Doctor Faustus, written by Christopher Marlowe, is his most famous play. Marlowe was highly skilled as a playwright and excelled at writing compelling drama. The play centers around the tragedy of Doctor Faustus. Before delving further into the story, it is important to understand the concept of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is the central character in a tragedy who possesses exceptional qualities and is not an ordinary individual. Tragedy often demonstrates how even the most extraordinary heroes can succumb to ruin.
Dr. Faustus is a tragic hero who, usually based on valor and ethical choices, suffers a reversal of fortune and experiences great suffering. He serves as a good example of this, as he loses focus and makes tragic choices that lead him to a fate worse than the worst. Despite being highly regarded as a lecturer and scholar at the University of Wittenberg, Faustus embodies the qualities of a socially elevated hero who meets the criteria of a tragic hero.
Throughout his life, Doctor Faustus accomplishes remarkable feats that are unparalleled by ordinary individuals. Using his powers, he embarks on incredible adventures such as acquiring the secrets of astronomy at the peak of mount Olympus, which are consistent with the characteristics of a tragic hero. As a scholar and admirer of beauty, Faustus becomes discontented with the limitations of humanity. In his most glorious moments, Faustus expresses the longing for freedom within us and the aspiration for greatness, even though his actions contradict his eloquent speeches.
He expresses the Greek longing to defy Necessity and control one’s destiny, even temporarily, even if it leads to calamity. Despite considering himself a pursuer of Greek greatness, he aspires to become godlike, discarding Christian notions of human boundaries. His behavior demonstrates his lack of comprehension of true bravery, as he is blinded by his own arrogance. Observing the initial scene, we discern his dissatisfaction with life due to weariness. Being a scholar, he yearned for fresh knowledge.
Although he possessed vast knowledge, there was still one thing missing for him – black magic. As Europe transitioned from the Middle Ages, the rediscovery of lost Greek knowledge had a profound impact on how man perceived himself. While Christianity places man beneath God, requiring obedience, the Greek worldview positions man as the central figure in the universe. According to the Greeks, defying the gods can be dangerous, yet man also possesses nobility. Faustus, although considered a Renaissance man, pays a price that reflects medieval ideals rather than true Renaissance principles. He is unable to meet the standards of both the medieval era and the Greek-influenced Renaissance. Rejecting Christian morality, he disconnects himself from goodness but fails to achieve greatness in the Renaissance sense. Thus, Faustus falls short of the criteria for a tragic hero, as he lacks the essential wisdom known as amathia.
Amathia, a Greek word meaning a man’s failure to recognize his own nature, aptly describes Faustus. However, Faustus lacks nobility and initially shows interest in selling his soul out of sheer boredom and restlessness. In the first act, he boasts extensively about how he will utilize his newfound power. Yet, we soon discover that Faustus’ amathia is underwhelming as he fails to acknowledge his own laziness. He is all talk and no action. In his pursuit of knowledge, he resembles Prometheus, the Titan god tasked with creating mankind from clay using forethought and cunning counsel.
His attempts to improve the lives of his creation led to a direct conflict with Zeus. Initially, he deceived the gods to obtain the best portion of the sacrificial feast, which he gave to mankind. Despite accepting eternal torture as a consequence, Prometheus selflessly sacrificed himself for the betterment of humanity. In a similar vein, Faustus fearlessly negotiates with Lucifer to secure his everlasting soul. However, once Faustus attains omnipotence with a definite expiration, he lacks motivation to evolve as a person and appears unwilling to consider life beyond his own time.
Leaving behind an empire or bettering the world do not interest him. The same lack of interest held true when he was a doctor before his Faustian deal. Faustus’ increased powers have not increased his capacity for care or his love for humanity. Instead, he spends his twenty-four years as a pitiful and lascivious loser, a tragic tale of a human making a clear choice with knowledge of the potential consequences. Just when it seems Faustus cannot sink any lower, he continues to descend. As the story progresses, Faustus’ opponents become even more pathetic. Even when controlled by an ass, they remain easy targets.
The once-thrilling courtly encounters with threatening knights have become mere amusement for Faustus. Now, he resorts to deceiving peasants to extort their money. These are the ways in which he employs his immense power. The downfall of Faustus follows the common pattern of tragedy. In the climactic final scene of the play, as Faustus is about to be taken to hell, he, like all heroes in classical tragedies, is completely isolated. There is a noticeable contrast between his previous portrayal as a successful and respected magician and his current state as a disillusioned scholar. Filled with despair, he attempts to summon and control the forces of the universe.
Faustus contemplates his dwindling time, questioning his own existence: “What are thou, Faustus, but a man condemned to die? ” (4. 5. 41). His knowledge of an eventual demise paralyzes him, indicating a state of depression in modern terms. However, his inquiry demonstrates a limited understanding of the Christian God and His plan for humanity. Faustus is not merely a condemned mortal, but a child of God redeemed by the blood of Christ and offered the opportunity for eternal life. He possesses a sufficient amount of amathia, an essential quality in the tragic hero archetype. Amathia, a Greek term, refers to the failure of a person to recognize their inherent nature.
However, Faustus lacks nobleness and his interest in selling his soul seems to stem from boredom and restlessness. In Act One, he boasts at length about the ways in which he will use his newfound power. Yet, it becomes apparent later on that Faustus is a disappointment due to his laziness and lack of action. He is all talk and no action, making it clear that he is not a hero. Although Faustus had the potential to be a hero, he chose to wonder about unlawful things that attract those with shallow depths and encourage them to engage in actions that exceed the limits of heavenly power.
