The Faithless Dr. Faustus
Christopher Marlowe's, Dr. John Faustus regards knowledge as easily obtainable information that he can use, or discard, at his own will. This learned philosopher, medical doctor, lawyer, and faithless theologian carelessly rejects his past studies. Then, in his search for a new educational passion, Faustus turns away from Christian devotion and chooses black magic as his study of choice. Lacking true faith in God and the Holy Word, the misguided doctor jumps blindly into a contract with the Devil. He cannot be faulted for his thirst for learning-only his lack of sincere devotion to the God that he studied so tirelessly in the past. Faustus misinterprets and misuses the intelligence, the gift, granted to him by God. He refuses to accept the limitations of man; and this coupled with his viewing of theology, God's study, as merely another avenue for knowledge gain, he condemns himself to an eternity in Hell. Faustus' desire to know more is not the initial cause of his fall. Dr. John Faustus fails to dedicate a single ounce of true belief in the power and mercy of God. His faithless heart commits him to Hell before he even signs the Devil's contract. Early in the play, Faustus exhibits the characteristics of a man who does
In the early stages of his intimacies with the Devil he speaks with the confidence of man with a simple plan for salvation for his transgression. Faustus attempts to enter his initial agreement with Mephastophilis with control over the situation:Seeing Faustus hath incurred eternal deathBy desperate thoughts against Jove's deity"Say, he surrenders up to him his soulSo he will spare him four and twenty Letting him live in all voluptuousness. John Faustus lacks true faith and belief in the God that grants him his intellect. Ay, and Faustus will turn to God again. Had he truly possessed faith in Jesus Christ the Savior he would believed the Good Angel when he says, "Repent, and [devils] shall never rase thy skin"(5. But, his now completely corrupted mind has taken over his spirit and the Devil convinces him that he cannot return to Good. If we say that we have no sin,We deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in us. In all of Faustus' studies he seeks to act as God. not understand the limitations of humanity. With the Devil, he receives twenty-four years of childish pranks, lascivious behavior, and painful threats.
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