TwentyFour Years in the Life of Dr Faustus essays

TwentyFour Years in the Life of Dr Faustus essays Christopher Marlowes play Doctor Faustus is the story of a selfish Renaissance-era man who sold his soul to the devil in order to further his knowledge of things beyond mans normal state of being. Faustus was a doctor with a degree in divinity who was highly respected among his fellow scholars. Seemingly bored with the way his life was going, Faustus yearned for more knowledge. He gained a new interest in magic, and decided that if he were a magician, he could somehow learn all of the things he wanted to know. Lines, circles, letters, characters Ay, these are those that Faustus most desires. O, what a world of profit and delight, Is promised to the studious artisan! All things that move between the quiet poles Shall be at my command: emperors and kings Are but obeyed in their several provinces But his dominion that exceeds in this Stretcheth as far as doth the mind of man: Faustus proceeds to make a pact with Lucifer in which he surrenders up to him his soul So he will spare him four and twenty years. (I:III:89-90). Though Faustus had originally intended to use his newly acquired magic for good, he couldnt fight the urge to use his powers for jokes and trickery. During the course of the play, Faustus wastes his magic skills by playing tricks on important figures. In the presence of the Pope, Faustus makes himself invisible and proceeds to make various objects fly through the air to the amazement and awe of the crowd. When visiting the Emperor, he calls forth the spirit of Alexander the Great. Faustus becomes more and more obsessed with the idea of becoming all-powerful as the play wears on. The power he holds causes him to believe that he can eventually become either a go ...