Doctor Faustus as a play in the morality tradition

Doctor Faustus as a play in the morality tradition | Christopher Marlowe

Q. Examine Doctor Faustus as a play in the morality tradition.

Answer: Doctor Faustus is a noteworthy play ever written by Christopher Marlowe. It was written in the late 16th century. The play includes some essential characteristics of moral sense in human behavior. It is widely regarded as a classic example of a play in the morality tradition.

It is to be noted that morality plays were a genre of mediaeval and Renaissance drama. It usually features allegorical characters representing moral qualities, virtues and vices. The aim of these plays was to instruct the audience on proper Christian behavior and the consequences of sinful actions.

In Doctor Faustus, the eponymous character is a brilliant scholar. He becomes dissatisfied with the limits of traditional forms of knowledge. Ultimately in a moment of hubris, he decides to pursue the dark arts of necromancy. Finally he makes a pact with a devil. He wants to exchange his soul for 24 years of unlimited power and pleasure.

However, the readers find this central conflict between Faustus’s ambition and his moral obligations. It forms the backbone of the play.

Throughout the play, Faustus is visited by a number of allegorical figures. They embody different moral qualities. For example, Doctor Faustus is notably visited by the good Angel and the bad Angel. They represent the challenging desires of virtue and vices within Faustus’s own soul.

Besides, other characters, such as the seven deadly sins also appear to Faustus. They tempt him farther down the path of moral corruption.

Notably, with an exchange of his soul for 24 years Doctor Faustus made an impact of the devil Mephistopheles. He was a messenger of devil. He acts as a foil to Faustus. As Faustus is driving by the excessive thirst for knowledge and power, Mephistopheles acts as that driving force of his thirst. He is a world weary figure who attempts to dissuade Faustus from his pact. He also warns him of the eternal torments that await him in Hell. Thus, Faustus’s activities mark the play’s overreaching theme of dangers of pride and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge.

In the final act, Faustus is consequently confronted with the consequences of his actions. As the 24 year deadline approaches, he is gripped by fear and regret. He pleads for mercy and an extension of his contract. However, his final request for redemption is totally rejected. He is dragged off to hell. His soul is damned for eternity.

This tragic ending of “Doctor Faustus” exposes the central message of the morality play. It is to be noted that the moral message for a mortal being is that the pursuit of earthly pleasures and power at the expense of one's immortal soul is a grievous sin. It will inevitably lead to damnation.

Faustus' downfall serves as a cautionary tale. It wants the audience against the temptation of pride, ambition and the abuse of knowledge.

Again in its use of allegorical characters it focuses on moral instruction and its division of the wages of sin. Thus, “Doctor Faustus” is undoubtedly an example of the mediaeval and renaissance morality play.

*****

👉 Doctor Faustus | as a Renaissance play

👉 'Medea', an ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides | Important Characters

👉 The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia | Characters and Short Summary

👉 The Pearl | George Herbert’s view upon the God

👉 Cleopatra | The 'rise and fall' of a Mysterious Woman in History

👉 Sonnet No. 116 | definition of 'Love'

👉 The Spanish Tragedy | as a revenge play