Christopher Marlowe as a Dramatist and Doctor Faustus as a Versatile Genius

Christopher Marlowe as a Dramatist and Doctor Faustus as a Versatile Genius

Introduction

Marlowe is one of the most shining figure of English Renaissance and greatest of Shakespeare’s Predecessors. He was an English dramatist, poet and translator of Elizabethan Era. Marlowe was the first Elizabethan Tragedian of his day.

Early Life:-

Marlowe was born on 1564. He was born in Canterbury to shoe maker John Marlowe and his wife Catherine. His father was shoe maker, but through the kindness of patrons was educated at to town grammar school and then at Cambridge. Corpus Christ College, where he studied on a scholarship and received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1584. In 1587 the university hesitated to award him his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree because of a rumor that he intended to go to the English College at Rheims, Presumably to prepare for ordination as a Roman Catholic priest. However his degree was awarded on a schedule when Privy Council intervened on his behalf commending him for his “Faithful Dealing” and “Good Service” to the queen. The nature of Marlowe’s service was not specified by the council but its letter to the Cambridge authorities has provoked much Speculation, notable the theory that Marlowe was operating as a secret agent working for Sir Francis Walsingham’s intelligence service. No direct evidence supports this theory, although the council’s letter is evidence that Marlowe had served the Government in some secret capacity.

In early May 1953 several bills were posted about London threatening protestant refuges form France and the Netherlands who had settled in the city. One of these, The “Dutch Church Libel” written in Blank verves, contained allusion to several of Marlowe’s play and was signed Tamburlaine. On 11 may the Privy Council ordered the arrest of those responsible for the labels. The next day Marlowe’s colleague Thomas Kyd was arrested that it had belonged to Marlowe, with whom he had been writing “In One Chamber” some two years earlier. A warrant of Marlowe’s arrest was issued on 18 May, Marlowe duly presented himself on 20 may, But there apparently being no council meeting on that day, was given instructed to “Gives his daily attendance on their lordship, until he shall be licensed to the contrary on Wednesday 30 May Marlowe was killed. He died on 1593.

Marlowe’s is Famous for his Drama:-

<1>      Tamburlaine Part – 1           (1587)

<2>      Tamburlaine Part - 2            (1587 - 1588)

<3>      The Jew of Malta                  (1589)

<4>      Doctor Faustus                      (1589)

<5>      Edward II                              (1592)

<6>      The Masscare at Paris          (1593) 

Marlowe is famous for his Four dramas, now known as Marlowesque or one man type of tragedy, each revolving about one central personality who is consumed by lust of power.

Let’s have a glance at some work of Marlowe.

Tamburlaine

This drama is the story of Timur the Tartar. Timur begins as a shepherd chief, who first rebels and then triumphs over the Persian king. Intoxicated by his success, Timur rushes like a tempest over the whole east. Seated on his Chariot drawn by captive kings, with caged emperor before him, he boasts of his power which overrides all things. Then, affected with disease, he raves against the gods and would overthrow them as he has overthrown them as he has overthrown earthy rules. Tamburlaine is an Epic rather than a drama. The instant adaptation of its Mighty Line as the instrument of all dramatic expression

Doctor Faustus

This is the second important play of Marlowe. The story of the play is of a German scholar, who longs for infinite knowledge and who turns from Theology, Philosophy, Medicine and Law, the four science of the time, to the study of magic, much as a child might  turn from jewel to tinsel and colored paper. In order to learn magic he sells himself to the devil, on condition that he shall have twenty four years of absolute power and knowledge. The play is the story of those 24 years.

Faustus:                      How comes it then that thou art out of hell?

Mephistophilis:                      Why this is hell, nor am I out of it.

Hell hath no limits, nor it circumscribed in one self place place; for where we are is hell,

and where hell is there must we ever be.

The Jew of Malta:-

This is the third important play by Marlowe. This play is a study of the lust for wealth, which centre sabot Barabas, a terrible old money leader, strongly suggestive of shylock in the merchant of Venice. The first part of the play is well constructed, showing a decided advanced, but the last part is and accumulation of melodramatic horror. Barabas is checked in his murderous career by falling into a boiling caldron which he had prepared for another, and dies blaspheming, his only regret being that he has not done more evil in his life.

Edward II:-

The last important play is Edward II. This play is very famous. It plays vital role to develop plot. This play deals with the life of King Edward. This play is a study if king’s weakness and misery. This is a tragic play, In point of style and dramatic construction. It is by far the best of Marlowe’s play, and is a Marlowe’s play and worthy predecessors of Shakespeare’s historical drama.

Those were the major play – Drama of Christopher Marlowe.

Marlowe is the only dramatist of the time who is ever compared with Shakespeare, when we remember that he died at the age of 29, probably before Shakespeare had produced a single play. We must wonder what he might have done, had he outlived his wretched youth and become a man.

Let’s have a look on Character of Doctor Faustus.

Doctor Faustus is the main character of the play. He is the protagonist. He is 16th century scholar form Wittenberg, Germany. He is well respected German scholar. He wanted to be more and more knowledgeable and wanted to get all wit and wisdom. His quest of knowledge falls him down to the earth.

v As a scholar :-

Doctor Faustus was a well respected German scholar. He has knowledge o logic of Logic, Medicine, Law and Religion. He has a deep knowledge of above subject, but he was dissatisfied with the limits of the traditional knowledge. He wanted to know as much as God knows. He wanted that he must have knowledge as God have. So, he tried Black – Magic and deals with Devil.

v His quest for knowledge:-

Faustus wanted to be as knowledgeable as God. He thought that he should know everything whatever God knows about the universe and its topic or subject. He is hungry for getting knowledge. Faustus wanted to be as per comparison of God. That he will be same as God. His quest of knowledge made his way towards wrong direction. He moved towards wrong direction by his friends. He moved to start Black magic to get knowledge. And also his quest made him unheroic person of play. He deals with devil and looses his twenty four (24) years by harassing people, and mate him cruel death.

v Like a brave soldier:-

Faustus was not only knowledgeable person or character. He was as brave as soldier. We could find when he used black magic tick and Mephistopheles came with ugly shape, at that time he was not afraid and talked with Mephistopheles with bravely. He did not feel hesitation with talking to devil. So we can say that he was just like a brave soldier.

v As a protagonist:-

Faustus is the protagonist and mouthpiece. He is tragic hero of the play. He has ambition, yet prone to a strange, almost willful blindness and willingness to waster power that he has gained at the great cost. As a protagonist of play we can find every element of hero. He is versatile genius. He is main character of play. He is quiet knowledgeable. He has ever characteristics of protagonist.

v As a tragic hero:-

Though Faustus was scholar and great person, but his quest for knowledge made him cruel end. He was knowledgeable but finally he deals with devil. That he will live twenty four years with the power then he give his soul to devil. Finally his twenty four years of power full strength finished. And last day came at that time he realized that he has wasted his twenty four years in harassing people. So finally he has to give his soul to devil and that was his tragic end.

v As a Black Magician:-

Faustus has knowledge of all traditional form. But he wants to be more knowledgeable and as god. So his friend Valdas and Cornelius suggested him to practice Black Magic, and he begins his career as a Black Magician. He has practiced alone at midnight and bravely talks with devil – Mephistopheles. Despite Mephistopheles warning about fear and horror of hell, Faustus tells the devil to return to his master, Lucifer, with an offer of Faustus soul in exchange for twenty four years of service from Mephistopheles.

v Smart Is as Smart:-

Faustus is super smart. So smart that he can best any one of his academic colleges in debate.  So smart that he becomes arrogant. See Faustus thinks he know better than thousand year’s scholars who have gone before him and been content to devote their live to Philosophy, Medicine, Theology or the Law. He thinks those disciplines are totally useless.

v The loss and Lofty Goals:-

Faustus could halfway redeem himself if he used his magic to do something worthwhile, like, say, saving lives or saving soul. But instead, he uses if mainly to idly play mean tricks on peasants and courtiers like poor benvolio.

What Faustus chooses to do with his power after he sells his soul to gain them is a bit anticlimactic considering that he had planned to ‘resolve me of ambiguities’ and ‘the secrets of all foreign king’ and even become the king of his land. But no sooner has Faustus gained his powers than his lofty ambitions fade into something much more well, boring. Why he loses his those ambitions is a bit of mystery.

v The Guy we Love to Hate:-

As noble intention of Faustus we loved him. We knew his good ideas and morality. He wanted to improve situation by getting knowledge. But after getting knowledge his mind changed. First we love to Faustus by his views on it. But he changes his views after getting power and knowledge. So we hate him.

As Faustus contemplates theology, Mephistopheles guides him reading of the Bible so that he concludes that “we must sin / and so consequently die” – ie. Go to hell. Throughout the play, Faustus mopes over this questions, always concluding, that he’s got no shot at salvation. He’s doomed from the get, go, or at least so he’s led to believe.

v All the Riches in the world:-

Faustus might not be as smart as he thinks. He never quite manages to think all the way through the question of whether or not he has a chance at a ticket to heaven. He’s always distracted by devils bringing some new delight.

In the end, Faustus “didst love the world” – in other words, material things more than spirituals things. His pride and desire for power prompt him to sign his soul over to the devil. Once that’s done his liability to let go of all the awesome stuff his devils bring him prevents him from ever repenting. He is plainly, weak for that reason, we pity Faustus. He comes so close to heaven so many times, even as he misses it by mile.

So, we can say that Doctor Faustus was a genius and noble guy. But he changed his life and views and morality after getting knowledge and power by devil.