[Paper-105] Renaissance Drama
Discuss “Dr.Faustus” as an inverted morality play
The morality play was one of the early forms of drama. It developed out of the mystery and
miracle plays and it flourished during the middle ages. The morality play differed from the
miracle play in that it was not concerned with presenting a Biblical story with named characters.
Rather dealt with the problem of good and evil. The morality play may be regarded as the
dramatic counterpart of the once popular allegorical poetry. It marks a distinct advance over the
miracle in that it gave free scope to imagination for new plots and incidents. The best known
morality play is “Everyman”, in which it is shown that nothing can ease the terror of the
inevitable summons of death but an honest life and the comforts of religion.
“Dr. Faustus” is the culmination of the English morality tradition. As a morality play, it vindicates
humanity, faith and obedience to the law of God. Faustus strikes against human limitation, to the
point of selling his soul. He is not only the seeker for power but also he wants to know
everything under the sun. Faustus cannot merely be treated as a figure of a medieval play. We
see a “knowing” Faustus deliberately launching himself upon an evil course. He is a scholar
overpowered by his intellectual pride "swollen with cunning of a self-conceit",as the chorus says
in the prologue . At the very beginning of Faustus's temptation, the Good Angel urges Faustus
to lay aside the damned book of magic and to read the Scriptures. But Faustus listens to the
Evil Angel Lucifer , who encourages Faustus to continue his study of magic.
Faustus's signing on the agreement clearly indicates his complete surrender to evil. He lays
down five conditions for the rejection of God. Subject to the fulfilment of these five conditions, he
agrees to let Lucifer have his "body and soul, flesh, blood or goods". He willingly surrendered
his soul to Lucifer intending to go against God and have an enemy of mankind. Though he
knows well that he will do his own harm by doing anything against God. He thinks that God
might, shown him mercy if he had begged Him. But he has made a great mistake by selling his
soul to the devil, and he cannot utter the name of God. As Faustus says, "Ah, my God! I would
weep but the devil draws in my tears" . Even when he tries to pray to God. by lifting up his
hands, the devil holds his hands. When his heart is craved for the prayer, Lucifer comes to warn
him.
Dr. Faustus is different from the traditional morality drama because in the traditional morality
drama the hero is an innocent man and he is tempted by evil without having any knowledge of
its danger. But in Marlowe’s drama Dr. Faustus is a good scholar and is fully aware about the
dangerous effect on him. More surprising is that he achieves the mighty supernatural power by
doing a bargain with the devil for the gratification of this lust for power and his sensual desire.
Dr.Faustus is thus a tragedy of man whose expectation is high beyond the limitation. His
scholarly knowledge may do some mighty work for the world and he would receive a reputation.
Instead of doing it he spoils his knowledge and study.
Discuss “Dr.Faustus” as an inverted morality play
The morality play was one of the early forms of drama. It developed out of the mystery and
miracle plays and it flourished during the middle ages. The morality play differed from the
miracle play in that it was not concerned with presenting a Biblical story with named characters.
Rather dealt with the problem of good and evil. The morality play may be regarded as the
dramatic counterpart of the once popular allegorical poetry. It marks a distinct advance over the
miracle in that it gave free scope to imagination for new plots and incidents. The best known
morality play is “Everyman”, in which it is shown that nothing can ease the terror of the
inevitable summons of death but an honest life and the comforts of religion.
“Dr. Faustus” is the culmination of the English morality tradition. As a morality play, it vindicates
humanity, faith and obedience to the law of God. Faustus strikes against human limitation, to the
point of selling his soul. He is not only the seeker for power but also he wants to know
everything under the sun. Faustus cannot merely be treated as a figure of a medieval play. We
see a “knowing” Faustus deliberately launching himself upon an evil course. He is a scholar
overpowered by his intellectual pride "swollen with cunning of a self-conceit",as the chorus says
in the prologue . At the very beginning of Faustus's temptation, the Good Angel urges Faustus
to lay aside the damned book of magic and to read the Scriptures. But Faustus listens to the
Evil Angel Lucifer , who encourages Faustus to continue his study of magic.
Faustus's signing on the agreement clearly indicates his complete surrender to evil. He lays
down five conditions for the rejection of God. Subject to the fulfilment of these five conditions, he
agrees to let Lucifer have his "body and soul, flesh, blood or goods". He willingly surrendered
his soul to Lucifer intending to go against God and have an enemy of mankind. Though he
knows well that he will do his own harm by doing anything against God. He thinks that God
might, shown him mercy if he had begged Him. But he has made a great mistake by selling his
soul to the devil, and he cannot utter the name of God. As Faustus says, "Ah, my God! I would
weep but the devil draws in my tears" . Even when he tries to pray to God. by lifting up his
hands, the devil holds his hands. When his heart is craved for the prayer, Lucifer comes to warn
him.
Dr. Faustus is different from the traditional morality drama because in the traditional morality
drama the hero is an innocent man and he is tempted by evil without having any knowledge of
its danger. But in Marlowe’s drama Dr. Faustus is a good scholar and is fully aware about the
dangerous effect on him. More surprising is that he achieves the mighty supernatural power by
doing a bargain with the devil for the gratification of this lust for power and his sensual desire.
Dr.Faustus is thus a tragedy of man whose expectation is high beyond the limitation. His
scholarly knowledge may do some mighty work for the world and he would receive a reputation.
Instead of doing it he spoils his knowledge and study.
