Christopher Marlowe's play The Tragical History
of Doctor Faustus is written in five acts and recounts the decision of the
primary character, Doctor Faustus, to sell his soul to the Devil in exchange for
twenty-four years of service by Mephistopheles, Lucifer's servant. There are several
elements of style that Marlowe incorporated into this
play.
The play makes use of the Chorus, an individual or
group who provides important information to drive the plot along. (It is the Chorus, for
example, in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that lets the audience
know before the play begins the fate of the "star-crossed lovers.") The use of the
Chorus is a long-standing part of ancient Greek dramas, and is made up of
a...
"group of
performers...who comment with a collective voice on the dramatic
action."
The Chorus presents
the play's "theme" and provides narration where
necessary.
The next element of style is the use of allegory
in the plot, in which...
...characters represent abstract ideas and are
used to teach moral, ethical, or religious
lessons.
During the medieval
period, church-based messages most often sermons, were infused with elements of drama
were added to appeal to an audience that could not read. They were represented as
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_play">miracle (and mystery)
plays (which were often entertaining), and morality plays, often more serious.
(These "dramas" were the precursors to the dramatic movement that would become so
popular during the English or Elizaethan Renaissance.) The morality play was still
popular during the Tudor period (which would have been the time of Henry VIII and
Elizabeth I).
The main theme of the morality play is this: Man
begins in innocence, Man falls into temptation, Man repents and is
saved.
It is important to
note, however, that in Marlowe's play of Doctor Faustus (which is a
morality play), Faustus cannot—or will not—be saved.
An
"antithesis" is also present. An antithesis deals with opposites: Lucifer is the
antithesis of God. In this play, the Good Angel and the Bad Angels are the antithesis of
each other, each trying his best to "win" Faustus' soul. Another element present is the
"hamartia" which...
In a tragedy, the event or act that causes the
hero's or heroine's
downfall.
The cause of
Faustus' downfall is the agreement he enters into with the Devil. Other elements are
"tragedy" and "suspense," as well as href="http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072405228/student_view0/drama_glossary.html">comic
relief. The final element is "catharsis." In terms of the morality play, this
piece offers the audience a release based upon its witness of the experiences of the
main character, found in pity for the protagonist or fear in his fate—for a similar fate
might await each member of the audience depending upon how he (or
she) lived his life. This acted as a "cautionary tale."
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