Very quickly in the play, Faustus finds himself in league with Lucifer and his emissary, Mephostophilis. Eager to win greater fame and power, he turns away from logic, reason, and theology and seeks to gain power through the use of magic. In Marlowe’s play, Faustus is a professor and intellectual star at the University of Wittenberg. Which brings us to “Doctor Faustus.” The Basic PlotĬhristopher Marlowe’s 17th-century play “The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus,” now routinely referred to as “Doctor Faustus,” is based on the stories told of Johann Faust, a German magician and alchemist who became a Renaissance legend. And certainly no one in the public square brings up the devil.
Rarely in these explications do we hear about evil or the human soul. Childhood abuse accounts for the man who shoots up a tavern a boatload of debt drives the executive who embezzles money and bankrupts her company ideology infects and sickens the dictator who orders millions executed. Like our ancestors, we still see evil in the world, but in our age of science, psychology, social science, and statistics we nearly always look to genetics, circumstances, or environment as explanations for wickedness. That old joke, or its variations, speaks volumes about modernity. The Congressman was astonished, but then burst out laughing. “In 24 years, you give me your immortal soul,” Lucifer replied.
“Wow, that sounds great! But what’s in it for you?” You’ll have a fortune beyond your wildest dreams, beautiful women, mansions, expensive cars, a yacht. “I want to give you everything you desire or could imagine,” Lucifer answered. Doctor Faustus was first published in 1604, eleven years after Marlowe's death and at least twelve years after the first performance of the play.Ĭast:Chorus: Martin GeesonGood Angel: AvailleEvil Angel/Cardinal/Third Scholar: Denny SayersDoctor Faustus/Vintner/First Friar/Covetousness/Gluttony: Algy PugMephistophilis/Knight/First Scholar/Envy/Narrator: Elizabeth KlettLucifer: CalmDragonWagner: Arielle LipshawValdes/Clown/Third Friar: Nadine Eckert-BouletCornelius: RainerThe Pope: John SteigerwaldEmperor: Sean RandallHorse-courser: Frank BookerRobin: Jason MillsRalph/Second Scholar/Wrath: Sandra GSecond Friar/Old Man: David LawrenceFourth Friar/Duke of Vanholt: Lars RolanderDuchess of Vanholt: Musicalheart1Pride: Mary-Beth BlackburnSloth: Diana MajlingerLechery: Lucy PerryA member of Congress wakes one night and finds Lucifer standing at the foot of his bed and staring at him.
The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, normally known simply as Doctor Faustus, is a play by Christopher Marlowe, based on the Faust story, in which a man sells his soul to the devil for power and knowledge.
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