Source- luminarium.org
The play- Doctor Faustus is written by Christopher Marlowe, who was the very first writer to exploit the tragic implications of Renaissance humanism. The play is about John Faustus, an erudite scholar who has mastered all subjects known to mankind such as theology, law, medicine, and philosophy, and believes that studying such subjects is moot and pointless and thus strives for limitless knowledge and power. These frivolous subjects are far below his intellect and he aspires for something far greater and thus turns to the sinister art of necromancy.
Despite being extremely witty and knowledgeable, Faustus sins turning to the devil and learning the art of necromancy to become the most knowledgeable scholar alive. The non-traditional study of necromancy promises money, power, and prestige, and hence tempts Faustus into calling on the devil and selling his soul to Lucifer, the king of devils.
His fellow scholars do not approve of Faustus learning the art of dreaded necromancy but he continues on the sinned path and does not repent despite heed given to him by the good angel and the old man. He sees himself above religious morality and plays tricks on the Pope by turning invisible.
The perspective of Renaissance Humanists
Renaissance humanists stress qualities of self-direction, goodness, and rational thought. Striving for greater knowledge and insights overcoming all barriers that restrict man from achieving his highest form of wisdom is precisely what Faustus aimed at.
It can be argued that Faustus in his self-conceit strives for limitless knowledge and wisdom which ultimately leads to the damnation of his soul. He sells his soul to the devil for cursed necromancy. He lavishly enjoys the promised twenty- four years of expending dark magic across the seven continents with his servant, Mephistopheles by his side.
The deal with the devil proves too costly for the erudite scholar, who fails to choose the wise path by committing deadly sins along his journey. The good angel and the old man try their best to convince Faustus of his grave mistake and make him repent for his fatal actions, but the ill-fated Faustus ignores their foretold warnings and treads on the dangerous path which ultimately leads to his ill-destined end.
Christopher Marlowe Creates a Tragic Hero
Marlowe broke away from the medieval conception of tragedy and created the real tragic hero- Doctor Faustus. Faustus realized afterwards that purchasing the ability to violate the rules of nature is inevitably a bad bargain. But as he is committed to the twin paradigm of the sins of Adam and Lucifer, he cannot get rid of the fall. Under the influence of evil, he performs the seven deadly sins within himself on the psychological level.
Thus, Faustus lives out his twenty- four years doing nothing of the great things he promised in the beginning. He eventually digressed from his ideal vision and gave in to the flimsiness of the devil. His hunger for power drives him down this maddening path and his wisdom could not save him from his ultimate damnation. And when the dream of power is lost, the gift of entertainment remains his sole solace. His fascination to see Helen expresses the Renaissance passion for beauty in its perfect form.
However, Doctor John Faustus confesses his barren littleness of life in the vastness of the moral universe and he discovers the fulfilment of human pretensions to power and knowledge in the fall of an overwhelming cataclysm. But by the time he realizes his grave mistakes, it is too late for anything to be done. He does everything in his capacity to stop the clock from striking midnight but his damnation is inevitable.
Conclusion
Despite being worthy in every sense possible, he strolls down his tragic end. His immense potential and motivation compel him to take the darker and more dangerous path, as humanists argue. In this, Faustus may be a remarkably brilliant and errant scholar, but he is also an ‘Everyman’ who compels Renaissance and modern audiences as well to examine the perplexing choices of facing a creature of desire and doubt in a changing world. In the period of the Renaissance, he is a doomed tragic hero who fails to see the reality behind the lens of superiority and an enhanced sense of self.
Written by Chitra Gangwani
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