Doctor Faustus Essay

Doctor Faustus can only be described as a man that had a fervent hunger for power. The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, or, which is commonly known as, just ‘Doctor Faustus’, is an Elizabethan story written by Christian Marlowe. The work represents the tragic life of a scholar, John Faustus, who later finds himself into damnation because of his decision to practice sorcery. Since he had deliberately sold his soul to the devil, he gains incredible knowledge and power through his involvement of necromancy. Though he feels he has endless power, he is later forced to face his downfall. When his 24 year period, the time he had agreed to, is over, he is taken and dragged to Hell realizing his lack of good sense.

He represents

The Old Man first begs Faustus to stop his sinning followed with him saying that his soul is still “amiable” or good natured (v.i 40). He then guarantees Faustus that what he is telling him is said in “tender love and pity of thy future misery.” (v.i 47-48). Faustus then makes the decision to “torment… that based an aged man that durst dissuade me from thy Lucifer.” (v.i 80-81). The way Faustus decides to treat this man displays his acceptance with being able to afflict pain on the elderly. His actions take the place of being true evil. Doctor Faustus’ actions throughout the tragedy are of his own choices and not of predestination. The two ideas of predestination and free will are both very controversial in this story. Even though predestination helps the idea of Faustus being fated to be damned, the idea of free will, that Faustus chose his own damnation, is more supported since it is Faustus’ own decision to ignore the many warnings and chances he had to walk away from such evil. His greed for knowledge and power clouds his morals and good intentions. As a result to his actions of ignoring his choices and resorting to necromancy, he is ultimately lead to his