001 DR - Faustus

Christopher Marlowe
DR.FAUSTUS
(Short Summary)
These notes are only for quick reference and must be referred along with Arpita`s Audio Lectures for better understanding
Christopher Marlowe’s play titled ‘The Tragic History of the Life and Death of Doctor
Faustus’ is commonly shortened and simply referred to as ’Dr. Faustus’. Published in
1604, this play depicts the clashing views between the Medieval period and the emerging
Renaissance. It shows how Dr. Faustus leads to his own destruction by ditching humility
and spiritual goodness for power, wealth and other materialistic gains. The underlying
message of the play is that our choices in life decide our soul’s trajectory and whether it
will reach salvation or damnation.
Faustus is a German scholar who is not interested in traditional forms of knowledge —

medicine, logic, law and theology. He is looking for something more. He finally decides to
learn the dark art of magic. Two angels — Evil Angel and Good Angel come to pay a visit
to Faustus. While the Evil Angel supports him to learn magic, the Good Angel encourages
Faustus to leave magic and start reading scriptures. Faustus decides to side with Evil
Angel and starts learning magic.
Faustus’s friends, Valdes and Cornelius support his decision. They teach him magic and
tell him that he could become popular and wealthy by using it. After learning from them,
Faustus is able to summon a devil named Mephistopheles from hell. On being asked by
Mephistopheles why he has been summoned, Faustus says he would like twenty-four
years of service from him.
Mephistopheles tells Faustus about his boss Lucifer. He tells that Lucifer was earlier a
God’s angel but due to pride, he was now a devil in hell. Faustus proposes to give his soul
to Lucifer in exchange for twenty-four years of service from Mephistopheles. Lucifer
agrees to the deal and wants Faustus to sign on a document in his own blood. Faustus
obeys and cuts his arm to sign the document with his blood. However, the blood starts to
solidify. This makes Faustus doubt if he has taken the right decision. However, as soon as
Mephistopheles melts the blood using fire, Faustus’s doubts fade away and he sells his
soul. As soon as he does so, the words “ Homo Fuge” (meaning “O man, fly” in Latin)
appear on his arm.
Mephistopheles bestows Faustus with a book of spells and answers his questions.
However, Mephistopheles refused to answer when Faustus asked who created the
Universe. This makes Faustus doubt his decision again. Mephistopheles calls Lucifer and
another devil named Beelzebub. Lucifer asks Faustus to stop doubting and instead, enjoy
the entertainment he has got in store for him. Lucifer puts up a brilliant show by bringing
ArpitaKarwa.com aims at providing clear and

concise summaries that can help you master
important literary works.
Christopher Marlowe
DR.FAUSTUS
(Short Summary)
These notes are only for quick reference and must be referred along with Arpita`s Audio Lectures for better understanding
in the personification of the seven deadly sins namely pride, covetousness, wrath, envy,
gluttony, sloth, and lechery. Faustus enjoys it thoroughly.
Faustus now begins to use magic for travelling. He and Mephistopheles land in a court in
Rome where Pope Adrian is present. Mephistopheles makes Faustus invisible so he could
play pranks with the Pope. He creates a ruckus by stealing food from the Pope’s banquet
and punching him in his ears. He also helps a German named Bruno escape Pope’s
punishment using his magical powers.
Faustus returns back to Germany and receives a note of thanks from the German
emperor, Charles V, for helping Bruno. He also expresses his desire to see Faustus create
Alexander the Great. Faustus honours his wish and conjures an image of Alexander. While
Charles is supremely impressed, a guest named Benvolio mocks Faustus’s magical
powers. As a punishment, Faustus gives him horns.
Meanwhile, a townsman named Robin agrees to serve Faustus’s servant, Wagner in

exchange for learning some magic tricks. Robin and his friend Rafe try to procure free
booze using magic and also summon Mephistopheles, who turns them into animals for
their foolish actions.
A group of scholars at the University are hinted about Faustus’s nearing death. They ask
Faustus to summon Helen of Troy, the world’s most beautiful woman according to Greek
Mythology. Faustus does so and also falls for her beauty.
As Faustus dreads his death, he confesses his wrongdoings to the fellow scholars, who
promise to pray for him. The two angels appear again before Faustus. The Evil Angel
shows him hell and the endless tortures. The Good Angel shows him heaven and how its
door is now closed for him because of his greed.
Faustus begs for mercy and requests to not be taken to hell. However, it’s too late. As the
clock strikes midnight, a group of devils takes Faustus’s body to hell. The next day, the
scholars find Faustus’s torn body and decide to hold a funeral for him.
ArpitaKarwa.com aims at providing clear and

concise summaries that can help you master
important literary works.

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Christopher Marlowe

Faustus is a German scholar who is not interested in traditional forms of knowledge —

ArpitaKarwa.com aims at providing clear and

Meanwhile, a townsman named Robin agrees to serve Faustus’s servant, Wagner in

ArpitaKarwa.com aims at providing clear and

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