Doctor Faustus Essay: The Tragic History Of Doctor Faustus

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The Tragic History of Doctor Faustus
The Tragic History of Doctor Faustus is known as one of the many books to display a popular understanding of the evolution of modern Western Science. The story is about a medieval doctor who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power. However, he starts to fear hell as his motive to repent for his wrongdoings haunts him. This story takes place in Europe during the 16th century, which was when major changes in philosophy and science occurred. Unfortunately, this was also when conflict between Medieval and Renaissance values occurred. People who held values from the Medieval era strongly believed in God and religion while those with Renaissance values focused on science and the natural world. This conflict is …show more content…

This soliloquy shows that Faustus is eager to learn magic, which reflects on how people during the Renaissance were interested in science and nonreligious aspects instead of God.
Another allegory shown in the story is when Faustus is approached by the good angel and the bad angel. The good angel represents the medieval world by telling Faustus to stay away from magic and focus on God: “Sweet Faustus, think of heaven and heavenly things” (5.20). On the other hand, the bad angel represents the Renaissance world by urging Faustus to remain committed to his plan: “No, Faustus; think of honor and of wealth” (5.21) The text displays the battle between what Faustus is expected to live by and what he wants to live by.
Besides Faustus, another significant character in the story is Mephistophilis. The most interesting aspect of Mephistophilis’s character is that he has mixed motives. At the beginning of the story, it is clear that he wants to play a role in Faustus’s damnation:
For when we hear one rack the name of God,
Abjure the Scriptures and his Saviour Christ,
We fly, in hope, to get his glorious soul

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