The Faithless Dr. Faustus
Christopher Marlowe's, Dr. John Faustus regards knowledge as easily obtainable information that he can use, or discard, at his own will. This learned philosopher, medical doctor, lawyer, and faithless theologian carelessly rejects his past studies. Then, in his search for a new educational passion, Faustus turns away from Christian devotion and chooses black magic as his study of choice. Lacking true faith in God and the Holy Word, the misguided doctor jumps blindly into a contract with the Devil. He cannot be faulted for his thirst for learning-only his lack of sincere devotion to the God that he studied so tirelessly in the past. Faustus misinterprets and misuses the intelligence, the gift, granted to him by God. He refuses to accept the limitations of man; and this coupled with his viewing of theology, God's study, as merely another avenue for knowledge gain, he condemns himself to an eternity in Hell. Faustus' desire to know more is not the initial cause of his fall. Dr. John Faustus fails to dedicate a single ounce of true belief in the power and mercy of God. His faithless heart commits him to Hell before he even signs the Devil's contract. Early in the play, Faustus exhibits the characteristics of a man who does
Dr. Faustus' studies have taught him the truth to salvation. He, however, never allows his knowledge to intermingle with his heart and soul. He cannot repent, because he never bowed to the will of God. In all of Faustus' studies he seeks to act as God. Dr. John Faustus lacks true faith and belief in the God that grants him his intellect. Rather than submitting to God, he searches for some form of knowledge that will propel him above the realms of Heaven, Earth, and Hell. This alone leads him to his eternal life in the fires of hell. not understand the limitations of humanity. He is highly intelligent and very accomplished, but he finds no satisfaction in his professions: Seeing Faustus hath incurred eternal death But, a man who continuously lives to rise above God cannot genuinely have strong enough conviction in God to truly repent for his sins. Faustus has committed himself to his self-the Devil. As Mephastophilis states, "Why this is hell, nor am I out of it"(3.76), Faustus enters his own hell; the damned doctor begins a life riddled with already known answers and lost to truly useless skills and abilities. The reward of sin is death? That's hard. So he will spare him four and twenty Or being dead raise them to life again,
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Approximate Word count = 1029
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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