The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus

1. The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus ~Christopher Marlowe

2. Christopher Marlowe( 26 February,1564 - 30 May,1593) • An English dramatist of Elizabethan era. • He is the master of tragedy writer with reality to his character. • He greatly influenced William Shakespeare.

3. About Play • Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus was published in 1592. • This Novel appears to be a greatest example of Renaissance Tragedy. • It is a play which depicts the tragedy of a man who misdirects his exceptional fight of mind and spirit and who therefore progressively loses his soul by disintegration.

4. The Play • Doctor Faustus a German scholar grows dissatisfied with his studies in logic, medicine, law, philosophy and divinity. He says “ philosophy is odious and obscure; both law and physic are for petty wits; divinity is the basest of the three, unpleasant, harsh, contemptible and vile; tis magic, magic, that hath ravish’d me “ , “a sound magician is a mighty god,” o, what a world of profit and delight”” . In order to satisfy his thirst for greater knowledge he decides to go for necromancy.

5. Good angel says “ o, Faustus , lay that damned book aside, and gaze not on it, lest it tempt thy soul, and heap god’s heavy wrath upon thy head! Read, read the scriptures :-that is blasphemy.” • The bad angel refutes and says “ go forward, Faustus, in that famous art. Wherein all nature’s treasure is contain’d : be thou on earth as jove is in the sky , lord and commander of these elements.” • Doctor Faustus and his plans after attaing power. “1.I’ll have them fly to india for gold 2. Ransack the ocean for orient pearl,” he has a bucket list which is full till its brim.

6. Faustus chants the magic spell, the devil; Mephistopheles enter . He says” therefore the shortest cut for conjuring is stoutly to abjure the Trinity (father, son and the holy ghost) and pray devoutly to the prince of hell” • Doctor Faustus asks Mephistopheles how he became prince of hell. Mephistopheles says thathe had been thrown out of the heaven as apunishment in the conspiracy against god.But he now miss the pleasure of being with god.

7. Doctor Faustus ignores Mephistopheles warning in disguise. Doctor Faustus ask Mephistopheles to return to his master Lucifer with the offer of Faustus’s soul in exchange for 24 years of service from Mephistopheles(“1. always be obedient to his will; 2. Give him whatsoever he shall ask; to slay his enemies and aid his friends,” etc) and complete freedom to perform necromancy • Lucifer’s condition. Doctor Faustus to write a document with his own blood that he is willing to leave his soul to Lucifer.

8. 24 years of his deal come to a close • Good angel urges Faustus to repent , but doctor Faustus drives her away. • On the final night Faustus is overcome by remorse and fear • Begs for mercy • Its too late • He can only scream out in agony and horror at his finalfate.

9. Conclusion In a nutshell , I would like to say that Marlowe’s doctor Faustus is really a tragic hero.

10. Thank You !