Christopher Marlowe’s The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus

Blog prompt for October 2, Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, Prologue and Acts 1-2  

One of the main issues in starting this play is dealing with the language and the dramatic form.

1.  In three or four sentences, give the gist (main sense) of lines 7-28 of the play’s Prologue, starting “Only this, gentlemen: we must perform / The form of Faustus’ fortunes, good or bad” and ending “And this the man that in his study sits.” Be sure to show that you examined some of the footnotes defining terms and concepts.

2.  In several sentences, give the gist of one of these speeches by Faustus. Be sure to show that you examined some of the footnotes defining terms and concepts. Then set the speech in context—where and to whom it is spoken (if that is clear), Faustus’s tone, his apparent purpose, and any other context that seems relevant.

3.  Frame two discussion questions for Tuesday.  

Discussion Questions

1. Dr. Faustus reads the terms of his agreement with Mephastophilis and Lucifer in Lines 96-108. He is unable to find one word to entirely describe a being’s physical body. He first says that he “may be a spirit in form and substance,” and then that Mephastophilis may “appear… in what form or shape soever he please” (Lines 97, 101). What Elizabethan ideas about the being would have influenced this uncertainty? Is there a different word we would use today?

2. In Lines 36-47, the Old Man encourages Dr. Faustus to repent. Is he supposed to be a wise counselor or a prophetic fool? How do the religious references influence our perception of him? I am interested in this character because I would like to know about the origins of either of those archetypes for old man characters.

The Prologue (Lines 7-28)

The chorus introduces Dr. Faustus and his alarming ambitions. Eerily similar to Marlowe, Dr. Faustus grew up in a family “base of stock” and received a good Protestant education, followed by his doctorate, despite difficulties with the university (Line 11). (See footnotes 4-6.) Then however, Dr. Faustus’ scholarly thirst for knowledge becomes an arrogant search for power. He is interested in necromancy.

                   

Dr. Faustus’ Speech in Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 79-100

            The Angels of Good and Evil each state their case concerning Dr. Faustus’ interest in dark magic, but he is excited by the Evil Angel’s suggestions of great power. Dr. Faustus considers all the things he could do with a magic spirit, from gathering riches to changing geography. Most importantly, he could replace Alessandro Farnese as king.

            Dr. Faustus is still in his study, perhaps pacing back and forth, as he mulls over what the Angels told him. He is thinking out loud, not really addressing anyone but himself, until he calls for Valdes and Cornelius at the end of his monologue. He becomes increasingly agitated, as evidenced by the lengthy sentence in which he lists what might be possible with such power (Lines 83-98). He intends to think rationally, but he gets caught up in his excitement.