ACT ONE OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS

How does Marlowe explore the gothic themes of over-reaching ambition, sin and evil in the first Act of Dr Faustus?

In Dr Faustus, Marlowe explores various Gothic themes of both over-reaching ambition and sin and evil in Act 1. Within the prologue, Marlowe makes a comparison between Faustus and ‘Icarus’; a character in a classical Greek myth, telling the tale of humanity’s first disobedience towards God. After flying too near the sun, his wings made out of feathers and wax melts and causing him to plunge to his death, as a result of over ambition. Our initial thoughts on the protagonist are challenged to a certain extent in the first act, as Faustus begins to reject the disciplines in which he has so far excelled – law, theology, medicine and philosophy – declaring them all unrewarding compared with the potential power that necromancy can offer. He explains ‘signs, letters and characters – ay, these are those that Faustus most desires’

In Act 1, Scene 1, Marlowe explores the Gothic theme of sin and evil through the use of Binary opposition, describing ‘necromantic books’ as ‘heavenly’, this highlights how he begins to reject religion as objects associated with magic and witchcraft are repeatedly referred to throughout the play. There is a clear change in Marlowe’s choice of language; in Faustus soliloquy he uses religious terminology, he repeatedly speaks in Latin (the language of the church) which shows is reflective of his faith in God. However, as the scene goes on and we are introduced to Valdes and Cornelius, known as the ‘Vice Crew’ (another Greek device used to urge influence Faustus into turning against God), he less frequently speaks in Latin and Blasphemes against religion.   

Although Faustus is portrayed as an ‘everyman’ in the Medieval morality play, Marlowe highlights Faustus’ over-reaching ambitions and lack of limitations, ‘How I am glutted with conceit of this… shall I make spirits fetch me what I please’ The word ‘conceit’ is one of the seven deadly sins and is a Greek device also known as ‘Hubris’; an excess of pride that Faustus possesses. He is clearly dissatisfied with what he’s attained so far and is filled with a greedy desire by the thought of power, control and the want to achieve more. In continuation, the protagonist also reveals the extent of his ambitions, as he intends to ‘…chase the Prince of Parma from our land, and reign sole king of all provinces’, driven by the thought of control and power, wanting to become stronger than the kings; this is symbolic as it is just one example of him overreaching far beyond what is humanly possible or natural.

Marlowe writes in the form of dialectic language (an aural discussion between characters) when he uses allegorical characters of the ‘Good angel’ and ‘Bad angel’ to represent abstract qualities as they engage in a struggle for the soul of Faustus, who is the central human character in the play, this a traditional device used in Greek morality plays. The Evil Angel tempts and reminds Faustus of what he could gain through black magic, whilst the Good Angel warns him of the dangers of turning against good and religion, telling him to ‘lay that damnéd book aside and gaze not on it’