dr. faustus · 2020. 10. 7. · starting on page one, dr. faustus is ripe with allusion, especially...
TRANSCRIPT
DR. FAUSTUSChristopher Marlowe
MARLOWE
Born in Canterbury, Great Britain, in 1564
Attended King’s School in Canterbury and graduated from Corpus Christi College in Cambridge
Moved to London; became a playwright
Known for scandal and disruptive behavior
In May 1593, he was arrested on charges of atheism and heresy
He was stabbed to death in a tavern
DRAMATIC DEVICES
Faustus loosely follows Aristotle’s TRAGIC PATTERN, which focuses primarily on three areas:
Hero
Plot
Audience
Hero
Superior in station Neither wholly good nor wholly evil
Hero has a tragic fall
Generally due to a mistake in judgment, or Hubris (excessive pride)
Hero suffers profoundly
TRAGIC PATTERN
Plot
Unified plot = Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution
Single action
Single protagonist
Reversals of fortune
Final recognition of truth
TRAGIC PATTERN, CONT’D
Audience
Experiences pity and fear
Catharsis – emotional cleansing
TRAGIC PATTERN, CONT’D
DRAMATIC DEVICES
MORALITY PLAY
The morality play was influential in the later half of the 15th century. The main theme of the morality play is religious, specifically dealing with the conflict of good and evil in man. A morality play’s main character is a man who is like every man. The man suffers temptations and conflicts and makes moral decisions. In the morality play, other characters are introduced in order to remind the main character of his moral obligations. The focus of the plot in a morality play is the conflict within the main character’s soul.
DRAMATIC DEVICES
ARCHETYPE (a "template" of a persona; a very typical example of a person or thing)
Examples: The Hero, the Damsel in Distress, the Social Outcast, the Trickster
Dr. Faustus = The Magician
DRAMATIC DEVICES
THE MAGICIAN
Motto: I make things happen.
Core desire: understanding the fundamental laws of the universe
Goal: to make dreams come true
Greatest fear: unintended negative consequences
Talent: finding win-win solutions
The Magician is also known as: The visionary, catalyst, inventor, charismatic leader, shaman, healer, medicine man.
DRAMATIC DEVICES
ALLUSIONS:
Starting on page one, Dr. Faustus is ripe with allusion, especially mythological allusion, both direct and implied. Examples include the mythological characters Prometheus, Oedipus, and Icarus, all “over-reachers” who are punished for their ambition.
As you read, keep track of allusions and note their significance in the play
CHARACTERS (BY RELATIONSHIP)
FAUSTUS' COLLEAGUES
Wagner: his student and servant
Valdes, Cornelius: magicians
Three Scholars
CHARACTERS (BY RELATIONSHIP)
FAUSTUS' CONSCIENCE
Good Angel
Bad Angel
COMIC CHARACTERS
Robin, Dick: clowns
Horse-courser, Carter, Vintner, Hostess
Martino, Frederick, Benvolio: gentlemen at the Emperor’s court
CHARACTERS (BY RELATIONSHIP)
CONJURED CHARACTERS
(By Lucifer) - Pride, Covetousness, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, Sloth, Lechery: The Seven Deadly Sins
(By Faustus) - Darius of Persia, Alexander the Great, Alexander’s Paramour, Helen of Troy, Devils, Piper, Cardinals, Monks, Friars, Attendants, Soldiers, Servants, Two Cupids: Mute Characters
CHARACTERS (BY RELATIONSHIP)
POLITICAL CHARACTERS
Pope Adrian
Raymond: King of Hungary
Bruno, Rival Pope appointed by the Emperor Two Cardinals
Archbishop of Rheims
Friars
Charles the Fifth: German Emperor
Duke of Saxony
Two Soldiers
Duke of Vanholt
Duchess of Vanholt
THEMATIC TOPICS
CHOICE (specifically the choice between good & evil)
REDEMPTION VS. DAMNATION
LUST FOR POWER
HUMAN FRAILTY
PRIDE/ARROGANCE/AMBITION
QUIZ
1. Which Greek mythological character is Faustus compared to? D. Icarus
2. Which characters instruct Faustus in the dark arts? D. Cornelius and Valdes 3. When first summoned, how does Faustus ask Mephistophilis to appear? A. As a Friar 4. What is the name of the ruler of hell in Doctor Faustus?
B. Lucifer 5. How long does Faustus demand that Mephistophilis serve him?
D. Twenty-Four years