Doctor Faustus as a Gothic Text

So, I thought the best way to do this was to look at all the elements of the Gothic we wrote down at the beginning of the year, and then go on the internet to look up some more aspects of the Gothic which could be relevant, and then see if Doctor Faustus fulfills these elements.
Probably the most prominent aspect of the Gothic is that all the action takes place at night, which is definatly true in Doctor Faustus. He conjures Mephastopheles in "the gloomy shadow of the earth", and then is taken to Hell at midnight.

The aim of the Gothic is to induce fear in the audience, which Faustus' last scene visibly does. Faustus' panic and the suspense of his final speech while he waits for his impending doom would inflict fear; added the combination of "thunder and lightening" and a variety of devils dragging a man to Hell, this scene could be said to arouse fear. Lucifer's physical appearance according to the text is scary also, as he "look'st so terrible", clearly scaring Faustus, and therefore us.

However, Faustus's mocks Mephastopheles and Hell (Hell being to the audience, the scariest thing of all) throughout the play, this could undermine the fear factor of the play. The threat of entering a place where people are "tortured and remain for ever" should induce fear to the audience, however Fautus immediatly banishes all fear by claiming "hells a fable". If Faustus isn't scared throughout the play, why should the audience be? Unless Marlowe is playing on the mindset of the audience using dramatic irony, as they know what Faustus fate will be, even if he doesn't, so they can watch the play with the suspense hanging over them which would induce fear.

There is a fascination with the past, as many Ancient Greek references are used throughout the play, the "waxen wings" of Icarus, a Greek Myth, and the appearance of Helen of Troy. Also, the repetative use of Latin shows a fascination with medieval past.

The supernatural is an important element of the Gothic, and this theme surrounds Doctor Faustus. Necromancy, Devils, magic (turning invisible), Heaven and Hell are all aspects of the supernatural, and all drive the plot, therefore Fautus complies with this element of the Gothic.

Sexuality can be seen as an element of the Gothic, and although it is not a major factor in Doctor Faustus, Marlowe still manages to squeeze in a desire for Helen of Troy, who is raised by dark forces, again proving how Doctor Faustus is a Gothic text.

The Gothic tends to also try and unveil the the horrific aspects of human nature. Nothing can be more horrific than selling your soul to the devil for power, allowing yourself to descend to Hell for a few years of power, another Gothic tendancy of Doctor Faustus.