is viewed as a distinct historical period.

• First employed (as humanismus) by 19th-century German scholars to designate the Renaissance emphasis on classical studies in education.

Cont’d Humanism stressed the earthly fulfillment of

humans rather than only seeing earth as a preparation for paradise.

• Individual should believe and do what his personal reading of Bible and personal enlightened conscience tell him to—not what church leaders say.

• Humanism stressed on secular and independent inquiry in all fields

• Focuses on human achievements and potential rather than theological doctrines and dilemmas.

Who is a Humanist?• A humanist was a student of Greek and Roman

literature, history, rhetoric, and ethics. These subjects comprised studia humanitas, “the course that made one human.”

• In such studies, scholars reconciled Christian beliefs with the moral teaching of the ancients.

• They challenged the medieval notion that the material world contained only temptation and evil; instead, they glorified the beauty and order in nature.

• Initially, the term was used for a teacher of humanities.

Humanities: What are they?

When we reflect on the changes in our lives, when we recognize some of the things we love about the world, and when we resist loss and death with all our strength--we are participating in the humanities. All adults think and choose; all adults reflect and wonder. The humanities address our deepest contemporary concerns.” (Annie Dillard, Pulitzer Prize winning novelist)

A perspective from the angle of pure sciences

Knowledge and skills alone cannot lead humanity to a happy and dignified life. Humanity has every reason to place the proclaimers of high moral standards and values above the discoverers of objective truth. What humanity owes to personalities like Buddha, Moses, and Jesus ranks for me higher than all the achievements of the inquiring and constructive mind.” (Einstein)

Humanism in Dr. Faustus

• The play reflects the spirit of age.• The play provides many instances of

humanism • Wittenberg: centre of Humanism• Ambitious scholar ready to under take a

dangerous journey which would finally lead him to death and damantion.

Intellectual Life is Solitary

• Humanists emphasized that the intellectual life was solitary, rejecting family and community engagement.

• Dr. Faustus is also depicted as an ambitious individual who has no family ties. He devotes most of his time to his studies.

• He does not have any human companion in his quest for knowledge nor in his suffering.

• He does have some companions in merry making.

Individualism• Humanists asserted that man is the

centre of the universe. Every individual occupies a specific place and a specific role to perform.

• The chorus also describes that this tale deals with the life of an individual.

• The play does not offer any scope for adventurous battles or the affairs of states and politics causing rise and fall of kingdoms and civilization.

Love for Power & Machiavellian Spirit

• Machiavelli’s ‘The prince’ was the most famous literary piece.

• End justifies the means.• Its better for the rulers to be feared than

to be loved.• Lust for absolute power, authority and

wealth is the main concern of the protagonist.

• Signing a contract with the devil reflects the true Machiavellian spirit of Dr. Faustus.

This Wordliness• Humanists laid emphasis on the human

accomplishments in this worldliness without relating them to the life hereafter.

• The play also reflects the humanistic trend while describing Faustus’ journey of worldly achievements.

• In the end, however, the dramatist relates both the worlds while describing Faustus’ fear of eternal damnation.

Love for Learning• The most important element of humanism

reflected through the play is love for learning.

• Faustus who has already attained the title of Dr. is dissatisfied with his knowledge

• Like a true scholar he questions the validity of various subjects and finds necromancy as the most suitable one.

• He would engage the spirits to read strange philosophy to explain the mysteries of the universe.

Nature of Man• Humanists rejected the medieval

notion that man is sinful by nature.• Faustus’ attitude after reading

Jerome’s Bible is that of cynic.• If the reward of sin is death, why

should we not commit some sin and die.

• This is the point where Faustus disagrees with the humanists.

Nationalism and Patriotism

• Renaissance humanism witnessed a keen growing sense of nationalism.

• Dr. Faustus would make the spirits to make a wall of brass all around Germany.

• To redirect the course of swift river Rhine in beautiful city of Wittenberg.

• To raise an army and wonderful weapons of war to save his motherland Germany from enemies.

Ambition• Ambition served as a powerful

catalyst of change during the phase of Renaissance humanism.

• Dr. Faustus is a true embodiment of ambitious spirit, he wants to attain the stature of mighty god.

• He wants to unravel the mysteries of the world so that all the things between the two poles are at his disposition.

Destiny & Man’s Free Will

• Humanists believed in the free will of the human beings.

• Marlow shows that its very difficult to use this free will in the right way.

• Destiny is not determined by the human beings.

• Faustus is predestined to be doomed since he won’t repent.

Human Nature & Inner Psychological Conflict

• Humanists believed that social and intellectual enquiry must be grounded on human nature.

• Human nature is unpredictable, Faustus who aimed at becoming mighty god ends up in doing conjurers’ tricks.

• Marlow depicts the nature of a man who has limitless powers.

• The inner psychological conflict is evident when Faustus decides whether to repent or surrender his soul to Lucifer.

Classical Allusions• Humanists turned to ancient Greek

and Latin learning.• The play is replete with classical

allusions.• Aristotle’s Poetics• Jerome’s Bible• References to Greek scholars,

emperors and Greek mythology.

Eloquence• The humanists claimed that they were in

the pursuit of eloquence.• It served as a unifying bond among them.• True eloquences arises out of a harmonious

bond between style and wisdom.• Humanists sometimes referred to

themselves as ‘orators’ instead of philosophers and poets.

• An orator could have make his career in government, diplomacy or church.

Cont’d• The "mighty line“ blank verse,

Marlowe perfected a natural-sounding cadence with poetic eloquence unlike anything achieved by his predecessors.

• He was able to condense an entire lyric into one verse which resulted into compact eloquence and meaning.

• The play provides stunning examples of eloquence.

Cont’d• Where we are is hell, and where hell

is there must we ever be• Yet are thou still Faustus, and a man• A sound magician is a mighty god• O’ what a world of profit and delight

of power, of honour, of omnipotence• Was this the face that launched a

thousand ships,• Her lips suck forth my soul: see,

where it flies!

Significance of Education

• Renaissance humanists believed that education could dramatically change human beings.

• They believed that the humanities and humanists should serve the state.

• Faustus express his longing to provide silken garments to the public schools.

Human beings: The Crown of Creation

• Humanism is a contrast to the medieval Christian view of humans as sinful and depraved.

• Humanists praised humans as God’s highest creation, capable of learning and creativity.

. Faustus clearly exhibits the potential for learning and knowledge.

Is Marlow celebrating or Satirizing Renaissance

Humanism? • Some critics are of the view that Dr.

Faustus intellectually satirizes Renaissance humanism.

• Marlow clearly shows that the actions of this world can not be separated from the other world.

• One should have love of learning but this love should not lead him towards destruction and damnation.

• Man is not free to exert his free will.