Christopher Marlowe and Doctor Faustus Realized by Mirko Bisi Performer Heritage Marina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella, Margaret Layton © 2016 Realized by Mirko Bisi

1. Life Born in Canterbury in 1564 (two months before Shakespeare). Studied at Cambridge University. Moved to London where he established himself as the most important playwright of the day. In an age of Catholic versus Protestant political intrigue he became a very important secret agent of the Queen. Mysterious sudden death in a London tavern in 1593. Performer Heritage Realized by Mirko Bisi

2. Main works 1587 Tamburlaine the Great 1588-89 Doctor Faustus 1590 The Jew of Malta 1591 Edward II Main themes lust for power and ambition, desire to break free from the limitations of the Church and knowledge. Performer Heritage Realized by Mirko Bisi 3

3. Doctor Faustus: the plot Reworking of an old motif a man who sells his soul to the devil to have power on Earth. Marlowe’s Faustus an eminent scholar. He gives his soul to Mephistopheles, the devil’s agent, in return for twenty- four years of unlimited knowledge and power. Performer Heritage Realized by Mirko Bisi 4

3. Doctor Faustus: the plot At the end Faustus overcome by fear and remorse. He begs for mercy, but it is too late. At midnight the devil appears and carries his soul off to Hell. Performer Heritage Realized by Mirko Bisi 5

4. Is it a morality play? The morality play Doctor Faustus Death is a character and God is vindictive; The only possible way to reach eternal salvation death; The central figure represents humanity. Faustus does not believe in life after death; Theology = Medieval thought and philosophy = Renaissance too restrictive; Faustus views his pact with Mephistopheles the only means to fulfill his ambitions. Performer Heritage Realized by Mirko Bisi 6

5. Faustus Faustus is bold enough the typical Renaissance man to sell his soul to the devil bold enough the typical Renaissance man related to the maker of his own destiny Icarus myth = overreacher Prometheus myth = eternal dissatisfaction The moral of the play  ambition and dissatisfaction with what God had given man can only lead to damnation. Performer Heritage Realized by Mirko Bisi

6. The style Notable use of the soliloquy it shows both sides of Faustus’s character. He improved the dramatic possibilities of blank verse = unrhymed iambic pentameter. Great energy and life in his use of colour and description: Faustus is ‘swollen with cunning of a self-conceit, / His waxen wings did mount above his reach’ (from the ‘Prologue’). Performer Heritage Realized by Mirko Bisi 8