Christopher Marlowe ‘s Dr. Faustus pursues the tragic ruin of the rational, Dr. John Faustus, following his determination to subscribe a contract with the Satan, due to his lecherousness for greater cognition. Marlowe nowadayss to the reader a one time good psyche, infiltrated with wickedness – a superb bookman who dissipates his clip with sorcery. Ultimately this creates sympathy towards Dr. Faustus, mirroring him as a tragic hero. From the beginning of the drama, Faustus is depicted to be a doomed character, as despite his minutes of attrition, finally evil additions the upper manus. Despite his unhallowed psyche, Faustus is viewed by audiences with commiseration and compassion as he is undermined by his fatal defects of greed and hubris. Furthermore, through Faustus ‘ portraiture of the ‘Renaissance Man ‘ , Marlowe explores Faustus ‘ external and internal struggle, which parallels to the struggle nowadays within society during the clip.

From the beginning of the drama, Faustus is depicted to be a doomed character, self-driven by pride and aspiration that he attempts to sate his appetency for cognition and power by introducing himself with the Satan. The blasted destiny which Faustus is to face is foreshadowed early on in the drama, during his first brush with the Satan Mephastophilis, as he inquires into the ground for Lucifer ‘s expatriate in snake pit:

Fausts: How comes it so that he is prince of Satans?

MEPHASTOPHILIS: O, by draw a bead oning pride and crust

For which God threw him from the face of Heaven.

It is suggested that Faustus, who from an early phase is depicted to be “ engendered with haughtiness, ” will endure like Lucifer, ensuing in his ain damnation. In malice of this, there are occasions which arise where he considers penitence, but despite his impulse to make so, Faustus is consumed by a despairing strong belief that he can non be saved. This is clearly represented when he is about to subscribe the contract with Lucifer, yet “ [ his ] blood congeals, and I [ he ] can compose no more. ” The image of Faustus ‘ blood congealing is unnatural, proposing that Faustus ‘ determination to tie in himself with the Satan is an act which goes against nature. His inability to subscribe the contract is a elusive indicant that he is given an chance to atone and stop his contract with Lucifer. Faustus even inquiries himself about this unnatural happening, stating:

What might the staying of my blood portend?

Is it unwilling I should compose this measure?

However, despite his minutes of attrition, forces of evil manage to rock Faustus back onto the way of evil. The audience is faced with a character who is finally morally grounded, but is influenced by external forces of immorality. Therefore, understanding is generated for Faustus, who is seen as a tragic hero.

A adult male of huge cognition, Dr. Faustus is consumed and hindered by his fatal defects of greed and hubris which leads to his ultimate death. This is revealed when Faustus, jaded with his extended cognition, yearns to happen another topic to analyze to lenify himself:

Faust: Then read no more, thou hast attained the terminal ;

A greater capable fitteth Faustus ‘ humor.

Initially, the prologue presents Faustus as a adult male of greatness – Faustus is positioned in his survey, accompanied by a overplus of books, and who was “ born to parent ‘s base of stock, ” yet went on to analyze deity at the University of Wittenberg. However the tone of the address suddenly alterations in line 20, as the chorus so refers to Faustus as “ craft of a self-conceit, ” and consumed by “ rational pride engendered by haughtiness ; ” so much that he is “ conceited ” by his haughtiness. The usage of this metaphor allows Faustus ‘ pride to be identified more loosely with the status of being swollen. Evidence of his endangering pride begins every bit early as the prologue when the chorus compares Dr. Faustus with Icarus, their similarity being amour propre.

Chorus: His waxen wings did mount above his range,

And runing celestial spheres conspired his overthrow.

This allusion to the ancient Greek myth of Icarus suggests that like Icarus, Dr. Faustus ‘ pride will take to his overthrow. In the Chorus ‘s position, Faustus attempted to “ mount above his range ” and was punished for his given as the “ celestial spheres conspired his overthrow. ” The chorus goes on to explicate that his rational pride led Faustus to take up the survey of thaumaturgy, which they refer to as “ curst sorcery ” . This reveals that doubtless, the Chorus condemns Faustus ‘ survey of thaumaturgy and encourages the audience excessively, to disapprove of it.

The subject of internal struggle is changeless throughout the drama, through the influence and ideas of a 2nd party on Faustus ‘ actions. This struggle, in bend, parallels the struggles happening in society. The characters of the Good and Evil Angels convey dissension into the drama and prompts Faustus to reconsider his determinations. Through this, Faustus is caught between two universes ; the forward-thinking Renaissance and the fear-based Medieval epoch. This is portrayed when the Good and Evil Angels appear to carry Faustus of their sentiments of him subscribing a contract with the Satan:

Good Angel: Sweet Faustus, leave that deplorable art.

Faust: Attrition, supplication, penitence – what of them?

Good Angel: Oxygen, they are agencies to convey thee unto Eden.

EVIL ANGEL: Rather semblances, fruits of madness,

That makes work forces foolish that do non swear them most.

Good Angel: Sweet Faustus, think of Eden and celestial things.

EVIL ANGEL: No Faustus, think of honor and wealth.

This internal argument shows the differing sentiments of non merely Faustus, but besides of early Renaissance society. Faustus ‘ consciences are a consequence of the sentiments of society around him, which hence reflect the struggle of thoughts happening in Renaissance society. Therefore, Faustus is non merely a character who is seen as a tragic hero, but one who characterizes the “ Renaissance Man ” and represents the attitude of Renaissance society at the clip.

In decision, Marlowe places the audience to see Faustus as a tragic hero, a character undermined by his fatal defects of pride and green-eyed monster. Throughout act 1, Faustus considers penitence, though he is ever converted back by frailty and evil. Furthermore, Faustus encompasses the image of the “ Renaissance Man, ” and depicts the external and internal struggles of the clip.