Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus is a play that belongs to the genre of morality plays, which were popular in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. Morality plays typically feature a protagonist who represents humanity or a social group, and other characters who embody good and evil forces. The aim of morality plays is to teach moral lessons, usually based on Christian values. Morality plays are different from other types of drama in several ways. First, they use allegory and symbolism, rather than realistic or historical characters and situations. Second, they focus on the spiritual and moral aspects of human life, rather than the physical or emotional ones. Third, they have a clear and simple plot structure, often following the pattern of temptation, fall, and redemption of the protagonist.
The protagonist of Dr. Faustus is a scholar and magician who sells his soul to the devil for twenty-four years of power and pleasure. He is lured by the evil angel and Mephistopheles, who appeal to his desires and ambitions. He is also warned by the good angel and the old man, who represent his conscience and God’s mercy. He meets various symbolic characters, such as the seven deadly sins, who show him the effects of his sin. He also performs various acts of magic and mischief, such as mocking the Pope, summoning Helen of Troy, and cheating a horse dealer. He eventually fails to repent and is dragged to hell by Lucifer and his devils.
The play explores the themes of sin, repentance, and salvation from a Christian perspective. It shows how Faustus rejects God and his grace and chooses to follow his own will and pride. It also shows how Faustus suffers from remorse and fear but fails to seek forgiveness and redemption. It warns the audience about the dangers of overreaching human reason and defying divine authority. It also critiques human nature and its flaws, such as greed, curiosity, vanity, and folly.
The play can be seen as an effective moral instruction and a critique of human nature, as it uses dramatic techniques to engage the audience’s emotions and intellect. It uses contrast, irony, humor, and spectacle to highlight the difference between good and evil, truth and illusion, heaven and hell. It also uses soliloquies, dialogues, chorus, and banns to reveal the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters, as well as to comment on the action and moralize on the theme. It also uses poetic language, imagery, metaphors, and allusions to enrich the meaning and expression of the play.
However, the play can also be seen as more than a morality play, as it also incorporates elements of tragedy, comedy, history, romance, and humanism. It presents a complex and tragic portrait of a man who defies God and pays the ultimate price for his pride and ambition. It also reflects the spirit of the Renaissance era, when human knowledge and power were expanding rapidly, but also raising new questions and challenges about faith and morality.
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