Book Review: Dr Faustus
“Why This is hell, nor am I out of it”
There is something so delicious about Hell. Sure, no one in their right mind would want to end up there. But you cannot deny, it’s a damn sight more interesting than Heaven. Heaven is full of peace and tranquillity. Hell is pandemonium.
Hell is often the subject of art, sure so is heaven. but hell evokes such an intrepid and wild imagination, it is by far a more fascinating subject to pursue. Take for example, ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ by Hieronymus Bosch, his depictions of The Garden of Eden and the descent to hell of Adam and Eve is particularly striking. Or even, ‘The Fall of the Rebel Angels’ by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. There is just something about nightmares that lure you in, its tantalising, isn’t it? Playing with fire. Which is exactly what our books names sake, Dr Faustus, does.
This is a rather wonderful play by Christopher Marlowe. It is often slandered and compared to his more famous contemporary, William Shakespeare. I don’t think that’s particularly fair if I’m honest. Marlowe deserves credit where credit is due, and he is due some. Faustus is arguably his most famous play. A man who makes a deal with the devil for unlimited power in exchange for his soul. Greed is the central theme of this play as it is greed and, of course, ambition that drives Faustus to sell his soul. He wishes to be the greatest of the great. To have unlimited power, to do anything you set your mind to. How could you not be tempted?
“Ay, these are those that Faustus most desires.
O what a world of profit and delight,
Of power, of honour, of omnipotence”
Let’s dive into that never ending question of ‘free will’. We won’t stay long because we’ll be here all day. Free will is the notion that humans are allowed to do something or not to do something. However, free will must be accountable. Humans must be accountable for their actions, do they not? Morality does dictate our actions and it is true the past shapes the future. So are we truly free? In the case of the demons Faustus summons, the answer is yes and no. Sure, the spell that Faustus cast, is a catalyst to conjuring Mephastophilis. But it is not the reason, the devil didn’t send him there. He came of his own free will.
“I came now hither of mine own accord…
For when we hear one rack the name of God,
Abjure the scripture and his saviour Christ,
We fly in hope to get his glorious soul”
His will has limits. Mephastophilis fell with Lucifer, conspired against heaven with Lucifer and, in now, forever damned with Lucifer. It is who the demon must answer to and it is to Lucifer that Faustus must relinquish his soul. As this is a tragedy, you know Faustus does, he relinquishes his soul in exchange for 24 years on Earth of unlimited power and to have Mephastophilis as his own servant. It is a rotten deal, one that Faustus very thinks of too frivolously. He does not understand the worth of his soul or what he has just given up.
Therefore, he spends the net 24 years bringing mystery and delight to those around him. He is warned, many a times by the pope and even Mephastophilis himself.
“Think thou on hell Faustus, for thou art damned”
But he does nothing particularly meaningful. He enchants the nobility of Europe with tricks, he even conjures Helen of Troy for those who doubt him. And many do. How can he pull off such extraordinary feats? If it not the work of something sinister.
Naturally it all come to a head. After 24 years, 24 very short years does Faustus realise what he has done. The clock is ticking ever closer and closer to midnight in the last hour he has left on earth.
“All beasts are happy, for when they die,
Their souls are soon dissolved in elements;
But mine must live still to be plagued in hell.
Cursed be the parents that engendered me:
No Faustus, curse thyself, curse Lucifer,
That hath deprived thee of the joys of Heaven”
It is too late to repent for all that he has done. Because he did it willingly, in spite of all the warnings that were delivered to him. He chose this path and he has only himself to blame. Even as devils encircle him and drag him forcibly to hell - he calls for Mephastophilis, the loyal servant of Lucifer. But, Mephastophilis stands by and smiles as another soul is pitifully dragged in to the fire.