I've always been fascinated with the supernatural. Demons, angels, and monsters have always piqued my interest because of the odd stories of how they came to be and how different they are. When I was a kid I believed that angels were roaming everywhere - ready to help a person in need. Likewise, I also believed that demons were lurking in the shadows, ready to tempt the weak willed.
That leads us to a piece I now consider as one of my most loved books.
The Tragical History of The Life and Death of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe was based on a German legend (or folklore). To sum it all up, Doctor Faustus, intelligent and "book-smart" as he was, was unsatisfied with his knowledge. With that in mind, he sold his soul (through a contract signing obviously) to a demon named Mephistopheles. The deal goes like this: Doctor Faustus can ask Mephistopheles for anything he wishes in exchange for eternal servitude in Inferno after twenty and four score years have passed.
Of course, Doctor Faustus agreed. But as he was going to sign the contract with his blood, a phrase appeared three times on his chamber wall - Homo fuge! (Man, flee!). Doctor Faustus did not take heed of this warning, instead, he continued to sign the contract.
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| Doctor Faustus conjures Mephistopheles |
What made me read this play was the intrigue and amount of philosophical thought that wrapped around Doctor Faustus. If you'd think about it, the play is mildly centered around the problem of predestination. It was evident from the start that Doctor Faustus was destined for Hell, but his good angel kept on pushing him to repent. On the other hand, his bad angel wasn't even adamant on pushing him to agree to Mephistopheles' contract - it was like he knew that Faustus was going to accept the contract no matter what happens (so why bother?).
Moreover, even though he can wish for anything, Doctor Faustus used his "new power" for worse. One thing he did was that he asked Mephistopheles to make him invisible - only to go to Rome and make fun of the Pope while he was eating his (the Pope's) dinner (Faustus even slapped the Pope before going back to Germany). Another thing he did was change the ears of a soldier to the Holy Roman Emperor into those of a donkey's because the footman mocked Faustus that he was a "magician" after conjuring up Alexander the Great in the court of the emperor.
If you were given a chance to ask for anything (without having to sell your soul to the devil), would you have done the same thing? Or would you use your powers to something more humanitarian?
Read Marlowe's play first, then answer the question. It's really hard to pose such a question like that after reading the life of Doctor Faustus. Although he was smart and respected by his colleagues, pride and selfishness got the better of him. Of course selling your soul to the devil is a whole other matter, but the same question prevails. This dilemma is what makes Doctor Faustus a classic. We are completely torn in between being human and rising above. Sometimes we think if what we do is worth it, or if we have done everything in our capacity. Perhaps Doctor Faustus thought that earthly knowledge was just too common place - for the mediocre; and that's why he agreed to sign the contract - because he wanted more.
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| My copy of Christopher Marlowe's Plays (Penguin Classic) |