the tragical history of dr faustus christopher marlowe

Johann Fausten” in the latter half of the Sixteenth century, about 20 years prior to Marlowe writing it. It was written by an anonymous German author under the title “ Historia von D.

Marlowe's play is based on a book of stories concerning the life of Johann Georg Faust. Moreover, the name Mephistopheles (coming from the original German Faustbuch) is spelt differently in each version. For a long time, it was considered that the A text was corrupt now, the A text appears more genuine. For years, scholars have not agreed on which one was the most “genuine”. The 1616 quarto is a version called the B text. One is the 1604 quarto, the A text, which is a much shorter version. With his strange death and the “legend” that derived from it, Marlowe may have paid the ultimate price for his blasphemous play. His damnation was inevitable.Īt the time Marlowe writes the play, Calvinism was on the ascent in England.

The fact that Faustus sells his soul to the devil, then refuses salvation, shows he was predestined and was not part of the elect. In 1632, William Prynne goes so far as saying there were actual devils appearing in the play, and that some people were driven mad by the mere sights.īut the most important issue Marlowe was confronted with was the accusation of promoting Calvinism. Marlowe was accused of nearly everything. “ Doctor Faustus” is probably the most controversial of all Elizabethan plays because of its theme, the constant mentions of the devil, and Faustus' refusal to accept redemption when it's offered to him. In both cases, the presumptuous man pays the ultimate price for getting too close to the devil Man is a victim of his own hubris. Its parallel with the Greek myth of Icarus is obvious. The myth of Faustus has become so famous that we often forget it is not new. Faustus will consistently ignore the opportunities for salvation which are presented to him. Faustus strikes a deal he will get 24 years of life during which Mephistophilis will be his servant, after which he will be damned and live in hell for eternity. Faustus is surprised by his appearance as he has not called for him, but Mephistophilis explains that for anyone who abjures the scriptures, the Devil will send his emissary. He explains to him how hell has no physical location, rather that it is a state of mind. Then Mephistophilis, Lucifer's servant, appears and talks to Faustus.

These magicians explain to him how to call on the Good angel and the Bad angel: they give their own perspective of Satan, and Faustus is dissuaded. He asks his servant to call on two famous magicians. “Doctor Faustus” is adapted from the German “Faust”.įaustus is bored he has reached the limits of knowledge in many disciplines. “ Doctor Faustus” or “ The tragical history of the life and death of Doctor Faustus” is a play by Christopher Marlowe first performed in 1594 and later published in 1604.

The tragical history of dr faustus christopher marlowe