In Christopher Marlowe's play, The Tragical
History of Doctor Faustus, there seems to be one
temptation that leads Faustus astray. Faustus is already a religious scholar, but turns
his back on this knowledge and considers the black arts. He has friends that practice
necromancy, and he sends Wagner, his assistant, to bring them to him. In the meantime,
two angels appear: one is good and the other is evil. The Good Angel warns Faustus to
stop reading about the black arts, to read the Bible instead, and avoid temptation.
However, the Evil Angel speaks to Faustus' ego, telling him he can be as important on
earth as Jove (God) is in heaven.
Go forward, Faustus, in that famous
art
Wherein all Nature's treasure is
contain'd:
Be thou on earth as Jove is in the
sky,
Lord and commander of these
elements.
Doctor Faustus
eventually calls forth Mephistophilis, a servant of Lucifer (the Devil). The dark
"angel's" appearance is so "ugly," that Faustus sends him away, telling him to return
looking (ironically) like a Franciscan friar. Mephistophilis goes to do his bidding, and
the usually wise Faustus allows his ego to overpower his intellect: he
believes he holds sway over this servant of the Devil, praising
himself for his power.
How pliant is this
Mephistophilis,
Full of obedience and
humility!
Such is the force of magic and my
spells:
No, Faustus, thou art conjuror
laureat,
That canst command great
Mephistophilis...
This
concept of man being tricked into believing that he can control beings more powerful
than himself—which leads to his doom—is seen also (as one example) in Shakespeare's
Macbeth, when Macbeth believes that he
controls the three witches. The Goddess of the Witches, Hecate, declares that a false
sense of security leads one's soul to damnation. Faustus is as foolish as
Macbeth.
Faustus talks with Mephistophilis about the fall
of Lucifer, Faustus' lack of fear of eternal damnation (he thinks hell is a "fable"),
and his willingness to sell his soul to the Devil in exchange for Mephistophilis'
service for twenty-four years. Even Mephistophilis tries to
tempt Faustus to change his mind, knowing
himself the suffering of being kept from the presence of
God:
O,
Faustus, leave these frivolous demands,Which strike a
terror to my fainting
soul!
Faustus ignores him,
and makes his deal. He wants riches, "control [of] the elements," and a "knowledge of
nature." Several times, Faustus considers repenting, but the powers of darkness convince
him there is no hope and Faustus agrees. At the end, as Faustus' life approaches its
end, the scholars speak to Faustus just before he must relinquish his soul, telling him
to appeal to God and ask forgiveness.
SECOND SCHOLAR.
Yet,
Faustus, look up to heaven; remember God's mercies are
infinite.
But Faustus sees no
hope for himself.
FAUSTUS. But Faustus' offence can ne'er be
pardoned: the serpent that tempted Eve may be saved, but not
Faustus.
Faustus is taken by
Mephistophilis, and then the Chorus enters.
The Chorus tell us that while Faustus was a
branch that "might have grown full straight," instead he yearned to learn "unlawful
things ... [and] to practice more than heavenly power
permits."
The Chorus warns
others not to make the same mistake. Faustus is tempted by his desire to rise above his
place in this world, and by the time he realizes his foolishness, it is too late for him
to redeem his soul—and he is carried off to hell.
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