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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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