Fundation of Literature

Title : The tragical story of Doctor Faustus
Author : Christopher Marlowe
Year : 1589
City : England
Character : Doctor Faustus, Chorus, Wagner, Good Angel, Bad Angel, Valdes Cornelius, Three scholars, Lucifer, Mephistopheles, Robin, Beelzebub, Seven Deadly Sins, Dick, Pope Adrian VI Raymond, King of Hungary ,Bruno, Two Cardinals Archbishop of Rheims Friars Vintner, Martino, Frederick Benvolio Charles V Duke of Saxony, Two soliders, Horse courser Carter Hostess of a tavern Duke and Duchess of Vanholt Servant, Old man

Summary :

The story is talking about Faustus who has born of lower class parents, holds the lower class Faustus holds a lower status than kings and saints. He has a wisdom and abilities so he awarded doctorate. Faustus is likened to the story of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun with his waxen wings and as a result fell to his death when the sun melted the wax.

Faustus comments that he has reached the end of every subject he has studied, for instance, the skill of argumentative attributed to Logic. He dismisses Logic as being a tool for arguing; Medicine as being unvalued unless it allowed raising the dead and immortality; Law as being petty and below him; Divinity as useless because he feels that all humans commit sin, and thus to have sins punishable by death complicates the logic of Divinity. He dismisses it as "What doctrine call you this? Que Sera Sera (What will be, shall be)".

He calls upon his servant Wagner to bring forth Valdes and Cornelius, two famous magicians. The good angel and the bad angel dispense their own perspective of his interest in Magic. Though Faustus is momentarily dissuaded, proclaiming "How am I glutted with conceit of this?", he is apparently won over by the possibilities Magic offers to him. Valdes declares that if Faustus devotes himself to Magic, he must vow not to study anything else and points out that great things are indeed possible with someone of Faustus' standing.

Faustus' absence is noted by two scholars who are less accomplished than Faustus himself. They request that Wagner reveal Faustus' present location, a request which Wagner haughtily denies. We can see Wagner as a person who thinks very highly of himself. The two scholars worry about Faustus falling deep into the art of Magic and leave to inform the head of the university.

Faustus summons a devil, under the presence of Lucifer and other devils although Faustus is unaware of it. After creating a circle and speaking an incantation, a devil named Mephistopheles appears before him. Faustus is unable to tolerate the hideous looks of the devil and commands it to change its form to that of a Franciscan friar. It would seem Faustus is either deliberately unwilling or simply unable to see things the way they are. Faustus, in seeing the obedience of the devil (for changing form), takes pride in his skill. He tries to bind the devil to his service but is unable to because Mephistopheles already serves Lucifer, the prince of devils. Mephistopheles also reveals that it was not Faustus's power that summoned him but rather anyone that abjured the scriptures would result in the devil coming to claim one's soul.

Mephistopheles introduces the history of Lucifer and the other devils while indirectly telling Faustus that hell has no circumference and is more of a state of mind than a physical location. Faustus' inquiries into the nature of hell lead to Mephistopheles saying: "Oh Faustus, leave these frivolous demands, which strikes a terror to my fainting soul." Mephistopheles seems to imply that Faustus's questioning has reminded Mephistopheles of his origins.