Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus was published in 1592 and appears to be an example of a Renaissance tragedy. However, many critics argue that Marlowe’sDr. Faustusowes a lot to the medieval dramatic tradition, to be precise, to the morality play tradition. Describing different types of the medieval plays, Philip Tilling claims that “themorality playas a kind of medieval religious play arose alongside the mystery play and was to continue, in modified form, throughout the Elizabethan period,culminating inMarlowe’sFaustus.”1So, Tilling considersDr. Faustusto be “a morality play in a modified form“. In my paper I seeDr. Faustusas a Renaissance tragedy which was to a certain degree influenced by the medieval dramatic tradition and has some characteristic features of the morality play. Proceeding on this assumption, I am going to concentrate on the play, pursuing three following issues:
- to describe the characteristic features of the morality play inDr. Faustus- to point out the features which lead me to interpret it as a Renaissance tragedy - to describe the purpose of the morality play structure inDr. Faustus.Pursuing these objectives, I am, first of all, going to summarise the main characteristics of the morality play in order to see, how to apply them to Marlowe’s play. Then I will concentrate on the differences and similarities betweenDr. Faustusand the morality play on structural and thematic levels. In the last chapter of the paper I will focus on the issue of the function of the morality play structure inDr. Faustus.In conclusion I will summarize my arguments which support the thesis that the play should rather be seen as tragedy than as a morality play.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Morality play as a literary genre
2. The role of the allegorical figures in Dr. Faustus
3. Faustus: a representative hero of an individual?
4. The moral in Dr. Faustus
5. The purpose of the morality play structure
Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines Christopher Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus" by analyzing the influence of the medieval morality play tradition on the work. The central research question investigates whether the play should be categorized as a traditional morality play or as a Renaissance tragedy that utilizes morality play elements for specific artistic functions.
- The characteristic features of the morality play genre
- Allegorical figures versus individualized character traits in Doctor Faustus
- Faustus as a complex, non-typical protagonist
- The function and moral implications of the morality play structure
- The conflict between Renaissance individualism and medieval morality
Excerpt from the Book
2. The role of the allegorical figures in Dr. Faustus
Marlowe follows the typical pattern of the morality play most noticeably in the characters he uses: many of them are personified allegorical figures. For example Good and Bad Angels can be seen as morality play characters. They clearly represent the force of good, which try to turn Faustus to repentance, and the force of evil, which lead them into damnation.
However, if we have a closer look at the text, we will see that Good and Bad Angels usually appear for a relatively short period of time, often as interruption of Faustus’ speech. The function of Good and Bad Angels is restricted to uttering a short pro – contra argument. Then they disappear again. This suggests that they are not necessarily real characters from another world, but rather the embodiment of Faustus’s thoughts and doubts. There are no precise arguments in favour of this view in the text. However, the fact that the Angels always enter in the moments, when Faustus is doubting his decision, could support the idea that they are not real characters but rather means of externalization of Faustus’s inner world.
Another example of personified figures is Seven Deadly Sins. “Seven deadly sins were among the most popular characters of the medieval drama.” They appear in the play only once, but they are, without doubt, typical morality play characters. As personified figures they introduce themselves in a form of a short story. Faustus asks them questions “of their names and dispositions”, as Belzebub instructed him. This scene is supposed to entertain Faustus and to attract him to the life in hell, to show him that “hell is all manner of delight”. The passage can be seen as a kind of a short play-with-in-the-play scene, where Faustus plays the role of the audience.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: The author introduces "Doctor Faustus" as a Renaissance tragedy influenced by medieval dramatic traditions and outlines the three main research issues to be discussed.
1. Morality play as a literary genre: This chapter defines the core characteristics of the morality play, focusing on allegorical representation and the battle for the human soul.
2. The role of the allegorical figures in Dr. Faustus: The section analyzes how Marlowe uses figures like Angels and the Seven Deadly Sins, noting that they function more as psychological projections than as traditional morality archetypes.
3. Faustus: a representative hero of an individual?: This analysis highlights Faustus's complexity and development, arguing that his ambition and eventual damnation elevate him above the schematic nature of a typical Everyman.
4. The moral in Dr. Faustus: The text discusses the play's moral conclusion, concluding that it serves as a warning against over-reaching rather than a standard didactic lesson of religious obedience.
5. The purpose of the morality play structure: This chapter argues that Marlowe employed the morality play structure as a framing device for a cultural critique rather than to fully embody medieval values.
Conclusion: The author summarizes the findings, asserting that the play is fundamentally a tragedy that utilizes morality play features to explore Renaissance humanism and individual struggle.
Keywords
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, Morality play, Renaissance tragedy, Allegory, Humanism, Mephistopheles, Seven Deadly Sins, Individualism, Over-reaching, Medieval drama, Dramatic structure, Repentance, Literary genre
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the structural and thematic intersections between medieval morality plays and Christopher Marlowe’s "Doctor Faustus" to determine the play's generic classification.
What are the central thematic fields?
Key themes include the conflict between Renaissance intellectual ambition and medieval religious morality, the function of allegory, and the nature of the tragic hero.
What is the core research question?
The study asks whether "Doctor Faustus" functions as a moral instruction in the vein of medieval tradition or as a Renaissance tragedy emphasizing individual fate.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author performs a comparative literary analysis, evaluating character functions, structural tropes, and historical shifts in dramatic conventions.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The work examines character archetypes, the psychological depth of the protagonist, the shift in moral messages, and the deliberate use of traditional structures to serve modern artistic intentions.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Prominent keywords include Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, Morality play, Renaissance tragedy, allegory, and humanism.
Does the author consider the Good and Bad Angels to be physical beings?
No, the author argues that these characters act as an externalization of Faustus’s inner doubts and psychological conflicts rather than existing as external, autonomous supernatural entities.
How does Faustus’s development distinguish him from a traditional Everyman?
Unlike an Everyman, who lacks personal background and distinct character traits, Faustus is presented as a highly educated, ambitious individual whose intellectual quest and eventual downfall provide significant depth.
Why does the author classify the play as a tragedy rather than a morality play?
The author notes that because Faustus refuses to repent despite having the opportunity, the outcome is "disastrous" rather than "happy," fulfilling the specific definitions of a tragedy.
- Quote paper
- MA Anna Fedorova (Author), 2004, The Influence of the Morality Play on Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/66432
