Themes

Bargaining

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Faustus's initial decision to practice necromancy in Act 1, Scene 1: Sets the stage for his ultimate bargain with Lucifer.

• The signing of the contract with his blood in Act 2, Scene 1: Solidifies Faustus's commitment to his bargain.

• Faustus's moments of doubt and contemplation of repentance: Highlight the ongoing internal struggle and the possibility of renegotiating his fate.

• The final hour in Act 5, Scene 2: Faustus's desperate attempts to bargain for more time and his eventual realization of his fate.

Key Characters

• Doctor Faustus: The protagonist whose ambitious and prideful nature leads him to make a fatal bargain.
• Mephastophilis: The demon who facilitates Faustus's bargain and serves as a constant reminder of his impending doom.
• Lucifer: The ruler of hell who seals the deal with Faustus, symbolizing the ultimate consequence of his bargain.

Key Quotes

"Go bear these tidings to great Lucifer, / Seeing Faustus hath incurred eternal death / By desperate thoughts against Jove's deity: / Say, he surrenders up to him his soul / So he will spare him four and twenty years." (Act 1, Scene 3)

• Faustus expresses his willingness to exchange his soul for temporal power and pleasures.
• This quote encapsulates the central bargain of the play and Faustus's misguided priorities.

"Had I as many souls as there be stars, / I'd give them all for Mephastophilis. / By him I'll be great emperor of the world." (Act 1, Scene 3)

• Faustus's exaggerated declaration shows his overwhelming ambition and disregard for the value of his soul.
• Highlights the depth of his desire for power and the dangerous allure of his bargain.

"But Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly, / And write a deed of gift with thine own blood, / For that security craves great Lucifer." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• Mephastophilis instructs Faustus on the formalities of his bargain.
• Emphasizes the irrevocable nature of the pact and the seriousness of his commitment.

"Sweet Mephastophilis, entreat thy lord / To pardon my unjust presumption; / And with my blood again I will confirm / My former vow I made to Lucifer." (Act 5, Scene 1)

• Faustus seeks to reaffirm his loyalty to Lucifer despite moments of doubt.
• Reflects his internal conflict and the pull between repentance and continued sin.

"Ugly hell gape not! Come not, Lucifer! / I'll burn my books—ah, Mephastophilis!" (Act 5, Scene 2)

• Faustus's final, desperate plea as he faces eternal damnation.
• Highlights his regret and the futility of his attempts to renegotiate his fate.

Fate vs Free Will

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Faustus's initial contemplation of his ambitions in Act 1, Scene 1: Shows his exercise of free will in choosing necromancy.
• The signing of the contract in Act 2, Scene 1: Symbolizes a pivotal moment of exercising free will.
• The recurring appearances of the Good and Evil Angels: Represent the struggle between fate and free will.
• Final moments of despair in Act 5, Scene 2: Faustus's reflections on his inability to repent highlight the tension between fate and free will.

Key Characters

• Doctor Faustus**:** Represents the struggle between ambition and predestination.
• Good Angel and Evil Angel: Symbolize the conflicting forces of free will and fate.
• Lucifer and Mephastophilis: Agents of fate who enforce the consequences of Faustus's choices.

Key Quotes

"Why then belike we must sin, / And so consequently die. / Ay, we must die an everlasting death. / What doctrine call you this? Che sera, sera / What will be, shall be! Divinity, adieu!" (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Faustus's dismissal of religious doctrine suggests his belief in the inevitability of sin and death.
• Highlights his rejection of divine guidance in favour of a fatalistic view.

"Now Faustus, must thou needs be damned, / And canst thou not be saved. / What boots it then to think of God or heaven?" (Act 2, Scene 1)

• Faustus's resignation to damnation reflects his belief in a predetermined fate.
• Illustrates his internal conflict and struggle with the concept of free will.

"Never too late, if Faustus will repent." (Act 2, Scene 3)

• The Good Angel's assertion emphasizes the possibility of redemption through free will.
• This contrasts with Faustus's belief in his inevitable damnation.

"Accursed Faustus, where is mercy now? / I do repent, and yet I do despair: / Hell strives with grace for conquest in my breast!" (Act 5, Scene 1)

• Faustus acknowledges his internal struggle between repentance and damnation.
• Highlights the ongoing tension between his exercise of free will and his perceived fate.

"Ugly hell gape not! Come not, Lucifer! / I'll burn my books—ah, Mephastophilis!" (Act 5, Scene 2)

• Faustus's final attempt to alter his fate by destroying his books.
• Demonstrates his recognition of his responsibility for his damnation.

Temptation of Sin and Redemption

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Faustus's initial turn to necromancy in Act 1, Scene 1: Marks his first step into sin.
• Summoning Mephastophilis and signing the contract in Act 2, Scene 1: Faustus fully commits to his sinful desires.
• The recurring temptation to repent by the Good Angel: Highlights the ongoing possibility of redemption.
• Final soliloquy in Act 5, Scene 2: Faustus's ultimate despair and inability to repent seal his fate.

Key Characters

• Doctor Faustus: The protagonist whose ambition leads him to sin, yet he is repeatedly tempted to seek redemption.
• Mephastophilis: The demon who represents the constant pull of sin.
• Good Angel and Evil Angel: Embody the opposing forces of temptation and redemption.

Key Quotes

"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." (Act 1, Scene 1)

• The Good Angel's warning highlights the initial temptation Faustus faces.
• Emphasizes the consequences of giving in to sin.

"How am I glutted with conceit of this! / Shall I make spirits fetch me what I please, / Resolve me of all ambiguities, / Perform what desperate enterprise I will?" (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Faustus's excitement about the power he will gain reveals his succumbing to temptation.
• Illustrates the allure of sin and its initial appeal.

"When I behold the heavens, then I repent, / And curse thee, wicked Mephastophilis, / Because thou hast deprived me of those joys." (Act 2, Scene 3)

• Faustus's moment of regret shows his awareness of his sin and lost opportunity for redemption.
• Reflects the internal conflict between sin and the desire for salvation.

"Sweet Mephastophilis, entreat thy lord / To pardon my unjust presumption; / And with my blood again I will confirm / My former vow I made to Lucifer." (Act 5, Scene 1)

• Faustus's reaffirmation of his pact with Lucifer despite moments of doubt.
• Demonstrates his continual surrender to sin.

"Ugly hell gape not! Come not, Lucifer! / I'll burn my books—ah, Mephastophilis!" (Act 5, Scene 2)

• Faustus's final desperate plea as he faces damnation.
• Highlights his ultimate recognition of the consequences of his sin.

Knowledge and Power

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Faustus's rejection of traditional fields of study in Act 1, Scene 1: Demonstrates his desire for more than conventional knowledge.
• The signing of the contract in Act 2, Scene 1**:** Faustus's commitment to gaining forbidden knowledge and power.
• Faustus's use of his powers for trivial pursuits: Reflects the ultimately unfulfilling nature of his quest.
• Final moments of despair in Act 5, Scene 2: Faustus's realization of the limits of his knowledge and power.

Key Characters

• Doctor Faustus: The protagonist whose pursuit of knowledge and power leads to his downfall.
• Mephastophilis: The demon who provides Faustus with the knowledge and power he desires.
• Good Angel and Evil Angel: Represent the moral implications of Faustus's quest.

Key Quotes

"Philosophy is odious and obscure, / Both law and physic are for petty wits; / Divinity is basest of the three, / Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible, and vile. / 'Tis magic, magic that hath ravished me." (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Faustus's dismissal of traditional studies in favour of necromancy.
• Highlights his desire for a higher form of knowledge and power.

"How am I glutted with conceit of this! / Shall I make spirits fetch me what I please, / Resolve me of all ambiguities, / Perform what desperate enterprise I will?" (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Faustus's excitement about the potential of his newfound power.
• Illustrates his ambition and desire for control.

"Thanks, Mephastophilis, yet fain would I have a book / wherein I might behold all spells and incantations, that I / might raise up spirits when I please. Nay, let me have one / book more, and then I have done, wherein I might see all plants, / herbs, and trees that grow upon the earth." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• Faustus's insatiable thirst for knowledge and the tools of power.
• This reflects his continual desire for more, despite already having immense power.

"When I behold the heavens, then I repent, / And curse thee, wicked Mephastophilis, / Because thou hast deprived me of those joys." (Act 2, Scene 3)

• Faustus's moments of regret and realization of what he has lost in his quest for power.
• Demonstrates the conflict between his human desires and the consequences of his ambition.

"Ugly hell gape not! Come not, Lucifer! / I'll burn my books—ah, Mephastophilis!" (Act 5, Scene 2)

• Faustus's final rejection of his pursuit of knowledge and power.
• Highlights his ultimate realization of the futility of his ambitions.

The Renaissance Individual

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Faustus's decision to pursue necromancy in Act 1, Scene 1: Highlights his desire to go beyond traditional human capabilities.
• The signing of the contract in Act 2, Scene 1: Faustus's commitment to individual achievement through supernatural means.
• Faustus's use of his powers to challenge religious and social norms: Reflects the Renaissance spirit of questioning authority.
• Final moments of despair in Act 5, Scene 2**:** Faustus's realization of the consequences of his ambition.

Key Characters

• Doctor Faustus: Represents the ambitious Renaissance individual seeking to push the boundaries of human capability.
• Mephastophilis: Facilitates Faustus's quest for knowledge and power, highlighting the potential dangers of unchecked ambition.
• Good Angel and Evil Angel: Symbolize the moral struggle inherent in the Renaissance pursuit of individualism.

Key Quotes

"Till, swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit, / His waxen wings did mount above his reach, / And melting heavens conspired his overthrow. / For falling to a devilish exercise, / And glutted more with learning's golden gifts, / He surfeits upon cursed necromancy." (Prologue, 20-25)

• The Chorus compares Faustus to Icarus, highlighting the dangers of overreaching ambition.
• Reflects the Renaissance ideal of striving for greatness, tempered by the warning of potential downfall.

"Philosophy is odious and obscure, / Both law and physic are for petty wits; / Divinity is basest of the three, / Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible, and vile. / 'Tis magic, magic that hath ravished me." (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Faustus's rejection of traditional fields of study in favour of necromancy.
• Illustrates his desire to transcend conventional limits and achieve greater individual potential.

"Had I as many souls as there be stars, / I'd give them all for Mephastophilis. / By him I'll be great emperor of the world." (Act 1, Scene 3)

• Faustus's willingness to sacrifice everything for power and knowledge.
• Reflects the extreme ambition characteristic of the Renaissance individual.

"Why should I die then, or basely despair? / I am resolved! Faustus shall ne'er repent. / Come, Mephastophilis, let us dispute again, / And argue of divine astrology." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• Faustus's determination to continue his quest despite moments of doubt.
• Demonstrates his unwavering commitment to individual achievement and knowledge.

"Ugly hell gape not! Come not, Lucifer! / I'll burn my books—ah, Mephastophilis!" (Act 5, Scene 2)

• Faustus's final rejection of his pursuit of knowledge and power.
• Highlights the ultimate realization of the limitations and dangers of the Renaissance ideal of the self-made individual.