The play may largely be called a morality play. By selling his soul to the devil, Faustus lives a blasphemous life full of sterile and sensual pleasures for only twenty-four years. He criticizes Christianity by insulting the Pope with the Holy Fathers of Rome. There is a sharp conflict in his soul between his ambition and conscience, between the good angel and the evil angel who breaks out of this internal struggle. Yet, at the end Faustus yields to the temptations of Evil angel, thus paving the way for an eternal curse. When Faustus has barely an hour to live, he realizes with the utmost pain and horror that his sins neither can be ignored nor be purified and nothing can save him from an eternal curse. He realizes that his soul burn permanently into hell and he with the most effective expression scourges the very tormented soul in his last soliloquy: "My God, my God, look not so fierce on me!...”
The main goal of the morality play was to present educational ethics. It was a dramatic guide to Christian life and Christian death. Those who ignore the path of virtue and renounce faith in God and Christ and follow the path of the Devil and Satan is destined to despair and an eternal curse. This is Marlowe's message to his play Doctor Faustus. The sad choir's most palpable expression is in the final line: “I’ll burn my books!—Ah, Mephistophilis !”
In the depiction of moral plays, abstract figures of vices or virtues were embodied. Here in this drama Doctor Faustus, we also find the good angel and the evil angel, the first symbolizing the path of virtue and the last of sin and curse. The old man strongly symbolizes the forces of righteousness and morality. He suggests Doctor Faustus abjure magic and come to the path of light. This also bears witness to morality.
Doctor Faustus is hungry for knowledge and as result, he always is on a quest for that. He studies almost all branches of knowledge as well as religion, yet he still is hungry for more knowledge which is the reason behind adopting the prohibited knowledge of "black magic". Here his incomparable wisdom fails him.
The comic scenes of Doctor Faustus also represent the tradition of miraculous plays and ancient morals. We found Faustus playing despicable tricks on the Pope, who represents the corrupt religion. We also capture Doctor Faustus to make the trick with that of the horse courser who plainly believes Doctor Faustus. When he was overwhelmed by the magical horse, he, at last, realized the deceit of Doctor Faustus. The struggle between Faustus’s uncontrolled appetites and the powers of heaven continues. Faustus has free will, free choice, and the ability to affirm or deny God. He cannot blame anybody but himself for his actions and their consequences. After signing the document, Faustus says: ’Consummatumest’ which was the last words of Christ on earth according to the Gospel of St. John.
Marlowe shows great insight into the twisted mind of the magician by putting these blasphemous words in Faustus’s mouth. We see Faustus, his emotional and intellectual instability is fully revealed. He dwindles and waves between God and the devil. At first, he is conscience-stricken: “Now Faustus, must thou needs be damned, and canst thou not be saved”.
The issue of good and evil is very significant in Doctor Faustus. The struggle between good and evil turns the man to be hesitant and remain puzzled and Doctor Faustus is no exception to that. It is the selection of the man that he must have to choose either good or evil and which way is good and which way is bad for him.
We can conclude that Doctor Faustus is both the fulfillment of the English moral traditions and the finest and final of Marlow's heroic plays. As a morality play, it bears all the relevance and proves humility, belief, and compliance with God's law. As a heroic play, it rejoices in power, beauty, wealth, and knowledge as well as it is Marlowe’s masterpiece.
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