Christopher Marlowe's Dr.Faustus

                                                            Doctor Faustus as a Tragedy

Or

Doctor Faustus as a Tragic Hero

Introduction

Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593) was one of the most influential playwrights of the English Renaissance. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and played a crucial role in shaping English drama. Marlowe is best known for his powerful use of blank verse, larger-than-life characters, and exploration of ambitious, often tragic heroes. Doctor Faustus, one of his most famous tragedies, is a tragic play about a man who sells his soul to the devil for knowledge and power. L. C. Knights says that Faustus's motivations are essentially immature, driven by ''the perverse and infantile desire for enormous power and immediate gratifications.

Tragic Elements in Doctor Faustus

1. Tragic Hero

According to Aristotle, a tragic hero is a noble character with a fatal flaw that leads to their downfall. A tragic hero is often someone of high status or exceptional ability. Faustus is a highly educated scholar with vast knowledge in various subjects, including medicine, law, and theology. However, he finds human knowledge insufficient and desires supernatural power. His arrogance and discontent with human limitations push him toward his doom.

"A sound magician is a mighty god:

Here, Faustus, tire thy brains to gain a deity." (Act 1, Scene 1)

This statement reflects Faustus’ grand ambition, which ultimately leads to his downfall.

2. Hamartia (Tragic Flaw)

Faustus’ hamartia is his insatiable thirst for knowledge and power, coupled with his refusal to seek redemption. He repeatedly ignores opportunities to repent, showing a deep-seated hubris. Faustus is given multiple chances to repent, but he consistently chooses to remain loyal to Lucifer.

"My heart is hardened, I cannot repent;

Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven." (Act 2, Scene 3)

This highlights Faustus’ internal struggle and his tragic inability to turn back.

3. Conflict

The primary conflict in the play is between Faustus’ aspirations and the moral consequences of his actions. He is torn between the Good Angel, who urges him to repent, and the Evil Angel, who tempts him to continue on his doomed path.

"Why waver’st thou? O, something soundeth in mine ears

‘Abjure this magic, turn to God again!’" (Act 2, Scene 1)

This internal struggle makes Doctor Faustus a deeply psychological tragedy. His overconfidence makes him ignore the warnings of the Good Angel, scholars, and even Mephistopheles

4. Supernatural Elements

The play is filled with supernatural beings, such as Mephistopheles, Lucifer, and the Seven Deadly Sins. These figures not only tempt Faustus but also serve as metaphors for his spiritual decay.

"Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribed

In one self place; for where we are is hell,

And where hell is, there must we ever be." (Act 2, Scene 1)

Mephistopheles’ explanation of hell reinforces the inevitable consequences of Faustus’ choices.

5. Inevitability of Fate

Although Faustus is given multiple chances to repent, he remains trapped by his own choices. His downfall appears inevitable, reinforcing the tragic notion that humans, despite free will, are often bound by their flaws.

"Now hast thou but one bare hour to live,

And then thou must be damned perpetually!" (Act 5, Scene 2)

As Faustus faces his final moments, his realization of fate’s inevitability evokes deep pathos.

6. Realization of Mistake (Anagnorisis)

A tragic hero eventually realizes their mistake, but it is too late. Faustus experiences deep regret in his final moments as he begs for mercy, but his fate is already sealed.

"O, I’ll leap up to my God! Who pulls me down?" (Act 5, Scene 2)

His desperate cries evoke pity and fear, fulfilling the essence of tragedy.

7. Catharsis

Faustus’ tragic end comes when he is taken to hell, emphasizing the consequences of unchecked ambition. Faustus’ downfall creates catharsis (emotional release/cleanse) for the audience. Witnessing his tragic fate and suffering serves as a moral warning about the dangers of pride and overreaching desires.

"Ugly hell gape not! Come not, Lucifer!

I’ll burn my books—Ah, Mephistopheles!" (Act 5, Scene 2)

This final moment signifies his complete despair, making him a true tragic hero

8. Moral and Theological Dimensions

Marlowe’s play reflects Renaissance anxieties about human ambition and divine justice. The Christian framework of the play suggests that excessive ambition without moral restraint leads to destruction.

"The reward of sin is death: that’s hard." (Act 1, Scene 1)

Faustus’ early contemplation foreshadows his tragic demise, reinforcing the play’s moral and theological concerns.

Conclusion

Critic R. M. Dawkins calls Doctor Faustus “a tragedy of the Renaissance man who had to pay the medieval price for being one.” Faustus embodies the Renaissance spirit of curiosity and ambition, but his choices lead to his doom. His tragic journey serves as a powerful lesson on the limits of human ambition and the consequences of ignoring morality.