Question

Why do you think that Faustus continues to speak of God and good things even after he has sold his soul to the Devil? Does this suggest that Faustus could repent and be restored spiritually? Or does it mean something else altogether? Your answer should be at least one hundred words.

Answer 1

Christopher Marlowe in his most bizarre creation, Dr. Faustus, has blended the genres of Spiritual and Epic writing. Unlike Milton's 'Paradise Lost', this story involves human characters and portrays the scene from the real world. Characterization of Mephostophilis, Beelzebub and Lucifer are framed as the embodiment of pessimistic thoughts that slowly pollute the mind of Dr. Faustus, who is in desperate search of power and authority.

After the decision to sell his soul to the Devil, the entry of the 'good angel' and 'evil angel' suggest the wavering situation Dr.Faustus has put himself in. The good angel asks him to abandon the deal and “think of God, and heavenly things,” but he rebukes the good angel’s words, saying that he’s not loved by God. However, he does not listen and decides to sign the deed, but his blood congeals.

Later, after the deed is signed, Faustus once again hesitates and leans toward remorse as he contemplates the Godly wonders from which he has estranged himself off. The evil and good angels show again, and Faustus realizes that “[m]y heart’s so hardened I cannot repent!”. He then begins to ask Mephastophilis questions about the planets and the heaven. Furthermore, when he asks that who created the world, Mephostophilis departs angrily. Neglected again, Faustus turns his focus to God wondering if he can repent now. At the same time, the two angels appear again, and the good angel tries to help Faustus and asks him to repent. Influenced Faustus begins appealing to Christ for help and mercy, but then Belzebub, Lucifer, and Mephastophilis enter. They tell Faustus to stop thinking of God and reverse the focus of Faustus towards a delusional path.

This suggests that if Dr.Faustus wanted, he would have recovered himself out of the situation of selling his soul to the Devil. But his desperate temptation for power and excellence pulled him into the void that was ruled by the Devil. In my opinion, he could have returned back and embraced the decision suggested by the Good angel for a better life, but our tragic protagonist was fed by his own fire of temptations. The ringing of the good angel's voice also shows a silver lining within the dark cloud, which ultimately was not chosen by the Doctor.