My little passage at the end of a text was basically a summary of the B text; which I didn't know, so I just wrote a whole blog on how the passage was inccacurate and glamourising the story, but then someone kindly pointed out that the passage was all the B text so it was accuarate, just a slightly different story, so I don't have much time to write a new one so it's not amazing but you know.......
"The Devil, for his part, would agree:
-to serve Dr. Faustus for as long as he shall live
- to provide Dr. Faustus with whatever information he might request
-never to utter an untruth to Dr. Faustus."
However, the Devil lied. He claimed to serve Faustus, yet all he seems to provide Faustus with is a book. When Faustus asked for a wife, he recieved a "whore" instead, and Mephastophiles answers some of Fautus' questions vaguely.
So, is the Devil just living up to his expectations.
The bible says that the Devil is the "father of lying"
" there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (the bible)
So the Devil was already percieved a liar, so surely Faustus who "hath attained the end" of knowledge about religion would be aware of it?
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Faustus' last monologue
The length of the monologue creates the dramatic effect of building up tension. It may be painful to watch Faustus' anguish for the sustained period of time, and when the devils finally arive the audience may be relieved that they don't have to share Fautus' fear any longer.
There is no longer any doubt of belief with Fautus, as he is finally well aware of the consequences of his contract, and the reality of hell. He no longer believes that "hell's a fable", and realises his soul "must live still to be plagues in hell", forever.
Throughout the speech, his mind fluctuates as to whom to blame, and who to turn to to help him. First he calls to Christ; "Ah, my Christ!", and then immediatly changes to Lucife; "O, spare me Lucifer", which probably is the reason God is so angry and wants Faustus to feel his "heavy wrath".
Despite claims earlier in the play that hell was only a state of mind, hell, or the devils seem to have control over him, and prevent him from appealing to Christ. Comments from Faustus suggest devils are already over him before his time is up;
"O, he stays my tongue! I would lift up my hands, but see, they hold them" = devil stops him praying.
"O I'll leap up to my God! Who pulls me down?" = devil stops him getting to God.
"Ah my Christ! Ah, rend not my heart for naming of my Christ!" = devils try and pull out his heart.
There is no longer any doubt of belief with Fautus, as he is finally well aware of the consequences of his contract, and the reality of hell. He no longer believes that "hell's a fable", and realises his soul "must live still to be plagues in hell", forever.
Throughout the speech, his mind fluctuates as to whom to blame, and who to turn to to help him. First he calls to Christ; "Ah, my Christ!", and then immediatly changes to Lucife; "O, spare me Lucifer", which probably is the reason God is so angry and wants Faustus to feel his "heavy wrath".
Despite claims earlier in the play that hell was only a state of mind, hell, or the devils seem to have control over him, and prevent him from appealing to Christ. Comments from Faustus suggest devils are already over him before his time is up;
"O, he stays my tongue! I would lift up my hands, but see, they hold them" = devil stops him praying.
"O I'll leap up to my God! Who pulls me down?" = devil stops him getting to God.
"Ah my Christ! Ah, rend not my heart for naming of my Christ!" = devils try and pull out his heart.
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Act 4; Yet more slapstick
The chorus at the beginning of the act seems to be ironically praising Faustus, as we will see in the proceeding scene. His power has allowed his "fame to spread forth to every land", and he is so famous that he feasts with his noblemen. This demonstrates that at least, he has broken the rules of the hierarchy, and has been elevated from base of stock to be dining with the Emporer. Yet, he has only achieved this with help from the devil= BAD.
The scene directly contradicts Faustus' hopes at the beginning of the play. He wanted to be elevated to a status above that of an Emporor, that he wanted more power than to merely "be but obeyed in their several provinces". However, here is Fautus, OBEYING the Emporer= he is not even an equal;
"I am content to do whatsoever your majesty shall command me"
After all of this- Faustus then starts talking in prose, rather than the more dignified blank verse which dominates his speech elsewhere. Then on top of all of this... his leg gets pulled off. He is really going downhill.
The scene directly contradicts Faustus' hopes at the beginning of the play. He wanted to be elevated to a status above that of an Emporor, that he wanted more power than to merely "be but obeyed in their several provinces". However, here is Fautus, OBEYING the Emporer= he is not even an equal;
"I am content to do whatsoever your majesty shall command me"
After all of this- Faustus then starts talking in prose, rather than the more dignified blank verse which dominates his speech elsewhere. Then on top of all of this... his leg gets pulled off. He is really going downhill.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Superior to Slapstick
The two scenes Act 3:1 and 3:2 work together to show the trickery of the devil onto Faustus, and how Mephastopheles has subtely made Faustus forget his dream. Faustus opens the scene with a flow of all the fabulous places he has seen. Seen being the significant word, as Faustus is yet to do anything with the power he sold his own soul for.
Instead of moving continents and changing the course of rivers, he has gone on a sight-seeing tour, a little less impressive. We then find out why; Mephastopheles has been corrupting Faustus into giving him the control, compared to the servant stance he took at the beginning. Faustus easily gives up his hopes of seeing the sights of Rome with one nudge from Mephastopheles. He instead succumbs to slapstick comedy and invisibly, disrupts a papal feast. What happened to the logical intellect at the beginning of the play?
In the light of the audiences views on Catholicism, the Pope became a common subject of mockery and humour, therefore to an Elizabethia audience, the scene is ironically humourous. The pope was reffered to as the devil, and another set of devils in torturing him. However, looking past the comedy, we see what Faustus has been lowered to.
The next scene only highlights Faustus' fall, as two idiots Rafe and Robin conjure Mephastopheles by accident, achieving Faustus' greatest achievement in the most basic, comical way possible. Faustus has finally fallen to the same level as the two most base characters, who's only concnern after being turned into animals is where their next meal is coming from. Maybe Faustus is no longer more than "base of stock" as his parents were?
Instead of moving continents and changing the course of rivers, he has gone on a sight-seeing tour, a little less impressive. We then find out why; Mephastopheles has been corrupting Faustus into giving him the control, compared to the servant stance he took at the beginning. Faustus easily gives up his hopes of seeing the sights of Rome with one nudge from Mephastopheles. He instead succumbs to slapstick comedy and invisibly, disrupts a papal feast. What happened to the logical intellect at the beginning of the play?
In the light of the audiences views on Catholicism, the Pope became a common subject of mockery and humour, therefore to an Elizabethia audience, the scene is ironically humourous. The pope was reffered to as the devil, and another set of devils in torturing him. However, looking past the comedy, we see what Faustus has been lowered to.
The next scene only highlights Faustus' fall, as two idiots Rafe and Robin conjure Mephastopheles by accident, achieving Faustus' greatest achievement in the most basic, comical way possible. Faustus has finally fallen to the same level as the two most base characters, who's only concnern after being turned into animals is where their next meal is coming from. Maybe Faustus is no longer more than "base of stock" as his parents were?
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