The Supernatural in Marlowes Doctor Faustus - 2294 Words

ï ¿ ½PAGE ï ¿ ½ THE SUPERNATURAL IN MARLOWES_DOCTOR FAUSTUS_ ï ¿ ½ The Renaissance marked a turning point in history. In this period, Humanism motivated the study of subjects related to man and society, since man, as an individual, had become the centre of interest, leaving theology and religious devotion relatively aside. Therefore, as scholars recognized mans worth and value, some people started to seek further satisfaction in Earth and -partially- stopped longing for Heaven. The highest aspirations were truth and knowledge. The spirit of the time was one of intellectual freedom and defiance; men no longer feared death and even tried to establish direct contact with the afterlife in order to achieve wisdom and power. This thirst for knowledge†¦show more content†¦Then, by order of Charles V, Faustus releases him from the horns. When Faustus and Mephostophillis are on their way back home, a horse-courser offers Faustus forty pounds for his horse. Faustus accepts but, as the horse is a product of magic, he warns him not to ride on water or else it would vanish. The horse-courser wants to know the unrevealed qualities of his new horse and rides in deep water. The horse vanishes and he almost drowns. Filled with anger, the horse-courser goes to Faustus house to have his forty pounds back. He hits Faustus while he is sleeping and, in order not to be punished, the horse-courser says he would give forty pounds more. After some time, Faustus feels that he needs a woman next to him and the perfect one is Helen of Greece. So Faustus summons a spirit to take the shape of her. An old man appears to Faustus and tells him to repent. Lucifer wants to hurt him but his faith is so great that he cannot touch his soul. As the twenty-four year deal is about to finish, this means that Faustus life is coming to an end. He repents and reveals the source of his knowledge to some scholars but they could do nothing except for praying. As Faustus begs God and the devil for mercy, the devils drag him away. At the end, the Scholar friends find Faustuss body, torn to pieces. The play by Marlowe is one of the many versions of the story based on a real man -Johannes Faustus, a German astrologer of bad reputationShow MoreRelatedEssay on Motivations for Faustuss Rebellion1485 Words   |  6 PagesIn the Faust legend, a man by the name of Faust or Faustus sells his soul to the devil for twenty-four years of ultimate worldly power. Although the tale of this German scholar/ magician called Johann Faust or Faustus has been re-told many times over, no version has become more prominent and controversial in English literature and history than that of Christopher Marlowes play first published eleven years after his death in 1604. 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