Paper 1 assignment
Name: Gediya Disha Vijaybhai
Roll number:11
Department of English
Maharaja krishna kumar sinhji Bhavnagar University
Paper no:1
Introduction: Christopher Marlowe's dramatic masterpiece The Tragical History of The Life and death of Doctor Faustus is a very debatable issue. For example one can see that he threw his life away for the sake of knowledge becoming obsessed with the knowledge that he could possess. In This case he is unarguably a medieval tragic hero. What is possible in spite of obvious limitations and eventually paying the ultimate penalty he could be considered Renaissance martyr. This play commonly referred to simply as Doctor Faustus is an Elizabethan tragedy by Marlowe . It is based on German stories about the title character Faust that was first performed sometime between 1588 and Marlowe 's death in 1593.
About the author: Christopher Marlowe was born in 26th February 1564 in Canterbury. He was one of the most outstanding play writer an english literature. He was very earlier Elizabethan dramatist and also university wits. He is also well known as Master of tragedy. He was suggestive figure of English Renaissance. He was the greatest Shakespeare tredecessores. He attend kings school in 1579in Canterbury and corpus Christi college Cambridge. He completed my M.A. from Cambridge university.
His work:Marlowe was famous for drama which are known as” Marlowe”or “ one man type of tragedy”. He is remember for his”NightyLimes” which expresses his sence of beauty. As a dramatist he gave certain great tragedy. His first Work “ Tamburlaine the Great” was written in 1587. This play was performed on the regular stage in London.
His second paly was”Doctot Faustus “ written in 1588 and published in 1604. This play is Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. It is very well known character of history of tragedy. He lost his life for desire of getting in finalate knowledge in short lust for knowledge. His third creation was “ The Jew of Malta” was written in 1589 and published in 1633. He was also written a historical play if english Edward 2. He also wrote on tragedy in collaboration”Thomas Nashe” and then he composed one more creation that is “The Massacre of Paris” on 1593. He also wrote one nice poem” Hero and Leander” it is a translated from of Latin. Marlowe died in 30th may in 1593 age of 29 in Deptford Kent England.
Doctor Faustus as Renaissance martyr:
The character of Faustus can also be interpreted from the Renaissance point of view. At the time of this play there was a conflict in many people’s mind including Marlowe as to whether or not to accept the Renaissance view. The Renaissance has been disappointed in the effectiveness of medieval knowledge because many scholastic disputation were merely verbal nonsense.For example arguments such as how many Angels could stand on the head of pin dominated many medieval theses. The Renaissance scholar however revived an interest in the classical knowledge of Greek and humanism of the past. The became absorber in the great potential and possibilities of humanity.
As Renaissance view Faustus rebels against the limitations medieval knowledge and the restrictions put upon humankind decreeing that he must accept his place in universe without challenging it.Because of his universal desire for enlightenment Faustus makes a contract for knowledge and power. His desire according to the Renaissance is to transcend the limitations of humanity and rise to gather achievement and heights. In the purest sense Faustus wants to prove that he can became greater than he presently is. Because of his desire to go beyond human limitations Faustus is willing to chance damnation in order to achieve his goals. The tragedy results when a person is condemned to damnation for noble attempts to go beyond the petty limitations of humanity.Faustus died a death that few could bear to imagine much less experience. After knowing for many years when exactly he would die he reached the stroke of the hour of his destiny in a cowardly horrid demeanor. Finally when the devil appear at the stroke of midnight tearing at his eternal torment he screams for mercy without a soul not even God himself to help him.
In such example one can see that he threw his life away from the sake of knowledge becoming obsessed with the knowledge that he could possess. In this case he is unarguably a medieval tragic hero. However when considering that fact that he died for sake of gaining knowledge pushing the limits of what is possible in spite of obvious limitations and eventually paying the ultimate penalty he could be considered a Renaissance martyr. These two points of view have their obvious difference and depending on from what time period one choose to place this piece of literature. This play epitomizes the ideals of Renaissance egocentric the over indulgence of knowledge and the lust for power.Faustus does gi to extremes by chancing damnation in order of knowledge however he is considered tragic hero God himself is seems the bad guy because he set forth limitations on knowledge and makes man suffer eternal man was created by god and therefore given his thirst for knowledge by God.
When he tries to gain knowledge then he is damned forever . This divine comedy is one of the ironies that one can perceive in Marlowe’s play. The Renaissance view of Marlowe being a Martyr much less realistic. When considering Faustus as to be medieval tragic hero. One can argument that Faustus is Marty one can give strong evidence that he fell from glance and become a tragic hero. Faustus also reduced to the indulgence of his simple pleasure. His most tragic flaw is the fact that he tries to gain a knowledge that is completely forbidden to him . The Renaissance view says that from the search of such forbidden power one become mighty and truly great. When his final second are approaching he tries to break the limitations that since time began man has tried to circumvent time himself.
Although he was given all of power of the universe he was not given the power to halt time and he is about to meet his destiny more time is all he can ask for that he can repent for his sin stand still you ever moving spheres of heaven
“A hero is one who not only has many good aspects but many flaws.” One is not a hero through great quality but through flaws. Faustus represents a great man with stature and personality but is also man with many sins. He gives ups his scholarly beginning In order to pursue the opposite for more power. We learn that Faustus desire control him and his nature by manipulate him to take the easy yet fearful road instead of the steady heavenly process. His fatal flaw of lust for power, his self enlightenment as he realized that his mistake causes him the misery and suffering. Faustus is pitied for I the finale and provokes cathartic feelings . Faustus himself to burst out screaming and crying for salvation and repentance. Faustus's downfall started when he lost his devotion and faith in God. Faustus portrayed a vast amount of sinful desires and felling that will not allow to repent him he makes mistake later on in the play.
As the play draws to it climax Faustus begins to realize what he bas done and death which he once thought did not exist is indeed his ultimate destiny. Several times he is given the hint that he should repent to God for example an old man enters towards the end of the play and informe Faustus that it is not too late to repent because he himself was once again sinner and repented. Faustus still does not listen. Finally as the clock strikes twelve upon his hour of destiny many ugly devil appears and drag him off he finally screams for mercy.
Faustus as a Renaissance hero some argue that this play epitomizes the ideals of the Renaissance egocentric and indulgence knowledge. The lust for power led to the excess of the Renaissance the slaughter of Montezuma and countiess American Indian the launching of Armada the very certain of the english church out of Henry spleen is epitomizes In dr. Faustus. Because Faustus gives his soul to satan himself for the sake of gaining knowledge is proof that he is a Renaissance hero. At last there is Gid then the angels then man then animals and finally inanimate object. The last line meaning “slowly slowly run o horses of the nights” sums up Faustus desperation and tragic nature very thoroughly.
Conclusion:
Faustus was indeed a tragic hero. Many scholars and literally expert may debated that because this play was written in the Renaissance indeed to be seen as s Martyr trying to attain that which was forbidden to man in the time when doing so was the noble thing to do. This is not true. He is tragic hero because of his methods of using his new power. Instead of using it to attain the secrets of the universe he plays tomfoolery on various important people around the world including the pope and German emperor. Faustus could have been the most incredible human beings who eve lived . If he had repented the world would have seen that God is truly merciful because he forgave such a blasphemous heathen as Faustus . Faustus could have become an example for all of mankind and proven that if he could given be forgiven then all could be forgiven. However because he was stubborn ignorance and blind he refuse to see that he was never truly dammed until he was drug by the devil into the heart of hell itself .
Faustus contentiousness purged the good quality out of him because his only goal was to become the greatest super authority . He is a man who wishes to give up his past action and reconcile his attachment with God instead if Lucifer. His mind could not get off the fact that his soul had been sold to Lucifer and that Faustus would now be in hell for eternity’s on sins he should not have committed in the first place .so as like this we can called Doctor Faustus is a Renaissance martyr.
work cited :
Material of Dr. Dilip Barad
.http://dilipbarad.blogspot.in/2015/10/rubric-for-evaluation-of-written.html
work cited :
Material of Dr. Dilip Barad
.http://dilipbarad.blogspot.in/2015/10/rubric-for-evaluation-of-written.html
Very well written Disha.Improve your grametical errors.
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